# Bita Farrahi

Bita Lahrakhani (Persian: بیتا لهارخانی; 3 January 1958 – 25 November 2023), better known as Bita Farrahi (Persian: بيتا فرهی), was an Iranian actress.

## Career

Bita Farrahi studied art at John Powers' School in the United States. She worked as a professional model for art magazines in California, left the US in 1985, and returned to Iran. Her talent as an actress was noticed by director Darius Mehrjui. She began her acting career with Hamoun in 1989. She was most noted for her willingness to play the roles of intellectual, independent women who are struggling with family and psychological problems.

## Life

Bita Farahi Laharkhani was born on January 3, 1958, in Tehran, Iran. She is the daughter of Monir Farahi and Cyrus Laharkhani Dinbali, and she is the niece of Farhang Farahi. Bita's mother was involved in artistic activities in the 1930s and performed on theater stages, while her father produced cultural and artistic programs for Radio Tehran.
In 1973, Bita Farahi married Hassan Ghoreishy, the head of Keyhan Publications. She won the Miss World Award in 1973. In 1978, Bita Farahi went to the United States to continue her studies, attending the John Robert Powers School in California. She returned to Iran in 1981.
Naser Cheshmazar introduced her to Dariush Mehrjui for the role of Mahshid in the film "Hamoun" (1989), marking Bita Farahi's debut in acting at the age of 31. Her performance in "Hamoun" earned her the Diploma of Honor for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 8th Fajr Film Festival. In the following years, Farahi continued her career with directors such as Ahmad Reza Darvish, Bahman Farmanara, Masoud Kimiai, and Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, receiving nominations for the Crystal Simorgh Award for her roles in "Kimia" (1994), "A House on Water" (2001), and "Blood Play" (2006).
In 2017, she appeared as a guest on the television show "Dorehami," directed by Mehran Modiri, and also participated in "Khandevaneh," directed by Rambod Javan, in 2018.

## Personal life

Bita Farahi was the only child of her family and spent her childhood in the vicinity of Baharestan Square. Encouraged by her uncle, Farhang Farahi, Bita participated in the "Best Daughter" competition in 1973. During the event, she met Mr. Hassan Ghoreishy, the head of Keyhan Publications, and their acquaintance paved the way for Bita's marriage to Hassan Ghoreishy.
In the later years of her life, Bita Farahi divided her time between Paris and Tehran. She had a daughter named Mahsa Ghoreishy, who resides in France.

## Death

She died of complications from heart and lung disease on 25 November 2023, at the age of 64.

## Awards and honors

| Year | Title | Category | Festival | Result |
| 1368 | Hamoun | Diploma of Honor for Best Actress in a Leading Role | 8th Fajr Film Festival | Winner |
| 1373 | Kimia | Crystal Simorgh for Best Actress in a Leading Role | 13th Fajr Film Festival | Nominee |
| 1380 | A House on Water | Crystal Simorgh for Best Supporting Actress | 20th Fajr Film Festival | Nominee |
| 1383 | Enchanted Ones | Best Actress in a Leading Role (TV Series) | World of Image Festival | Winner |
| 1385 | Blood Play | Crystal Simorgh for Best Supporting Actress | 25th Fajr Film Festival | Nominee |
| 1385 | Blood Play | Best Actress | 33rd Pyongyang International Film Festival | Winner |
| 1385 | Blood Play | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Karachi Film Festival | Winner |
| 1388 | Waiting for a Miracle | Best Supporting Actress | 30th Fajr Film Festival | Nominee |

## Filmography

Cinema
| Year | Film Title | Role | Director |
| 1968 | Hamoun | Mahshid | Dariush Mehrjui |
| 1970 | Lady (released in 1977) | Maryam Banu | Dariush Mehrjui |
| 1973 | Kimia | Dr. Shokouh | Ahmadreza Darvish |
| 1975 | Cardboard Hotel | Homa | Sirus Alvand |
| 1976 | Life | Malek | Asghar Hashemi |
| 1978 | Protest | Manijeh Majdi | Masoud Kimiai |
| 1978 | Mix | Herself | Dariush Mehrjui |
| 1980 | A House on Water | Mrs. Taleghani | Bahman Farmanara |
| 1985 | Parkway | Flor | Faridoun Jirani |
| 1985 | Blood Play | Sima | Rakhshan Bani-Etemad |
| 1986 | Familiar Soil | Zhaleh | Bahman Farmanara |
| 1987 | Shirin | One of the audience | Abbas Kiarostami |
| 1989 | Waiting for a Miracle | | Rasoul Sadr-Ameli |
| 1989 | Shish and Bash | Parvin | Bahman Ghobadi |
| 1991 | Glad Tidings to a Third Millennium Citizen | | Mohammad Hadi Karimi |
| 1993 | Love Era | Mitra's mother | Alireza Raissian |
| 1994 | When I Returned... | Nasrin | Vahid Mosayyebian |
| 1994 | My Brother Khosrow | Nahid | Ehsan Biglari |
| 1997 | The Last Story (Animation) | Evil Spirit (Voice) | Ashkan Rahgozar |
| 1998 | Legal Consent | | Amir Pourkian |
| 1998 | Laminar | | Dariush Mehrjui |
| 2001 | Sometimes in Eternity | | Mehdi Noruzian |
Television
| Year | TV Series | Role | Director | Network |
| 1976 (Aired in 1999) | Green Land | Saba Bahador | Bijan Birang | Channel 2 |
| 1979 | State of Love | Azardokht | Mehdi Fakhimzadeh | Channel 1 |
| 1981 | Father of the Earth | | Nader Kajuri | Channel 2 |
| 1983 | Enchanted Ones | Nasrin | Dariush Farhang | Tehran Channel |
| 1992-1997 (Aired in 2002) | Motherland | Aghdasolmolk Bahaduri | Kamal Tabrizi | Channel 3 |
| 1989 | Memory of That Rainy Night (Telefilm) | | Siamak Shayeghi | |
| 1990 | Scratch (Telefilm) | Shokouh | Mohammad Hamzehi | |
| 1993 | Souvenir (Telefilm) | | Nima Tabatabaei | |
| 1996 | Irandocht | | Mohammadreza Varzi | Channel 1 |
| 1998 | Forgotten Memories | Shokooholsaltaneh | Bahram Bahramian |
Home Theater
| Year | Production |
| 1997 | Dancing on Glass |
| 2000 | Island |
Short Film
| Year | Production |
| 1982 | Mirror and Smoke |
* Hamoun (1989)
* Baanoo (1991 - aka The Lady, released in 1999)
* Kimia (1995 - aka Alchemy)
* Cardboard Hotel (1997)
* Life (1997)
* Velayate Eshgh (2000 - TV Series)
* Eteraz (2000 - aka Protest)
* Khanei ruye ab (2002 - aka A House Built on Water)
* Pedar e Khak (2001- aka The Father of the Dust)
* Telesmshodegan (2004- TV Series)
* Khoon bazi (2006 - aka Mainline)
* Parkway (2007)
* Khak e Ashena (2008)
* Shab va Ghasham be Deltangi (2010)
* Shish va Besh (2011)
* Kharash (aka Scra) (2011)
* Island (2021 - 2022 TV Series)