Tala Ashe Explained

Tala Ashe
Birth Name:Talayeh Ashrafi
Birth Date: July 24, 1984
Spouse:Raffi Barsoumian
Birth Place:Tehran, Iran
Education:Boston University (BFA)
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2008–present
Signature:Tala Ashe Signature.svg

Talayeh Ashrafi (fa|طلایه اشرفی;[1] 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.[2] She immigrated to the United States when she was nine months old. Ashe grew up in Powell, Ohio, just outside of the state capital Columbus.[3] She participated in her high school theatre productions as both an actress and director.[4]

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

thumb|left|Ashe in 2017Ashe 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.[5] 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, , 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.[6] [7] She took the lead for a bottle episode titled "Here I Go Again" and drew praise from critics and fans alike for her performance.[8] [9] [10] [11]

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).[12] [13]

Filmography

Television and film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2008Waiting in BeijingNadiaFilm; credited as Tala Ashrafi
2008Law & OrderMadisonEpisode: "Angelgrove"
2008As the World TurnsAmeera Ali AzizRecurring role, 26 episodes
2011Rebecca LandonEpisode: "Cyber-War"
2012SmashR.J. QuigleyRecurring role (season 1), 6 episodes
2015American OdysseyAnna StoneRecurring role, 7 episodes
2017–2022Legends of TomorrowZari Tomaz and Zari TaraziMain role (season 3–7), 74 episodes
2024The Girls on the BusAlthea AbdiRecurring 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.[14] [15] [16]

Notes! class="unsortable"
Ref.
2009AftermathNaimahSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City[17]
2010Welcome to Arroyo'sLelly SantiagoOld Globe Theatre, San Diego, California[18] [19]
2011Again and AgainstDahliaLAByrinth Summer Intensive, New York[20] [21]
Urge for GoingJamilaThe Public Theater, New York City[22] [23]
2012Troilus and CressidaCressida, CassandraOregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, Oregon[24] [25]
The Very Merry Wives of Windsor, IowaAnne PageOregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, Oregon[26] [27]
2014The Who & the WhatMahwishClaire Tow Theater, New York City[28] [29]
2015Head over HeelsPhilocleaOregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, Oregon[30] [31]
The Happiest Song Plays LastSharOregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, Oregon[32] [33]
2016Troilus and CressidaHelen, AndromacheDelacorte Theater, New York City[34] [35] [36]
2017The ProfaneEminaPlaywrights Horizons, New York City[37] [38]

Notes and References

  1. 1317644563931033601. talaashe.
    1. 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.
    . October 17, 2020. October 18, 2020.
  2. Web site: Iranian-American Tala Ashe Will Be Starring In 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow' . The Iranian . Malek . Parastoo . June 8, 2017.
  3. Web site: Legends of Tomorrow's new hero is female and Muslim . . de Souza . Alison . October 13, 2017.
  4. Web site: Ohio actress a reporter on 'Smash' . . Grossberg . Michael . April 23, 2012. May 10, 2022.
  5. Web site: Five Things You Didn't Know about Tala Ashe. TVOvermind. Berman. Nat. November 23, 2017.
  6. Legends of Tomorrows Tala Ashe previews new addition to team . . Abrams . Natalie . October 23, 2017.
  7. Web site: Tala Ashe Joins 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow' As Muslim-American Hacktivist-Superhero . . Pedersen . Erik . June 6, 2017.
  8. Superhero Insider: Tala Ashe shines in Legends of Tomorrow time loop episode . Entertainment Weekly . Agard . Chancellor . February 23, 2018.
  9. Web site: Legends of Tomorrow channels "Hedgehog Day" for an excellent time loop story . . Sava . Oliver . February 19, 2018.
  10. Web site: Performers of the Month – February Voting *RESULTS* . SpoilerTV . Hicks . Aimee . March 11, 2018.
  11. Web site: Performers of the Month – Reader's Choice Performer of February – Tala Ashe . SpoilerTV . Hicks . Aimee . March 31, 2018.
  12. Web site: Arrowverse Actresses Launch "Shethority" Charity Campaign . ComicBook. Drum . Nicole . November 18, 2017. May 10, 2022.
  13. Web site: What Is Shethority? . shethority.com.
  14. Web site: Full Casting for Ayad Akhtar's 'The Who and The What' . New York Theatre Guide . Millward . Tom . March 27, 2014.
  15. Web site: TALA ASHE . Lincoln Center Theater.
  16. Web site: Pulitzer Prize Winner Ayad Akhtar's The Who & The What to Have New York Premiere at LCT . Broadway.com . March 26, 2014.
  17. Book: New York Theatre Workshop, Aftermath, a sneak preview : Works & process at the Guggenheim . 427393956.
  18. Web site: Old Globe Theatre – Welcome to Arroyo's: Press Highlights / Reviews . Press Archive . . October 2010.
  19. Web site: Ensemble Member, Tala Ashe at The Public... . Barefoot Theatre. March 27, 2011 .
  20. Web site: Tala Ashe . Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
  21. Web site: PLAYS: AGAIN AND AGAINST . BettyShamieh.com . Shamieh . Betty . 2011.
  22. Web site: Urge for Going . TheaterMania . Propst . Andy . April 10, 2011.
  23. Web site: Mona Mansour's Urge for Going Opens Off-Broadway April 10 . . Hetrick . Adam . April 10, 2011.
  24. Web site: Troilus and Cressida . Ashland Daily Tidings . Kent . Roberta . April 4, 2012 . April 1, 2018 . April 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180401144516/http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20120404/LIFE/204040302 . dead .
  25. Web site: Theater reviews: OSF's 'Troilus and Cressida,' 'Henry V', 'Very Merry Wives,' 'Party People,' 'As You Like It' . . Crowder . Marcus . July 15, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120729041201/http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/15/4627923/theater-reviews-osfs-troilus-and.html . July 29, 2012.
  26. Web site: Falstaff in trouble . . Varble . Bill . June 22, 2012. May 10, 2022.
  27. Web site: Cheers to you . Ashland Daily Tidings . Decker . Angels . August 30, 2012 . April 1, 2018 . April 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180401212725/http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20120830/ENTERTAIN/208300315 . dead .
  28. Web site: The Who & the What . TheaterMania . Stewart . Zachary . June 16, 2014.
  29. Web site: The Shadow of the Patriarch . . Isherwood . Charles . June 16, 2014.
  30. Web site: Party atmosphere sets a Go-Go's pace for 'Head Over Heels' . Ashland Daily Tidings . Kent . Roberta . June 15, 2015 . April 1, 2018 . April 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180401144748/http://www.dailytidings.com/article/20150615/NEWS/150619844 . dead .
  31. Web site: 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow' Adds Muslim-American Superhero for Season 3 . . Wagmeister . Elizabeth . June 6, 2016.
  32. Web site: Review: OSF's 'The Happiest Song Plays Last' wraps Iraq vet's story . Mail Tribune . Varble . Bill . July 11, 2015 . April 1, 2018 . April 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180401144925/http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150711/NEWS/150719896 . dead .
  33. Web site: The Happiest Song Plays Last . OSFAshland . Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
  34. Web site: Troilus and Cressida . TheaterMania . Stewart . Zachary . August 9, 2016.
  35. Web site: Photo Flash: First Look at TROILUS AND CRESSIDA at Shakespeare in the Park . BroadwayWorld . BWW News Desk . July 21, 2016.
  36. Web site: TROILUS AND CRESSIDA . PublicTheatre.org . April 1, 2018 . April 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180401144838/https://www.publictheater.org/troilusandcressida/ . dead .
  37. Web site: Zayd Dohrn, Kip Fagan, Tala Ashe, and Cast of The Profane Meet the Press . TheaterMania . Zednick . Jason . February 15, 2017.
  38. Web site: Review: Zayd Dohrn Plumbs Muslim-American Rifts in 'The Profane' . The New York Times . Collins-Hughes . Laura . April 10, 2017. May 10, 2022.

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