# Leila Farzad

Leila Effat Farzad is a British actress. She is known for her role as Naomi Jones in the Sky Atlantic series I Hate Suzie (2020–2022), which earned her a British Academy Television Award nomination.

## Early life and education

Leila Effat Farzad was born in London to Iranian parents. She was inspired to pursue acting by National Theatre productions her aunt took her to see; however, her parents insisted that she get a degree from Oxbridge first.
She first studied modern languages at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in French and Italian Literature. She then went on to train at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which she said "felt like home".

## Career

Farzad began her career with a voice role in the third and fourth series of the Channel 5 animated children's series Peppa Pig. She made her live action television debut in an episode of the ITV police procedural Law & Order: UK and her professional stage debut as the titular role in Miriam. Gonzalez. Durantez. at Theatre503. This was followed by roles in Blue Remembered Hills at Chichester Festival Theatre, the all-female Julius Caesar at the Bridge Theatre in London, Richard II at Shakespeare's Globe. She also appeared in the ITV anthology Innocent.
Farzad landed her first main role in I Hate Suzie as Naomi Jones, Suzie's (Billie Piper) manager and friend. The series was released in 2020 on Sky Atlantic and HBO Max to critical acclaim, and Farzad was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress. Farzad reprised her role in I Hate Suzie's second instalment titled I Hate Suzie Too in 2022.British Academy Television Award nomination.
Also in 2022, Farzad joined the cast of Avenue 5 for its second season and appeared alongside Josh Hartnett in The Fear Index, also on Sky.
In 2023, she starred in the BBC crime drama Better.

## Personal life

Farzad has a daughter (b. 2014) with James Maizels. In early 2023 it was reported that she was in a relationship with actor Andrew Buchan.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006–2011 | Peppa Pig | Mrs. Cat / Mrs. Pony | Voice role; 10 episodes (series 3–4) |
| 2009 | Law & Order: UK | Leyla Bilgin | Episode: "Paradise" |
| 2010 | Married Single Other | Student Doctor | Episode: "Chink" |
| 2011 | Twenty Twelve | Journalist | Episode: "Countdown" |
| 2013 | Man Down | Eyebrow Lady | Episode: "Desperate Dan" |
| 2015 | Cuffs | Amika Khan | Episode: "Drastic Action" |
| 2017 | Count Arthur Strong | Reporter | Episode: "Untrue Detective" |
| 2018 | Innocent | Janice Parker | 2 episodes |
| 2020–2022 | I Hate Suzie | Naomi Jones | Main role |
| 2021 | Landscapers | Barrister | Episode #1.4 |
| 2021 | This Time with Alan Partridge | Clarissa Hoskin | Episode #2.1 |
| 2022 | The Fear Index | Gabrielle Hoffman | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Avenue 5 | Elena | Season 2 |
| 2023 | Better | DI Lou Slack | Main role |
| 2023 | Black Mirror | Mona Javadi | Episode: "Joan Is Awful" |
| 2023 | The Marvels | Talia | Film |
| 2024 | The Decameron | Stratilia | 8 episodes |
| 2024 | Kaos | Ari (Ariadne) | 6 episodes |
| 2025 | Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy | Nicolette | Film; Post-production |
| TBA | Turn Up The Sun! | Dolly | Post-production |

## Stage

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Miriam. Gonzalez. Durantez. | Miriam Gonzalez | Theatre503, London |
| 2012 | Blue Remembered Hills | Angela | Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester |
| 2018 | Julius Caesar | Decius Brutus | Bridge Theatre, London |
| 2019 | Richard II | Queen | Globe Theatre, London |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| 2021 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress | I Hate Suzie | Nominated | |