Hari Nef

Hari Nef was born in Philadelphia into a Jewish family. Her parents are David Neff, an advertising executive, and Robin Clebnik. Her parents divorced when she was two and she was raised by her mother in Newton, Massachusetts. She attended Newton South High School and was part of the school's South Stage program.

Nef graduated from Columbia University in May 2015 with a degree in theater.{{cite web|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/projects/article/22378/1/68-hari-nef|title=#68 – Hari Nef|author=Dazed|work=Dazed|date=December 2, 2014|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=May 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524203237/https://www.dazeddigital.com/projects/article/22378/1/68-hari-nef|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://bwog.com/2014/09/06/campus-character-hari-nef/|title=Campus Character: Hari Nef|work=Bwog|date=September 6, 2014|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=May 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522182208/http://bwog.com/2014/09/06/campus-character-hari-nef/|url-status=live}}

Nef starred as Tante Gittel in the 2015 Emmy-winning television series Transparent. Gittel's character is a Pfefferman family ancestor who lived her life as a cross-dresser in Berlin, Germany during the Weimar Republic and eventually was murdered during the Holocaust.{{Cite news|last=Shattuck|first=Kathryn|date=2015-12-02|title=Hari Nef Adds Another Layer to 'Transparent' (Published 2015)|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/arts/television/hari-nef-adds-another-layer-to-transparent.html|access-date=2020-12-16|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103142019/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/arts/television/hari-nef-adds-another-layer-to-transparent.html|url-status=live}} Creator Joey Soloway wrote the part for Nef after the two connected on social media and attended a PFLAG party together.{{Cite web|last=Lambe|first=Stacy|date=2015-12-18|title='Transparent' Breakout Hari Nef Takes Control of Her Story One Instagram at a Time|url=https://medium.com/@sllambe/transparent-breakout-hari-nef-takes-control-of-her-story-one-instagram-at-a-time-bcb3207827d7|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Medium|archive-date=January 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108081335/https://medium.com/@sllambe/transparent-breakout-hari-nef-takes-control-of-her-story-one-instagram-at-a-time-bcb3207827d7|url-status=live}} Nef received a 2016 SAG Award nomination for the role.{{Cite web |last=Becker |first=Morgan |date=2022-11-29 |title=Hari Nef and Lena Dunham on the complicated communion of performance |url=https://www.documentjournal.com/2022/11/hari-nef-and-lena-dunham-on-the-complicated-communion-of-performance/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Document Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219171656/https://www.documentjournal.com/2022/11/hari-nef-and-lena-dunham-on-the-complicated-communion-of-performance/ |url-status=live }}

In 2018, Nef starred as a major lead in Sam Levinson's comedy thriller Assassination Nation.{{cite web|last=Nicholson|first=Amy|date=January 22, 2018|title=Sundance Film Review: 'Assassination Nation'|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/assassination-nation-review-1202672940/|access-date=August 13, 2018|website=Variety|archive-date=June 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616003520/https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/assassination-nation-review-1202672940/|url-status=live}} The film stars Nef alongside Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, and Abra. In the same year, she had a recurring role as Blythe on the Lifetime psychological thriller television series You.{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=September 14, 2017|title='You' Casts Hari Nef; Isabel Arraiza Takes 'The Oath'|url=https://deadline.com/2017/09/you-cast-hari-nef-isabel-arraiza-the-oath-1202169713/|access-date=September 18, 2018|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=June 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622033033/https://deadline.com/2017/09/you-cast-hari-nef-isabel-arraiza-the-oath-1202169713/|url-status=live}} In 2018, Nef made her New York theater debut as a lead in Jeremy O. Harris' Daddy.{{cite news|last1=Brantley|first1=Ben|authorlink=Ben Brantley|date=March 5, 2019|title=Review: This 'Daddy' Has Issues. A Pool and Alan Cumming, Too.|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/05/theater/review-jeremy-o-harris-daddy.html|access-date=21 April 2020|archive-date=May 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524132741/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/05/theater/review-jeremy-o-harris-daddy.html|url-status=live}}

In 2022, Nef starred in the comedy film 1Up, alongside Ruby Rose, Paris Berelc, Taylor Zakhar Perez, and Nicholas Coombe.{{Cite magazine|first=Mey|last=Rude|date=January 29, 2021|title=Ruby Rose Replaces Elliot Page in '1Up,' Upcoming Esports Comedy|url=https://www.out.com/film/2021/1/29/ruby-rose-replaces-elliot-page-1up-upcoming-esports-comedy|access-date=April 16, 2021|magazine=Out|archive-date=February 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221012040/https://www.out.com/film/2021/1/29/ruby-rose-replaces-elliot-page-1up-upcoming-esports-comedy|url-status=live}} In August, it was announced that Nef would portray Candy Darling in a biopic from Transparent writer Stephanie Kornick.{{Cite web |last=Cordero |first=Rosy |date=2022-08-02 |title=Hari Nef To Portray Candy Darling In Biopic From 'Transparent' Writer Stephanie Kornick |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/hari-nef-candy-darling-biopic-1235083511/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219171654/https://deadline.com/2022/08/hari-nef-candy-darling-biopic-1235083511/ |url-status=live }}

Later that year, Nef returned to the stage and starred in Denis Johnson's play, Des Moines, at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn.{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Maya |date=2022-12-17 |title='Des Moines' Review: Drowning in the Drink |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/16/theater/des-moines-review.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219171654/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/16/theater/des-moines-review.html |url-status=live }} She performed in Thomas Bradshaw's debut of his adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, The Seagull, alongside Parker Posey, Patrick Foley, and Nat Wolff in spring 2023.{{Cite web |title=Parker Posey, Hari Nef, and More Cast in World Premiere of The Seagull/Woodstock, NY {{!}} TheaterMania |url=https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/parker-posey-hari-nef-the-seagull-woodstock-ny_94652.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=www.theatermania.com |language=en-US |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219171654/https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/parker-posey-hari-nef-the-seagull-woodstock-ny_94652.html |url-status=live }}

Nef starred in the 2023 HBO drama series The Idol followed by a role in Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig.{{Cite web |last=Hess |first=Liam |date=2022-07-06 |title=Hari Nef Is Having a Moment in the Hair Color of the Season |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/hari-nef-hair-color-of-the-season |access-date=2022-07-07 |work=Vogue |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722074630/https://www.vogue.com/article/hari-nef-hair-color-of-the-season |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=2022-04-14 |title=Margot Robbie's 'Barbie' Casts 'And Just Like That' Actor Hari Nef (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/margot-robbie-barbie-movie-hari-nef-1235233039/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414185629/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/margot-robbie-barbie-movie-hari-nef-1235233039/ |url-status=live }}

File:Hari Nef (43620745531) (cropped).jpg]]

Nef has written profiles on various artists and cultural figures including director John Waters, singer/actress Cristina Ortiz Rodriguez, Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi's Spanish biographical series Veneno, painter Nash Glynn, and Lucas Hilderbrand's book, “The Bars Are Ours."{{cite web|title=About Adult|url=http://adult-mag.com/about-adult/#masthead|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401110658/http://adult-mag.com/about-adult|archive-date=1 April 2016|access-date=26 May 2015|work=Adult Mag}}{{Cite web|title=January/February 2021 in Artforum|url=https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/337931/january-february-2021-in-artforum/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=e-flux|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106092732/https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/337931/january-february-2021-in-artforum/|url-status=live}} Nef wrote a regular sex advice and experience column for Sarah Nicole Prickett's Adult magazine. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Artforum, Dazed, Vice, Original Plumbing, L'Officiel, and BlackBook.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbook.com/koons-koons-encounter-art-star-jeff-koons/|title=Koons, The Koons, and Me: An Encounter with the Art Star Jeff Koons|work=BlackBook|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114924/http://www.bbook.com/koons-koons-encounter-art-star-jeff-koons/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/chelsea-girl/|title=Chelsea Girl|work=VICE|date=August 25, 2013|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=September 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927115223/http://www.vice.com/read/chelsea-girl|url-status=live}}

In 2014, Nef was on the cover of Frische Magazine.{{cite web|url=http://frischemagazine.bigcartel.com/product/frische-magazine-no-6fw14|title=FRISCHE Magazine — FRISCHE magazine NO.6—FW14|work=bigcartel.com|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101058/http://frischemagazine.bigcartel.com/product/frische-magazine-no-6fw14|url-status=live}} That same year, she was placed at number 68 on Dazed{{'}}s 100 list. Nef also moved to the top of the Dazed Readers 100, ranking number one overall, and appeared in the i-D Pre-Fall Issue twice.{{cite web|url=https://i-d.co/article/meet-hari-nef-the-american-actress-leading-the-transgender-revolution/|title=meet hari nef, the american actress leading the transgender revolution|work=i-D|date=December 29, 2014|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=May 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512102734/https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/meet-hari-nef-the-american-actress-leading-the-transgender-revolution|url-status=live}}

In 2015, she again walked shows during New York Fashion Week, including Adam Selman, VFiles, Vejas, Degen, and Eckhaus Latta once more.{{cite web|url=http://www.styleite.com/qa/nyfw-hari-nef-new-york-needs-a-confidence-boost/|title=NYFW: Hari Nef, 'New York Needs a Confidence Boost'|date=18 February 2015|work=styleite.com|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=March 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324064732/http://www.styleite.com/qa/nyfw-hari-nef-new-york-needs-a-confidence-boost/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Matthew|last=Tharrett|url=http://www.newnownext.com/nyfw-it-girl-hari-nef-has-something-to-say-about-fashions-fixation-with-trans-women/02/2015/|title=NYFW "It Girl" Hari Nef Has Something To Say About Fashion's Fixation With Trans Women|work=NewNowNext|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-date=February 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221091200/http://www.newnownext.com/nyfw-it-girl-hari-nef-has-something-to-say-about-fashions-fixation-with-trans-women/02/2015/|url-status=live}} In May of the same year, Nef was signed to IMG Models, making her the first openly transgender model signed to that agency.{{cite web |url=http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/08/16/otherstories |title=Fashion Shoot's All-Transgender Crew Breaks Another Barrier |publisher=TakePart |access-date=2015-08-17 |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001122712/http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/08/16/otherstories/ |url-status=dead }}{{Citation|last = Vingan|first = Alyssa|title = IMG Signs Transgender Model Hari Nef|newspaper = Fashionista|date = 26 May 2015|url = http://fashionista.com/2015/05/hari-nef-img-models|access-date = 26 May 2015|archive-date = July 2, 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230702182204/https://fashionista.com/2015/05/hari-nef-img-models|url-status = live}}{{Citation| title = Hari Nef| publisher = IMG Worldwide| year = 2015| url = http://imgmodels.com/new-york/women/model?mid=12003| access-date = 9 September 2015| archive-date = September 7, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150907145240/http://imgmodels.com/new-york/women/model?mid=12003| url-status = live}} In the summer of 2015, Nef was cast in the second season of Amazon Prime's Transparent, which debuted in December 2015.{{cite web|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/hari-nef-and-petra-collins-join-season-two-of-transparent|title=hari nef and petra collins join season two of transparent - read|work=i-D|date=July 13, 2015|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-date=November 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127232238/http://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/hari-nef-and-petra-collins-join-season-two-of-transparent|url-status=dead}} She also starred in The Drums' music video "There Is Nothing Left" in August.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/60768-the-drums-there-is-nothing-left-video-stars-hari-nef-bigfoot/ |title=The Drums' "There is Nothing Left" Video Stars Hari Nef |website=Pitchfork |date=August 12, 2015 |access-date=2015-08-23 |archive-date=March 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301020135/https://pitchfork.com/news/60768-the-drums-there-is-nothing-left-video-stars-hari-nef-bigfoot/ |url-status=live }} The Forward newspaper included her in the Forward 50, a list of the year's 50 most influential Jewish-Americans.{{cite web |url=http://forward.com/series/forward-50/2015/ |title=Forward 50 2015 |work=The Forward |date=2015-11-07 |access-date=2015-11-11 |archive-date=July 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713140014/https://forward.com/series/forward-50/2015/ |url-status=live }}

Elle printed special collectors' covers for their September 2016 issue, and one of them featured Nef, which was the first time an openly transgender woman had been on the cover of a major commercial British magazine.{{cite news |first=Sarah |last=Hughes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/30/hari-nef-changing-world-transgender |title=Meet Hari Nef: actor, model – and Elle's first transgender cover girl in UK |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=2016-06-30 |access-date=2016-08-05 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502214412/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/30/hari-nef-changing-world-transgender |url-status=live }}

In January 2017, Nef starred in a television commercial for the L'Oréal Paris True Match line alongside Blake Lively, Lara Stone, and Xiao Wen Ju. The campaign was premiered at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards telecast.{{cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/loreals-latest-true-match-ad-features-hari-nef-blake-lively-xiao-wen-ju-sabina-karlsson-many-more-diverse-faces-video-28900|title=L'Oreal's Latest True Match Ad Features Hari Nef, Blake Lively, Xiao Wen Ju, Sabina Karlsson & Many More Diverse Faces – VIDEO|last1=Richards|first1=Amanda|website=Bustle|access-date=9 January 2017|date=8 January 2017|archive-date=January 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015750/https://www.bustle.com/p/loreals-latest-true-match-ad-features-hari-nef-blake-lively-xiao-wen-ju-sabina-karlsson-many-more-diverse-faces-video-28900|url-status=live}}

Nef walked nine runways during New York Fashion Week for the Spring/Summer 2023 season.

Nef is transgender. In an interview with Elle, Nef said, "[As a teenager,] I wanted to wear certain clothes and couldn't. I sort of did it anyway, but there was always a friction with my peers and a mother who was less close-minded than worried."{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=Sarah |date=2016-07-30 |title=Meet Hari Nef: actor, model – and Elle's first transgender cover girl in UK |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/30/hari-nef-changing-world-transgender |access-date=2024-07-26 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}} Nef began transitioning while attending Columbia University and is an advocate for transgender women and girls.{{Cite web |last=JWA Staff |title=Hari Nef |url=https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/nef-hari |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Jewish Women's Archive |language=en}}

As of 2024, Nef lives in New York City and is currently in a relationship with journalist and The Nation editor, Ludwig Hurtado.{{Cite magazine |last=Wilson |first=Eric |title=Hari Nef: Life As a Trans Model And Actress |url=https://time.com/collection/american-voices-2017/4497250/hari-nef-american-voices/ |access-date=26 July 2024 |magazine=TIME}}

Nef has spoken out against Israel and in support of Palestine.{{Cite web |title=Tweet via Hari Nef |url=https://x.com/harinef/status/825421726603476992}}{{Cite web |title=Hari Nef via X (formerly Twitter) |url=https://x.com/harinef/status/761334401099829248}}{{Cite web |title=Hari Nef via X (formerly Twitter) |url=https://x.com/harinef/status/1836176386416939284}}

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{{Reflist}}

• {{cite news|last1=Shattuck|first1=Kathryn|title=Hari Nef Adds Another Layer to 'Transparent'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/arts/television/hari-nef-adds-another-layer-to-transparent.html?_r=0|work=New York Times|date=December 2, 2015 |issue=December 2, 2015}} Interview with Nef
• {{cite magazine|title=Hari Nef is not your poster girl|magazine=Dazed|last=Fey|first=Shon|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/33287/1/hari-nef-transparent-dazed-25-freedom-fashion|date=2016}}
• {{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/09/hari-nef-lena-dunham-career-advice|magazine=Vanity Fair|last=Weaver|first=Hilary|date=September 7, 2016|title=Hari Nef Says Her Friend Lena Dunham Gave Her Advice for Her Skyrocketing Career}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.imgmodels.com/model/new-york/women/17501 Hari Nef] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816182000/http://www.imgmodels.com/model/new-york/women/17501 |date=August 16, 2017 }} at IMG Models
• {{IMDb name|6341515}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nef, Hari}}

Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers

Category:21st-century American women

Category:Actors from Newton, Massachusetts

Category:Actresses from Philadelphia

Category:American transgender actresses

Category:American transgender writers

Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni

Category:IMG Models models

Category:Jewish American actresses

Category:Jewish American non-fiction writers

Category:Jewish female models

Category:Jewish women writers

Category:LGBTQ people from California

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Category:Writers from Newton, Massachusetts

Category:Writers from Philadelphia

Category:Jewish LGBTQ women

Category:Jewish American activists for Palestinian solidarity