Sanam Erfani

Sanam Erfani, born in Tehran, Iran, is the first actor in a 400 year lineage of physicians, diplomats, Khans, and advisers to the Shah's of Persia. An award winning actress, she received a First Place in Novice Nationals in Dramatic Interpretation, followed by a Gold or First Place that same year at the prestigious Phi Rho Pi National Tournament for her Dramatic Interpretation of Joyce Carol Oates' monologues. While in high school, she also received the Southern California Educational Theater Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Leanne in a poignant play based on stories of women who served during the Vietnam War, entitled, "A Piece of My Heart." A graduate of Columbia University's MFA Acting program, and the first Iranian-born to do so, she was mentored by the late great Kristin Linklater, as well as La Mama Experimental Theater Creator, Ellen Stewart. During her studies, she was nominated for the Bob Hope Fellowship by her Professors for her excellence and dedication to her art. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Performance Arts from San Francisco State University, where she worked with and was mentored by three-time Tony Award Nominee (for her play "Quilters"), Barbara Damashek. In addition to her acting, she is a playwright and screenwriter. Her plays include: "Attraction" which premiered at the New York Theater Festival, "Hush: Inside the Waiting Womb" which premiered at The Players Club in New York and the Hudson Theater in Los Angeles, a 12 character solo show entitled "Last Import Soliloquy" which premiered at Joyce SoHo in New York, and an original adaptation of Ibsen's "A Doll's House" and Strindberg's "Miss Julie" called "La Liberata" which premiered at Dixon Place in New York. Her recent films include film festival selection "The Refuge" (Official Selection Local Sightings Film Festival), the multi-award winning feature film "Imitation Girl" (available on Amazon), award winning short film "Scheherazade" (winner: Champs-Elysées Film Festival, winner: DC Shorts), and "Hasti Joon" (official selection at Hollywood Shorts Film Festival). Active in New York's Theater and Experimental Theater, her Off-off Broadway Credits include: "Babette's Feast" at The Connelly Theater in New York, "The Fall" at The Flamboyan Theater in New York, "Miss Lilly Gets Boned" at The New Ohio Theater in New York, and "Cats Don't Grin" premiering at Cherry Lane Theater in New York. Her work is centered on passionately creating and playing dynamic characters with seamless naturalism and grounded authenticity.