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Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi in 2018.png
Shahidi in a 2018 interview
Born
Yara Sayeh Shahidi

(2000-02-10) February 10, 2000 (age 24)
Education Harvard University (BA)
Occupation Actress, producer
Years active 2006–present
Relatives

Yara Sayeh Shahidi (born February 10, 2000) is an American actress and producer. She began her career as a child, appearing in the films Imagine That (2009), Butter (2011) and Alex Cross (2012).

Shahidi gained recognition for her starring role as the oldest daughter Zoey Johnson in the ABC sitcom Black-ish (2014–2022) and its spin-off series Grown-ish (2018–2024). She received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Black-ish and three NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series nominations for Grown-ish. Time included her on "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016" list. She did voice over work in the films Smallfoot (2018), Fearless (2020), PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021) and My Father's Dragon (2022).

Shahidi played her first adult lead role in the 2019 drama film, The Sun Is Also a Star. In 2023, she played Tinker Bell in the fantasy adventure film Peter Pan & Wendy, and executive produced and starred in the romantic comedy-drama film, Sitting in Bars with Cake.

Early life and education

Yara Sayeh Shahidi was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Keri Salter Shahidi and Afshin Shahidi, a photographer. Her mother, Keri Shahidi (born Keri Jamelda Salter), is of African American and Choctaw heritage, and her father Afshin Shahidi is Iranian. Afshin was one of the principal photographers for musician Prince, who kept a signed photo of Yara in his editing suite at Paisley Park. The Shahidi family moved to California for Afshin's work when Yara was 4 years old. She is the older sister of child actor and model Sayeed Shahidi and they have a younger brother, Ehsan. The rapper Nas is her cousin. Yara means "Someone who is close to your heart" in Persian; Shahidi is a common surname in Iran and means "martyr" in Persian.

Shahidi attended Immaculate Heart Middle School and part of Immaculate Heart High School before leaving to excel in her acting career. Shahidi graduated in 2017 from Dwight Global Online School. In 2017, Shahidi was admitted to Harvard University, and she began her studies there in 2018 after taking a gap year, with a plan to major in Interdisciplinary Sociology and Black American Studies. Shahidi graduated from Harvard in 2022.

YaraShahidiTIFFSept2011
Shahidi at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

Career

Early works

Shahidi began her career when she was 6 years old, appearing in television commercials and print advertisements for companies such as McDonald's, Ralph Lauren, Target, GapKids, Disney, Guess Kids and The Children's Place. She frequently worked with her mother and younger brother in various print and broadcast campaigns. Her first on-screen appearance was in an episode of HBO comedy series, Entourage in 2007. In 2009, she had a recurring role as Jessica St. Clair's character daughter in the short-lived ABC comedy series, In the Motherhood. Later that year, she guest-starred on Cold Case and Wizards of Waverly Place.

Shahidi made her big screen debut in 2009, starring opposite Eddie Murphy in Paramount Pictures comedy film Imagine That, for which she received a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film. She also appeared in the action film Salt in 2010 as a next door neighbor to Angelina Jolie's character. The following year, she starred in the comedy film Butter that premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and garnered mixed reviews from critics. In 2012, she appeared in the action thriller film Alex Cross opposite Tyler Perry. From 2012 to 2013, Shahidi was regular cast member in the syndicated sitcom The First Family playing the role of Chloe Johnson, the daughter of President William Johnson. In 2013, she played young Olivia Pope in the two episodes of ABC political thriller series, Scandal.

2014—2022

In 2014, Shahidi was cast as a 14-year-old Zoey Johnson, the eldest daughter of Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross's characters in the ABC comedy series Black-ish created by Kenya Barris. She won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the show' first season. She also received Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Breakthrough Role in 2016 and BET YoungStars Award at the 17th BET Awards. She left the series after three seasons but appeared as a recurring guest-star in latter seasons. ABC announced in 2017 that Shahidi would be headlining a Black-ish spinoff, titled Grown-ish, on its sister network Freeform. The series premiered on January 3, 2018, with the positive reviews from critics. For her performance, Shahidi received three NAACP Image Awards nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. She left the series after five seasons, but stayed as an executive producer and recurring guest-star for its sixth and final season in 2023.

In 2016, Shahidi signed to model with New York's Women Management modeling agency, in hopes of providing a platform to see more women of color in diverse roles. Time included her on "The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016" list. She was ranked one of the best dressed women in 2018 by fashion website Net-a-Porter. She was one of fifteen women selected to appear on the cover of the September 2019 issue of British Vogue, by guest editor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. In 2021, Shahidi debuted a sportswear collaboration with Adidas.

In 2019, Shahidi played the leading role in the teen drama film, The Sun Is Also a Star based on the young adult novel of the same name by Nicola Yoon. It was theatrically released in the United States on May 17, 2019, by Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $6.8 million worldwide. She co-produced Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film-winning film Hair Love (2019). She done voice over work in the films Smallfoot (2018), Fearless (2020), PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021) and My Father's Dragon (2022).

Yara Shahidi for Vogue 2019 01
Shahidi for Vogue in 2019

In 2020, Shahidi and her mother launched their production company 7th Sun and signed a deal with ABC Studios to produce shows. Their first project was Smoakland, a single-camera comedy pilot for Freeform in 2021. Later in 2021, it was announced that they develop adaptation of Cole Brown's book Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World.

2023—present

Shahidi starred in the Apple TV+ anthology series Extrapolations that premiered on March 17, 2023. She played Tinker Bell in the fantasy adventure film Peter Pan & Wendy, a remake of Peter Pan. It premiered on Disney+ on April 28, 2023. Later in 2023, Shahidi executive produced and played the leading role in the romantic comedy-drama film Sitting in Bars with Cake alongside Odessa A'zion. The film received generally positive reviews from critics with Shahidi's performance as a law student struggling to accomplish her parents' dreams for her future whilst simultaneously fulfilling her role as a caregiver to her friend diagnosed with cancer receiving praise, though some found her to be overshadowed by A’Zion's performance. Carla Meyer of the San Francisco Chronicle felt that Shahidi's friendship with A’Zion was, "the most authentic element of the film," adding that it, "really makes the film". She received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture nomination for her performance.

In February 2023, Shahidi was attached to star alongside Lena Headey in the action thriller film Ballerina Overdrive.

Activism

Shahidi founded Eighteen x 18 with social news publisher NowThis, which "will be a platform to encourage [her] peers to vote for the very first time in our upcoming midterm elections." Her other organizations include Yara's Club a partnership with Young Women's Leadership Network (YWLN) of New York, which provides online mentorship in hopes to end poverty through education.

Shahidi's activism was noticed by former first lady Michelle Obama, who wrote her a letter of recommendation to Harvard University. She was also given the opportunity by Teen Vogue to interview Hillary Clinton in 2017.

In 2021, Shahidi joined the Dior Stand with Women campaign.

In October 2023, Shahidi signed an open letter for the "Artists4Ceasefire" campaign alongside other artists, urging President Joe Biden to push for a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians amid the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Imagine That Olivia Danielson
2010 Salt Salt's Young Neighbor
Unthinkable Katie
2011 Butter Destiny
2012 Alex Cross Janelle Cross
2018 Smallfoot Brenda Voice Role
2019 Detective Pikachu Girlfriend
The Sun Is Also a Star Natasha Kingsley
Hair Love Co-executive producer
2020 Fearless Melanie Voice Role
2021 PAW Patrol: The Movie Kendra Wilson
2022 My Father's Dragon Callie
2023 Peter Pan & Wendy Tinker Bell
2023 Sitting in Bars with Cake Jane Executive producer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Entourage Kandace West 1 episode
2009 In the Motherhood Esther 5 episodes
Cold Case Meesha Sullivan '91 1 episode
Wizards of Waverly Place Olive 1 episode
2010 Lie to Me Olivia 1 episode
$♯*! My Dad Says Girl Scout 1 episode
2011 The Cape Layla 1 episode
Family Guy Little Girl Voice Role, 1 episode
Rip City Montana Television film
2012 The Finder Adina 1 episode
2012–2013 The First Family Chloe Johnson 23 episodes
2013 Scandal Young Olivia Pope 2 episodes
2014 Bad Teacher Jalissa 1 episode
The Fosters Maddie 2 episodes
2014–2022 Black-ish Zoey Johnson Main role (seasons 1–3), Recurring role (seasons 4–8); 79 episodes
2016–2018 Trollhunters Darci Scott Voice Role, 10 episodes
2018–2024 Grown-ish Zoey Johnson Lead role (seasons 1–5), Recurring role (season 6); Also executive producer
2018–2019 3Below Darci Scott Voice Role, 8 episodes
2023 Extrapolations Carmen Jalilo 1 episode

Music

Year Title Artist(s) Refs.
2018 "Nice for What" Drake
2023 "Mosquito" PinkPantheress

As director

Year Title Notes Refs.
2018 Shatterbox Episode: "X"
2022 Growing Up Episode: "Sofia"

Awards and nomination

Year Award Category Work Result
2016 BET Awards YoungStars Award Black-ish Nominated
2017 Won
2018 Won
2017 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series Black-ish Nominated
2018 Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series Grown-ish Nominated
2021 Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series Nominated
2016 Gracie Award Outstanding Female Actor in a Breakthrough Role Black-ish Won
2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
2015 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Won
2019 Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Grown-ish Nominated
2020 Nominated
2021 Nominated
2024 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Sitting in Bars with Cake Nominated
2019 People's Choice Awards The Comedy TV Star of 2019 Grown-ish Nominated
2020 The Comedy TV Star of 2020 Nominated
2021 The Female TV Star of 2021 Nominated
The Comedy TV Star of 2021 Nominated
2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Black-ish Nominated
2017 Nominated
2015 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV: Breakout Star Nominated
2017 Choice Comedy TV Actress Nominated
2018 Choice Comedy TV Actress Grown-ish Nominated
2019 Choice Summer Movie Actress The Sun Is Also a Star Nominated
Choice Comedy TV Actress Grown-ish Nominated
Choice Summer TV Actress Nominated
2010 Young Artist Award Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film Imagine That Nominated
2016 Best Performance in a TV Series – Leading Teen Actress Black-ish Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Yara Shahidi para niños

  • List of Iranian-Americans
  • List of African Americans
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