Azita Ghanizada, a courageous political refugee and asylum seeker, has made a profound impact in Hollywood by consistently working in film and television, demonstrating her exceptional talent alongside esteemed Academy Award-winners and nominees such as Rachel Weisz, Mahershala Ali, David Strathairn, Sam Shepard, Michael Shannon, and Casey Affleck.
Her remarkable performance in "Complete Unknown" earned her recognition as one of the "Seven Sundance Breakout Actresses You Must Know" in 2016. Furthermore, she has appeared in several hit television shows, including CBS's "United States of Al," HBO's "Ballers," Freeform's "Good Trouble," and Syfy's "Alphas."
In 2022, Azita made history by becoming the first woman from Afghanistan to take the stage on Broadway in her debut production of "The Kite Runner" at The Helen Hayes Theater.
Beyond her impressive acting career, Azita is also the Founder and President of the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition (MAAC),which she established after successfully lobbying for the inclusion of a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hiring category into a labor contract in 37 years. This milestone achievement led to the addition of Middle Eastern North African, known as MENA, into the SAG-AFTRA theatrical agreements in 2017.
Azita has also served as the SAG-AFTRA National MENA Committee Chair and a Global Ambassador to Women for Women International, utilizing her platform to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the entertainment industry.
