Bahar Soomekh
| Bahar Soomekh بهار سومخ |
|
|---|---|
| Born | March 30, 1975 Tehran, Iran |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse | Clayton Frech (2001–present) |
Bahar Soomekh (Persian: بهار سومخ, born March 30, 1975) is an Iranian-American actress and environmental activist. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the films Crash, Mission: Impossible III, and Saw III.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Bahar was born in Tehran, Iran, to a devout Persian Jewish family. She moved with her parents and sister, Saba Soomekh, to Los Angeles, United States in 1979, to escape the Islamic Revolution of Iran.[1] Bahar speaks fluent English, Persian, Spanish, and some Hebrew.[2] She attended Sinai Akiba Academy and Beverly Hills High School,[3] where she played the violin in the school orchestra. Bahar earned a BA in environmental studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1997. Bahar began working at a corporate job in sales while taking acting classes at night before quitting her job to pursue acting as a career. [1]
[edit] Career
In the beginning of her career, Soomekh guest starred on several television shows, including JAG and 24. Bahar has later appeared in several films, including Academy Award-winning movies Crash (2004) as Dorri. Bahar received more attention for playing Davian's Translator in Mission: Impossible III (2006) and for a leading role, as Dr. Lynn Denlon, in the horror film Saw III. That same year, People's magazine listed Soomekh as one of 100 Most beautiful people in the world. In the next five years, she mostly worked in television, most notably as Margo on the television series Day Break from 2006 - 2007. Soomekh also appeared in two pilots of television shows, The Oaks (2008) and Lost & Found (2009), which were not picked up, and had guest roles in Ghost Whisperer, Miami Medical, and Castle. Bahar will make a comeback to film with her latest movie Just Like a Woman opposite Sienna Miller, which is completed and it will be released in mid-2012.
[edit] Personal life
[edit] Family and religion
Soomekh married Clayton Frech, a business manager, [4] who converted to Judaism in order to marry her, in 2001. They have a son, Ezra, born in 2005[5] and a daughter in 2009.[6][7] They celebrate Shabbat every Friday night with their family, attend synagogue frequently, and celebrate the Jewish holidays.
[edit] Activism
The teaching of tikkun olam, to heal the world, guides Bahar's life. She works on environmental and children's causes. Bahar also uses her name to be involved with organizations like the Green Cross and Rainforest Action Network.[8] With her husband, she launced the T.O. Productions to make movies about environmental and social issues.[2]
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Without a Trace (TV) | Lemese Salman | |
| JAG (TV) | Amira Sattar (2004) and Jasmine (2002) | (2002–2004) | |
| 2003 | Naked Hotel | Bhurka Woman | |
| 2004 | Intermission | Hair Wearer | |
| Crash | Dorri | ||
| A Lousy Ten Grand | Najah | ||
| 2005 | 24 (TV) | Habib Marwan's Wife | (deleted scenes) |
| Bones (TV) | Sahar Masruk | ||
| Syriana | Yassi | (Director's Uncut Version) | |
| 2006 | In Justice (TV) | Neena Oponi | |
| Mission: Impossible III | Davian's Translator | ||
| The Unit (TV) | Firefly | ||
| Day Break (TV) | Margo | (2006–2007) | |
| Saw III | Dr. Lynn Denlon | ||
| 2007 | Saw IV | Dr. Lynn Denlon | (flashbacks from Saw III) |
| 2008 | Saw V | Dr. Lynn Denlon | (flashbacks from Saw III) |
| The Oaks | Hollis | ||
| Ghost Whisperer (TV) | Tricia | Episode 4.06 "Imaginary Friends and Enemies" | |
| 2009 | Saw VI | Dr. Lynn Denlon | (flashbacks from Saw III) |
| Lost & Found (TV) | Abigail | ||
| 2010 | Saw 3D | Dr. Lynn Denlon | (flashbacks from Saw III) |
| Miami Medical (TV) | Vanessa | Episode 1.08 "An Arm and a Leg" (2010) | |
| 2011 | Castle (TV) | Nazihah Alhabi | Episode 3.16 "Setup" (2011) |
| 2012 | Just Like a Woman | Soha | (completed) |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Melamed, Karmel (2006-04-28). "Tom Cruise’s Persian Princess". Forward. http://www.forward.com/articles/tom-cruise%E2%80%99s-persian-princess. Retrieved 2006-05-10.
- ^ a b "Bahar Soomekh: Mission Possible". BabagaNewz. http://www.babaganewz.com/baharSoomekh/. Retrieved 2009-05-17.[dead link]
- ^ Wilson, Kathryn (2006-03-17). "So, Did You Hear The One About The Iranian Deadhead In Hollywood?". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1526447/20060317/story.jhtml. Retrieved 2008-04-23. "With ceaseless support from her family, Bahar graduated from Beverly Hills High School to pursue a degree in environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara."
- ^ http://alumni.anderson.ucla.edu/class/bioitem.aspx?p=frech
- ^ http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t457799.html
- ^ "Steal her look: Bahar Soomekh". She Knows' Pregnancy Fashion. 2008-11-15. http://www.pregnancyfashion.com/maternity-fashion/steal-her-look-bahar-soomekh/. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ^ "Bahar Soomekh Is Radiant In Red". Celebrity Baby Scoop. 2009-02-20. http://www.celebritybabyscoop.com/2009/02/20/bahar-soomekh-is-radiant-in-red/. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ^ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedkantor; see Help:Cite errors/Cite error references no text
[edit] External links
- Bahar Soomekh at the Internet Movie Database
- Sanchez, Robert (2006-10-24). "Exclusive Interview: Bahar Soomekh Plays Doctor with Jigsaw". IESB. http://iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=571&Itemid=99. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
- Stax (2006-10-27). "Bahar Soomekh and Angus Macfadyen: IGN chats with two of the stars of Saw III". IGN Entertainment. http://movies.ign.com/articles/742/742130p1.html. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
- Melamed, Karmel (2006-04-28). "Tom Cruise’s Persian Princess". Forward. http://www.forward.com/articles/tom-cruise%E2%80%99s-persian-princess. Retrieved 2006-05-10.
- Melamed, Karmel. "Bahar Soomekh: Our Very Own Hollywood Superstar Actress". Iranian Jewish Chronicle. http://ijchronicle.com/article.php?idcat=9&idart=19. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
- "Bahar Soomekh". The Star Scoop. http://www.thestarscoop.com/2006oct/bahar-soomekh.php.
- 1975 births
- Living people
- American film actors
- American Jews
- American television actors
- Iranian emigrants to the United States
- Iranian actors
- American people of Iranian descent
- Jewish actors
- Mizrahi Jews
- People from Tehran
- People from Los Angeles, California
- Iranian Jews
- Iranian film actors
- Naturalized citizens of the United States
- University of California, Santa Barbara alumni
