# Payman Maadi

Payman Maadi (Persian: پیمان معادی; born July 9, 1970) also known as Peyman Moadi, is an Iranian-American actor, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for starring in the films A Separation (2011) and About Elly (2009) by Iranian Academy Award-winning director Asghar Farhadi and Last Knights (2015) and the independent drama film Camp X-Ray (2014). For his role in A Separation, he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival (2011).

## Early life

Maadi was born in New York City to Iranian parents. When he was 5 years old, his father, an attorney, decided to move back to Iran. He graduated from the Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch with a degree in metallurgical engineering. Maadi later decided to become a screenwriter.

## Career

Maadi started his film career as a screenwriter with the film Swan Song in 2000. He later wrote several renowned Iranian films. He began his acting career in Asghar Farhadi's film About Elly (2009), continuing his working relationship with the director in the film A Separation, which was released to widespread critical acclaim.
Two years later, he received the Silver Bear award for Best Actor in Leading Role at the Berlin International Film Festival for his performance as Nader in Farhadi's A Separation (2011). He was seen in the indie drama Camp X-Ray, which was accepted into the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was released October 17, 2014. Maadi also appeared in the HBO television series The Night Of. In 2014 he was a jury member at the 17th Shanghai International Film Festival.
He won the Crystal Simorgh for his role in Walnut Tree (2020) at the Fajr Film Festival.This film is about a father who has to bear the burden of his children's grief under the terrible shadow of war.

## Personal life

Maadi divides his time between Tehran and Los Angeles. He owns a watch gallery in Tehran. He identifies as Muslim.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Film | Functioned as | Functioned as | Functioned as | Functioned as | Notes |
| Year | Film | Role | Actor | Writer | Director | Notes |
| 2000 | Swan Song | | No | Yes | No | |
| 2002 | Thirst | | No | Yes | No | Also as costume designer |
| 2004 | Coma | | No | Yes | No | |
| 2006 | Cafe Setareh | | No | Yes | No | |
| 2006 | Wedding Dinner | | No | Yes | No | Also as director advisor |
| 2007 | Lipstick | | No | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2009 | About Elly | Payman | Yes | No | No | |
| 2011 | Mourning | Masoud | Yes | No | No | Voice |
| 2011 | A Separation | Nader | Yes | No | No | |
| 2013 | The Snow on the Pines | | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2014 | Camp X-Ray | Ali Amir | Yes | No | No | |
| 2014 | Melbourne | Amir | Yes | No | No | |
| 2014 | Tales | Taxi Driver | Yes | No | No | |
| 2015 | Last Knights | Emperor | Yes | No | No | |
| 2016 | 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi | Amahl | Yes | No | No | |
| 2016 | Life and a Day | Morteza | Yes | No | No | |
| 2016 | Window Horses | Payman | Yes | No | No | Voice |
| 2018 | Pig | Himself | Yes | No | No | |
| 2018 | Bomb: A Love Story | Iraj Zokayi | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2019 | Suddenly a Tree | Farhad | Yes | No | No | |
| 2019 | Just 6.5 | Samad Majidi | Yes | No | No | |
| 2019 | 6 Underground | Murat Alimov | Yes | No | No | |
| 2020 | Walnut Tree | Qader Molanpour | Yes | No | No | |
| 2020 | Night Shift | Asomidin Tohirov | Yes | No | No | |
| 2022 | Leila's Brothers | Manouchehr Jourablou | Yes | No | No | |
| 2023 | Opponent | Iman | Yes | No | No | |
| 2023 | Aporia | Jabir | Yes | No | No | |
| TBA | Things That You Kill | | No | No | No | As producer |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Director | Network | Notes |
| 2016 | The Night Of | Salim Khan | Steven Zaillian, James Marsh | HBO | Miniseries, 8 episodes |
| 2020 | Westworld | Elliot | Jonathan Nolan, Frederick E.O. Toye | HBO | 3 episodes |
| 2024 | Viper of Tehran | Arman Bayani | Saman Moghaddam | Filmnet | Main role; 14 episodes |
| 2025 | Azaazil | Major Sarifi | Hassan Fathi | Namava | Main role |

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | 2011 | Best Performance by an Actor | A Separation | Nominated |
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | 2018 | Best Screenplay | Bomb: A Love Story | Nominated |
| Berlin International Film Festival | 2011 | Silver Bear for Best Actor | A Separation | Won |
| Fajr Film Festival | 2012 | Best First Director | The Snow on the Pines | Nominated |
| Fajr Film Festival | 2012 | Best First Screenplay | The Snow on the Pines | Nominated |
| Fajr Film Festival | 2012 | Audience Choice of Best Film | The Snow on the Pines | Won |
| Fajr Film Festival | 2016 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Life and a Day | Nominated |
| Fajr Film Festival | 2018 | Best Film | Bomb: A Love Story | Nominated |
| Fajr Film Festival | 2018 | Best Screenplay | Bomb: A Love Story | Nominated |
| Fajr Film Festival | 2018 | Special Jury Prize | Bomb: A Love Story | Won |
| Fajr Film Festival | 2019 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Just 6.5 | Nominated |
| Fajr Film Festival | 2020 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Walnut Tree | Won |
| Hafez Awards | 2014 | Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | The Snow on the Pines | Nominated |
| Hafez Awards | 2016 | Best Actor – Motion Picture | Life and a Day | Nominated |
| Hafez Awards | 2019 | Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Bomb: A Love Story | Nominated |
| Hafez Awards | 2019 | Best Motion Picture | Bomb: A Love Story | Nominated |
| Hafez Awards | 2019 | Best Actor – Motion Picture | Just 6.5 | Won |
| Hafez Awards | 2021 | Best Actor – Motion Picture | Walnut Tree | Won |
| Hafez Awards | 2024 | Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Viper of Tehran | Nominated |
| Hafez Awards | 2024 | Best Screenplay – Television Series | Viper of Tehran | Nominated |
| International Bosphorus Film Festival | 2018 | Best International Director | Bomb: A Love Story | Won |
| International Cinephile Society | 2012 | Best Actor | A Separation | Runner-up |
| International Online Cinema Awards | 2015 | Best Supporting Actor | About Elly | Nominated |
| Iran Cinema Celebration | 2011 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | A Separation | Nominated |
| Iran Cinema Celebration | 2014 | Best Screenplay | The Snow on the Pines | Nominated |
| Iran Cinema Celebration | 2014 | Best New Director | The Snow on the Pines | Nominated |
| Iran Cinema Celebration | 2015 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Tales | Nominated |
| Iran Cinema Celebration | 2016 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Life and a Day | Won |
| Iran Cinema Celebration | 2019 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Just 6.5 | Nominated |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2009 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | About Elly | Nominated |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2011 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | A Separation | Won |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2012 | Best Director | The Snow on the Lines | Nominated |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2012 | Best Creativity and Talent (first filmmakers) | The Snow on the Lines | Nominated |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2014 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Tales | Nominated |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2016 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Life and a Day | Won |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2018 | Best Film | Bomb: A Love Story | Nominated |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2018 | Best Director | Bomb: A Love Story | Nominated |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2018 | Best Screenplay | Bomb: A Love Story | Nominated |
| Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association | 2022 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Walnut Tree | Nominated |
| Stockholm International Film Festival | 2019 | Achievement Award | – | Won |
| Vesoul International Film Festival | 2014 | Golden Wheel | The Snow on the Pines | Nominated |
| Village Voice Film Poll | 2011 | Best Actor | A Separation | Fourth Place |