Tala Ashe
{{Short description|Iranian-American actress (born 1984)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tala Ashe
| image = Tala Ashe Photo Op GalaxyCon Columbus 2022.jpg
| caption = Ashe in 2022
| birth_name = Talayeh Ashrafi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|July 24, 1984}}
| spouse = Raffi Barsoumian
| education = Boston University (BFA)
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2008–present
| website = {{url|1=https://www.instagram.com/talaashe/?hl=en}}
| signature = Tala Ashe Signature.svg
}}
Talayeh Ashrafi ({{langx|fa|طلایه اشرفی}};{{cite tweet|number=1317644563931033601|user=talaashe|title=#MyNameIs Talayeh. It means "pioneer" in Persian & comes from the Shahnameh. I have felt my share of Othering & racism by people like @sendavidperdue. I will be voting for @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris because I know we are a nation of immigrants & I am proud to be one.|date=October 17, 2020|access-date=October 18, 2020}} born July 24, 1984) known professionally as Tala Ashe, is an Iranian-American actress. She is known for her roles on the television series Smash, American Odyssey, and As the World Turns, as well as her regular role as Zari Tomaz and Zari Tarazi on The CW superhero series Legends of Tomorrow.
Early life and education
Ashe was born in Tehran, Iran.{{cite web| url = https://iranian.com/2017/06/08/iranian-american-tala-ashe-dcs-legends-of-tomorrow/ |title = Iranian-American Tala Ashe Will Be Starring In 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow' |website = The Iranian |last = Malek |first = Parastoo |date = June 8, 2017}} She immigrated to the United States when she was nine months old.{{YouTube|c0O6XV3VwjA}} Ashe grew up in Powell, Ohio, just outside of the state capital Columbus.{{cite web| url = http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/legends-of-tomorrows-new-hero-is-female-and-muslim |title = Legends of Tomorrow's new hero is female and Muslim |publisher = The Straits Times |last = de Souza |first = Alison |date = October 13, 2017}} She participated in her high school theatre productions as both an actress and director.{{cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/television/2012/04/23/ohio-actress-reporter-on-smash/23909966007/|title = Ohio actress a reporter on 'Smash' |publisher = The Columbus Dispatch |last = Grossberg |first = Michael |date = April 23, 2012|access-date=May 10, 2022}}
Ashe received a BFA from Boston University's School of Theatre. She also trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City.
Career
Ashe has performed in numerous regional and Off-Broadway stage productions. Ashe's first screen credit is for her role as Nadia in the 2008 film Waiting in Beijing.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvovermind.com/entertainment-news/five-things-didnt-know-tala-ashe-2|title=Five Things You Didn't Know about Tala Ashe|website=TVOvermind|last=Berman|first=Nat|date=November 23, 2017}} She was credited as Tala Ashrafi, but is credited as Tala Ashe in all subsequent roles. She has made guest appearances on the series Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, 30 Rock, and Covert Affairs. Ashe has also had recurring roles on Smash and American Odyssey. She was also a cast member on As the World Turns.
In 2017, Ashe joined the main cast of Legends of Tomorrow as Zari Tomaz.{{cite magazine| url = https://ew.com/tv/2017/10/23/legends-of-tomorrow-tala-ashe-zari-interview/ | title = Legends of Tomorrow{{'}}s Tala Ashe previews new addition to team | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | last = Abrams | first = Natalie | date = October 23, 2017}}{{cite web| url = https://deadline.com/2017/06/tala-ashe-joins-dcs-legends-of-tomorrow-season-3-the-cw-1202107910/ | title = Tala Ashe Joins 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow' As Muslim-American Hacktivist-Superhero | website = Deadline Hollywood | last = Pedersen | first = Erik | date = June 6, 2017}} She took the lead for a bottle episode titled "Here I Go Again" and drew praise from critics and fans alike for her performance.{{cite magazine| url = https://ew.com/tv/2018/02/23/superhero-insider-tala-ashe-shines-in-legends-of-tomorrow-time-loop-episode/ | title = Superhero Insider: Tala Ashe shines in Legends of Tomorrow time loop episode | magazine = Entertainment Weekly | last = Agard | first = Chancellor | date = February 23, 2018}}{{cite web| url= https://www.avclub.com/legends-of-tomorrow-channels-hedgehog-day-for-an-exce-1823148372 | title = Legends of Tomorrow channels "Hedgehog Day" for an excellent time loop story | website = The A.V. Club | last = Sava | first = Oliver | date = February 19, 2018}}{{cite web| url = https://www.spoilertv.com/2018/03/performers-of-month-february-voting.html?m=1 | title = Performers of the Month – February Voting *RESULTS* | website = SpoilerTV | last = Hicks | first = Aimee | date = March 11, 2018}}{{cite web| url = https://www.spoilertv.com/2018/03/performers-of-month-readers-choice.html?m=1 |title = Performers of the Month – Reader's Choice Performer of February – Tala Ashe |website = SpoilerTV | last = Hicks | first = Aimee | date = March 31, 2018}}
Personal life
Ashe is Iranian-American and holds dual citizenship. Her name, Talayeh, means "pioneer" in Persian and comes from the Shahnameh. In addition to English, she speaks fluent Persian. Along with her fellow Arrowverse actresses, Ashe is a founding member of Shethority, a project aimed at inspiring and uplifting women (inclusively defined).{{cite web| url = https://comicbook.com/dc/news/arrowverse-actresses-shethority/ |title = Arrowverse Actresses Launch "Shethority" Charity Campaign |website = ComicBook|last = Drum |first = Nicole |date = November 18, 2017|access-date=May 10, 2022}}{{cite web| url = http://shethority.com/about-us/ |title = What Is Shethority? |website = shethority.com}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television and film roles |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2008
| Waiting in Beijing | Nadia | Film; credited as Tala Ashrafi |
| 2008
| Madison | Episode: "Angelgrove" |
| 2008
| Ameera Ali Aziz | Recurring role, 26 episodes |
| 2011
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Rebecca Landon | Episode: "Cyber-War" |
| 2012
| Smash | R.J. Quigley | Recurring role (season 1), 6 episodes |
| 2015
| Anna Stone | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2017–2022 |
| 2024
| Althea Abdi | Recurring role |
Stage
In addition to the following, Ashe has also performed in productions of Love's Labour's Lost (as Tala Ashrafi; Huntington Theatre Company), Age of Innocence (New York Arena), Autophagy (Drama League Director's Project), Twelfth Night (Actors' Shakespeare Project), and Pearls from Salt (Olney Theatre), among others.{{cite web| url = https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news-features/full-casting-for-ayad-akhtars-the-who-and-the-what |title = Full Casting for Ayad Akhtar's 'The Who and The What' |website = New York Theatre Guide |last = Millward |first = Tom |date = March 27, 2014}}{{cite web| url = http://www.lct.org/shows/people/tala-ashe/ |title = TALA ASHE |website = Lincoln Center Theater}}{{cite web| url = https://www.broadway.com/buzz/175146/pulitzer-prize-winner-ayad-akhtars-the-who-the-what-to-have-new-york-premiere-at-lct/ |title = Pulitzer Prize Winner Ayad Akhtar's The Who & The What to Have New York Premiere at LCT |website = Broadway.com |date = March 26, 2014}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2660442}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashe, Tala}}
Category:Iranian television actresses
Category:People from Powell, Ohio
Category:Boston University College of Fine Arts alumni
Category:Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Category:Actresses from Tehran
Category:21st-century Iranian actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:Iranian stage actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:Iranian emigrants to the United States