Leila Farzad

Biography

Leila Effat Farzad (Arabic: ليلى عفت Persian: لیلا عفت فرزاد; born December 30, 1981) is a British actress. She is known for her role as Naomi Jones in the Sky Atlantic series I Hate Suzie (2020–2022), which earned her a British Academy Television Award nomination. Farzad was born in London to Iranian parents. She was inspired to pursue acting by National Theatre productions her aunt took her to see, however, her parents requested she get a degree from Oxbridge first. She first studied Modern Languages at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in French and Italian Literature. She then went on to train at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which she said "felt like home". Farzad began her career with a voice role in the third and fourth series of the Channel 5 animated children's series Peppa Pig. She made her live action television debut in an episode of the ITV police procedural Law & Order: UK and her professional stage debut as the titular role in Miriam. Gonzalez. Durantez. at Theatre503. This was followed by roles in Blue Remembered Hills at Chichester Festival Theatre, the all female Julius Caesar at the Bridge Theatre in London, Richard II at Shakespeare's Globe. She also appeared in the ITV anthology Innocent. Farzad landed her first main role was I Hate Suzie as Naomi Jones, Suzie's (Billie Piper) manager and friend. The series was released in 2020 on Sky Atlantic and HBO Max to critical acclaim, and Farzad was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress. Farzad reprised her role in I Hate Suzie's second installment titled I Hate Suzie Too in 2022. Also that year, Farzad joined the cast of Avenue 5 for its second season and appeared alongside Josh Hartnett in The Fear Index, also on Sky. In 2023, she starred in the BBC crime drama Better.

Most Known For

Black Mirror

as Mona Javadi

The Marvels

as Talia

Avenue 5

as Elena

I Hate Suzie

as Naomi

The Decameron

as Stratilia

KAOS

as Ari

Jay Kelly

as 1st AD

Pose

as Dolly

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

as Nicolette

Innocent

as Janice Parker

Better

as Lou Slack

Landscapers

as Beckett, QC

The Fear Index

as Gabby Hoffman

This Time with Alan Partridge

as Clarissa Hoskin

Richard II

as Queen

Two Weeks in August

as Nat

Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger

as Margot

Married Single Other

as Student Doctor

National Theatre Live: Julius Caesar

as Decius Brutus

Good Luck Fuck Face

as Zara