Sarah Shahi
Birth nameAahoo Jahansouzshahi
Birth dateJanuary 10, 1980 (age 46)
Birth placeEuless, Texas, U.S.
Alma materSouthern Methodist University
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
SpouseSteve Howey (m. 2009; div. 2021)

Aahoo Jahansouzshahi (Persian: آهو جهانسوز شاهی; born January 10, 1980), known professionally as Sarah Shahi,[1] is an American actress. She played Carmen on The L Word in 2005, Kate Reed in the USA Network legal drama Fairly Legal (2011–2012), Sameen Shaw on the CBS crime drama Person of Interest (2012–2016),[2] Billie on the Netflix series Sex/Life (2021–2023), and Dr. Gabriela Torabi in Hulu thriller series Paradise (2025–present). She portrayed the major character Det. Dani Reese in Life,[3] and had a supporting role in Alias.[4] In 2018, she starred in the series Reverie. In 2019, she appeared in a recurring role in City on a Hill on Showtime,[5] , co-stars in 2022's "Black Adam" as Adrianna Tomaz, and appeared in seven episodes of the series The Rookie as hostage rescue specialist Jessica Russo.[6] In 2023, she received praise for her role as White House Deputy Chief of Staff Zahra Bankston in Red, White & Royal Blue.[7][8]

Early life

Sarah Shahi was born Aahoo Jahansouzshahi on January 10, 1980[9] and raised in Euless, Texas.[1] Her father, Abbas Jahansouzshahi, and her mother, Mahmonir Soroushazar, an interior designer, divorced when she was ten years old.[10] Her mother is of Iranian (Persian) and Spanish descent.[11][12] Her father is from Iran. Her father's family left Iran two years before the Iranian Revolution.[13][14] Her father, who was working at the American embassy in Iran, was slated for execution when the last Shah's regime collapsed in 1979, but was able to flee the country.[10] Shahi has an older brother, Cyrus,[15] and a younger sister, Samantha, who is a production assistant.[16][17]

Her birth name, Aahoo (Persian: آهو), means 'gazelle' in Persian.[12] Shahi adopted Sarah as her name in second grade after hearing the Starship song "Sara" because she was "tormented" by other children about her birth name, Aahoo.[1][18] At her father's behest, she grew up speaking Persian in addition to English. Shahi's parents began entering her in beauty pageants at the age of eight.[14] Shahi attended Trinity High School,[19] and Southern Methodist University.[20] She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega during her time at SMU. Shahi won the Miss Fort Worth pageant in 1997.[21] Hoping to become an actress, she joined the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (1999–2000) squad, despite not having cheered before. Later, she moved to Los Angeles.[1]

Career

While working as an extra on the set of Dr. T and the Women in Texas, Shahi met director Robert Altman, who encouraged her to move to Hollywood,[1] where she received roles in several series, including Alias, Dawson's Creek, Reba and Supernatural. In 2005, she appeared in the supporting character role of DJ Carmen de la Pica Morales on The L Word, which she joined in its second season. Shahi's two-year contract was not renewed after the end of the fourth season, and her character was written out.[22] Also that same year, Shahi appeared in the pilot episode of Supernatural as Constance Welch, AKA The Woman in White, the first ghost that Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) and Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) encounter.

Shahi was named number 90 on the Maxim "Hot 100 of 2005" list, moving up to number 66 in 2006[23] and 36 in 2012.[24] She appeared on the cover of Maxim's 2012 'TV's Hottest Girls' Issue in October 2012.[25] She ranked number 5 on the AfterEllen.com hot list in 2007.[26]

She played Farah in the second season of Sleeper Cell, and also appeared in HBO's The Sopranos in 2007, in the Season 6b episode "Kennedy and Heidi" as Sonya Aragon, a stripper and college student who spends a weekend with Tony after a death in his family. In 2007, she secured a small role in Rush Hour 3 as Zoe, a scantily clad rich girl who is pursued by Chris Tucker's character, Detective Carter.

In 2007, she took on her first permanent leading role on a TV series, co-starring with Damian Lewis in the NBC series Life as homicide detective Dani Reese. The series ran for two seasons.[1][27]

In October 2009, Shahi landed the lead role in the USA Network pilot, Facing Kate. Shahi began filming in November 2009.[28] The show followed the life of Kate Reed, a legal mediator who is frustrated with the bureaucracy and injustice she witnesses in the legal system. The series title was later changed to Fairly Legal. The show was cancelled after two seasons in November 2012.[29]

Shahi was cast as a recurring love interest for Taylor Kinney's character Lt. Kelly Severide on NBC's show Chicago Fire in October 2012.[30] She was cast in the recurring role of Sameen Shaw on Person of Interest, making her first appearance in the second-season episode "Relevance", which aired in February 2013.[31] In May 2013, CBS president Nina Tassler announced that Shahi would be added as a series regular for its third season.[2] She played the daughter of Sylvester Stallone's character in the 2012 action film Bullet to the Head. Her co-star on this film was Jason Momoa, who she worked with again in the 2014 film Road to Paloma. Following the January 7, 2015, episode of Person of Interest, Shahi and the show's producers announced she would be going on maternity leave.[32]

In February 2016, she was cast as iconic detective Nancy Drew in a planned TV series based on the books.[33] In May 2016, CBS passed on the series.[34] Also in May, Shahi resumed her appearances as Shaw on Person of Interest, until June 21, 2016, when the show ended.[35] She starred in the new TV series Reverie in 2018,[36] but it was cancelled after one season.[37]

In 2018, Shahi played a recurring role on The Rookie as Jessica Russo, a private security consultant and former FBI hostage rescue specialist, who becomes John Nolan's girlfriend.[6] In 2019, Shahi joined the cast of Showtime's City on a Hill as recurring character Rachel Behnam, an investigator for the district attorney.[5]

In August 2020, Shahi started filming Sex/Life, a Netflix series inspired by BB Easton's book "44 Chapters About 4 Men", in Toronto, Canada.[38][39] She played Billie, a housewife struggling to remain a devoted wife and mother when tempted by an old flame and the freer days of her youth.[39] In October, she was cast as Adrianna Tomaz in the 2022 DCEU film Black Adam opposite Dwayne Johnson and Pierce Brosnan.

Personal life

Shahi married actor Steve Howey on February 7, 2009, in Las Vegas. In July 2009, she gave birth to their first child, a son,[40] during an at-home water birth.[41] In January 2015, she announced that she was pregnant with twins.[42] In March, a daughter and son were born during another home birth.[43] Shahi and Howey filed for divorce in May 2020.[44] Their divorce was finalized in January 2021.[45]

In 2021, Shahi revealed that she was in a relationship with Australian actor Adam Demos, whom she met on the set of Sex/Life.[46][47] It was reported in April 2025 that Shahi had ended her relationship with Demos.[48]

Shahi studied karate in her youth becoming a 1st dan black belt in Shorin-Ryu karate.[49]

Lawsuit

In 2016, Shahi and Howey were sued by a former nanny of their children for sexual harassment and religious discrimination. The lawsuit claimed Shahi mocked her Islamic customs of dress and fasting. The lawsuit also alleged sexual harassment, with Shahi sharing a lewd photograph with the nanny, and grabbing her backside and commenting, "You have a perfect little butt."[50] In 2017, the nanny asked for the case to be dismissed.[51]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleOther notes
2000Dr. T and the WomenCheerleaderUncredited
2003Old SchoolErica
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & BlondeBecky, Delta Nu SisterUncredited
2005A Lot Like LoveStarlet
2006For Your ConsiderationSanchez
The Dog ProblemCandy
2007Rush Hour 3ZoeUncredited
2008Shades of RaySana Khaliq
AmericanEastSalwah Marzoke
2009Crossing OverPooneh Baraheri
2011East Fifth BlissHattie Skunk / Hattie Rockworth
I Don't Know How She Does ItJanine LoPietro
2012StaticAdele Dade
Bullet to the HeadLisa Bonomo
2013The CongressMichelle
2014Road to PalomaEva Murphy
2015Divine AccessMarian[52]
The Adventures of BeatleCarla
2017HangmanCaptain Lisa Watson[53]
2020Bad TherapyAnnabelle
American 11Aliyah Ali[54]
2022Black AdamAdrianna Tomaz
2023Red, White & Royal BlueZahra Bankston
TBARed, White & Royal WeddingPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleOther notes
2000City GuysCheerleaderEpisode: "Shock Treatment"
Spin CityBacheloretteEpisode: "Blind Faith"
2001Boston PublicLauraEpisode: "Chapter Eleven"
Off CentreAngelicaEpisode: "A Cute Triangle"
Maybe It's MeRosaEpisode: "The Exchange-Student Episode"
18 Wheels of JusticeChristinaEpisode: "Old Wives' Tale "
2001–2002AliasJenny7 episodes
2002Class of '06Megan "Meg"Unsold NBC pilot
My Adventures in TelevisionTV DivaEpisode: "The Chinese Baby"
2003FrasierReservationistEpisode: "Door Jam"
Dawson's CreekSadia Shaw / Mystery GirlEpisodes: "Catch-22", "Sex and Violence", and "All the Right Moves"
ERTara KingEpisode: "The Greater Good"
2004Century CityMs. MorrisEpisode: "Sweet Child of Mine"
2004, 2007RebaKate
Bridget		Episode: "To Tell You the Truth"
Episode: "Cheyenne's Rival"
2005Plan BBronwynUnsold CMT pilot
SupernaturalConstance Welch /
The Woman in White		Episode: "Pilot"
The DropHerselfEpisode: "2.49"
2005–2009The L WordCarmen de la Pica Morales26 episodes
2006TeachersTina TorresMain role
Sleeper CellFarrahEpisodes: "Faith" and "Torture"
2007The SopranosSonya AragonEpisode: "Kennedy and Heidi"
2007–2009LifeDani ReeseMain character, 32 episodes
2010PsychRubyEpisode: "Thrill Seekers and Hell Raisers"
2011–2012Fairly LegalKate ReedLead character, 23 episodes
2011Young JusticeKiller Frost /
Crystal Frost (voice)		Episode: "Terrors"
2018Chicago FireRenee Royce10 episodes
2013–2016Person of InterestSameen ShawRecurring role (season 2); main role (seasons 3–5)
2015Ray DonovanHasmigEpisode: "One Night in Yerevan"
2016PitchNatalie LuongoEpisodes: "Unstoppable Forces & Immovable Objects" and "Scratched"
DrewNancy DrewUnsold CBS pilot
2017Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day SpecialCarmelaNetflix variety special
2018ReverieMara KintMain role, 10 episodes
Halfway ThereCarrie ClaussenTelevision film
Hell's KitchenHerselfBlue guest diner; Episode: "Fish Out of Water"
2018–2019The RookieJessica RussoRecurring role, 7 episodes [55]
2019HeartstringsLucy JaneEpisode: "Cracker Jack"[56]
City on a HillRachel BehnamRecurring role[5]
2021–2023Sex/LifeBillie ConnellyMain role
2025ParadiseDr. Gabriela TorabiMain role

See also

References

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  2. ^ Ng, Philiana (May 15, 2013). "'Person of Interest' Adds Sarah Shahi as Series Regular". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  3. ^ "Dani Reese: Life Character". NBC. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  4. ^ Otterson, Joe (January 30, 2020). "Sarah Shahi to Star in Netflix Dramedy 'Sex/Life'". Variety. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "'City on a Hill': Sarah Shahi to Recur on Showtime Drama Series". Deadline. January 14, 2019.
  6. ^ Ausiello, Michael (January 11, 2019). "Person of Interest's Sarah Shahi Joins The Rookie in 'Rock Star' Recurring Role". TVLine. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  7. ^ Hogan, Heather (August 11, 2023). "'Red, White & Royal Blue' Is a Perfect Gay Rom-Com (With Bonus Rachel Maddow and Sarah Shahi)". Autostraddle. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Phillips, Jess (August 10, 2023). "6 reasons why 'Red, White & Royal Blue' will be your new guilty pleasure". Time Out Worldwide. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  9. ^ Rose, Mike (January 10, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 10, 2023 includes celebrities Rod Stewart, Sarah Shahi". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Robert Rorke (January 30, 2011). "Court of appeal". New York Post. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
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  12. ^ Ileane Rudolph (October 6, 2008). "For Sarah Shahi, Life is Beautiful". TV Guide. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
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  24. ^ "Beautiful Celebrities and Women of 2012 | Maxim Hot 100". Maxim. December 5, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
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  28. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 21, 2009). "Sarah Shahi lands USA's 'Kate' pilot". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  29. ^ Megan Masters (November 1, 2012). "Fairly Legal Cancelled After Two-Season Run". TVLine. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  30. ^ Michael Ausiello (October 30, 2012). "'Chicago Fire' Cast – Sarah Shahi to Play Taylor Kinney's Love Interest". TVLine. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  31. ^ Sandra Gonzalez (January 8, 2013). "Sarah Shahi to recur on 'Person of Interest'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  32. ^ Bryant, Adam (January 8, 2015). "Person of Interest Bosses, Star on Shocking Exit and That Big Kiss". TV Guide. Archived January 11, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
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  34. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 14, 2016). "CBS Passes on Nancy Drew Reboot; Drama Being Shopped Elsewhere". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
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  37. ^ Goldberg, Leslie (November 6, 2018). "'Reverie,' Starring Sarah Shahi, Canceled at NBC". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
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  39. ^ "'Sex/Life' star Adam Demos on that full-frontal shower scene". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  40. ^ "Sarah Shahi, Steve Howey Welcome Son William Wolf". People. October 2, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  41. ^ "Sarah Shahi: How I handled my water birth". People. March 10, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2019./
  42. ^ Snetiker, Marc (January 7, 2015). "'Person of Interest' exit interview: 'It's goodbye for now, but not forever'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  43. ^ "Steve Howey and Sarah Shahi Welcome Twins Violet Moon and Knox Blue". People. March 6, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  44. ^ "'Shameless' Star Steve Howey and Sarah Shahi Split After 11 Years of Marriage". Us Magazine. June 29, 2020.
  45. ^ "Shameless' Steve Howey and Sarah Shahi Finalize Their Divorce". US Magazine. April 8, 2021.
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  48. ^ Coleman, Oli (April 16, 2025). "'Sex/Life' co-stars Adam Demos and Sarah Shahi split after five years". Page Six. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
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  50. ^ Kenneally, Tim (November 11, 2016). "Sarah Shahi, Steve Howey Sued for Discrimination by Muslim Nanny". Yahoo!. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  51. ^ "Violet Moon Howey: Steve Howey And Sarah Shahi's Lawsuit". solobis.net. August 16, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  52. ^ "Review: Script grants 'Divine Access' to wit and deep thoughts". Los Angeles Times. May 13, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  53. ^ "Sarah Shahi Is of Interest to the Hangman". Dread Central. November 22, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  54. ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller. "Bad Therapy movie review & film summary (2020)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  55. ^ Ausiello, Michael (February 22, 2019). "Person of Interest's Sarah Shahi Joins The Rookie in 'Rock Star' Recurring Role". TVLine. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  56. ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (February 11, 2019). "Sarah Shahi, Scandal's Bellamy Young, thirtysomething Alums and More Join Netflix's Dolly Parton Anthology". TVLine