Leila Farzad
Birth nameLeila Effat Farzad
Birth placeWestminster, London, England
OccupationActress
Alma materWorcester College, Oxford
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Years active2006–present
SpouseJames Maizels

Leila Effat Farzad 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.

Early life and education

Leila Effat Farzad[citation needed] 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 insisted that she get a degree from Oxbridge first.[1]

She first studied modern languages at Worcester College, Oxford,[2] graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in French and Italian Literature.[3] She then went on to train at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama,[4] which she said "felt like home".[5][6]

Career

Farzad began her career with a voice role in the third and fourth series of the Channel 5 animated children's series Peppa Pig.[when?] She made her live action television debut in an episode of the ITV police procedural Law & Order: UK[citation needed] and her professional stage debut as the titular role in Miriam. Gonzalez. Durantez. at Theatre503.[7] This was followed by roles in Blue Remembered Hills at Chichester Festival Theatre,[8] Julius Caesar at the Bridge Theatre in London,[9] Richard II at Shakespeare's Globe.[10] She also appeared in the ITV anthology Innocent.[when?][citation needed]

Farzad landed her first main role in I Hate Suzie as Naomi Jones, Suzie's (Billie Piper) manager and friend.[11] 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 instalment titled I Hate Suzie Too in 2022.[12]British Academy Television Award nomination.[13]

Also in 2022, Farzad joined the cast of Avenue 5 for its second season and appeared alongside Josh Hartnett in The Fear Index, also on Sky.[citation needed]

In 2023, she starred in the BBC crime drama Better.[14]

Personal life

Farzad has a daughter, born in 2014, with James Maizels.[15]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2023The MarvelsTalia
2025Bank of Dave 2: The Loan RangerMargot
Bridget Jones: Mad About the BoyPerfect Nicolette
Good Luck Fuck FaceZaraShort film
PoseDollyOriginal title: Turn Up the Sun!
Jay Kelly1st AD
2026OvertonesNickyShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004–2015Peppa PigMummy Pony / Mummy Cat (voices)Recurring roles; 15 episodes
2009Law & Order: UKLeyla BilginEpisode: "Paradise"
2010Married Single OtherStudent DoctorEpisode: "Chink"
2011Twenty TwelveJournalistEpisode: "Countdown"
2013Man DownEyebrow LadyEpisode: "Desperate Dan"
2015CuffsAmika KhanMini-series; episode: "Drastic Action"
2017Count Arthur StrongReporterEpisode: "Untrue Detective"
2018InnocentJanice ParkerEpisodes #1.1 and #1.2
2020–2022I Hate SuzieNaomi JonesMain role; series 1 and 2; 11 episodes
2021This Time with Alan PartridgeClarissa HoskinEpisode #2.1
LandscapersBarristerMini-series; episode 4
2022The Fear IndexGabrielle Hoffman4 episodes[16][17]
Avenue 5ElenaSeason 2; 7 episodes
2023BetterDI Lou SlackMain role; 5 episodes[18]
Black MirrorMona JavadiEpisode: "Joan Is Awful"
2024The DecameronStratiliaMini-series; 8 episodes
KaosAri (Ariadne)6 episodes
2026How to Get to Heaven from BelfastMarnie4 episodes
Two Weeks in AugustNatMain cast; mini-series; 8 episodes

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Miriam. Gonzalez. Durantez.Miriam GonzalezTheatre503, London
2012Blue Remembered HillsAngelaChichester Festival Theatre, Chichester
2018Julius CaesarDecius BrutusBridge Theatre, London
2019Richard IIQueenGlobe Theatre, London

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2021British Academy Television AwardsBest Supporting ActressI Hate Suzie[19]

References

  1. ^ Marius, Marley (1 December 2020). "I Hate Suzie's Leila Farzad on Iranian Representation and Depicting a "Barbed" Female Friendship". Vogue. Archived 25 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Leila Farzad". Spotlight. Archived 21 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  3. ^ Alexandrou, Chloe (23 August 2020). "Newcomer Leila Farzad talks acting alongside Billie Piper in Sky's new drama I Hate Suzie". Daily Express. Archived 16 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. ^ "WFTV Q&A: Panel discussion with the talent behind I Hate Suzie, Sky Atlantic". The Dots. 18 August 2020. Archived 21 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  5. ^ "The ones to watch: meet the next generation of megastars". You. 14 February 2021. Archived 14 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  6. ^ McEvoy, Sophie (26 August 2020). "Who Plays Suzie's Manager In I Hate Suzie?". Bustle. Archived 22 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  7. ^ Salisbury, Corinne. "Coalition (Blue Group)". British Theatre Guide. Archived 25 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Cast List, Blue Remembered Hills (2012)". Chichester Festival Theatre. Archived 22 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Julius Caesar". Bridge Theatre. Archived 3 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  10. ^ "What's On: Richard II 2019". Archived 28 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  11. ^ Griffiths, George (27 August 2020). "I Hate Suzie's Leila Farzad on working with Billie Piper and the importance of female friendship: 'A lot of TV just stops looking at women in their mid-30s'". Metro. Archived 3 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  12. ^ Gordon, Naomi (21 February 2021). "Billie Piper's hit series I Hate Suzie returning for a second season, Sky confirms". Harper's BAZAAR. Archived 23 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  13. ^ Green, Alex (7 June 2021). "Rakie Ayola on 'overwhelming' Bafta TV award win". www.standard.co.uk. Archived 23 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  14. ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (2023-02-14). "This corrupt cop has an oddly innocent view of the world". The Guardian. p. 10. Retrieved 2025-06-26. – via Newspapers.com
  15. ^ Palmer, Katie (20 February 2023). "Leila Farzad husband: Is the Better star married?". Daily Express. Archived 1 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  16. ^ Kanter, Jake (26 April 2021). "'The Fear Index': Josh Hartnett Stars in Sky's Robert Harris' Financial Thriller". Deadline. Archived 27 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  17. ^ Dan Einav (11 February 2022). "The Fear Index — Sky's new financial thriller is a dizzying rush". Financial Times. Archived 11 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Better cast and creatives tease 'very dark thriller' about a corrupt police officer and a gangster that's 'full of high stakes'". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 7 February 2023. Archived 9 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Television - 2020". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Archived 22 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 February 2021.