Pouri Baneai, whose birth name was Seddigheh Banayi, came into the world on October 11, 1940, in the city of Arak, Iran. For the initial four years of her life, she was fortunate enough to grow up in her birthplace, surrounded by the sights and sounds of her hometown. However, as the years passed, she made the decision to relocate to the bustling metropolis of Tehran, where she would join her parents and a total of eight siblings, consisting of seven sisters and one brother.
Pouri's remarkable career, spanning an impressive period of over eight and a half decades, from 1965 to 1979, has been marked by her extensive collaborations with some of the most revered Iranian directors of her time.
Among these esteemed directors, Pouri had the privilege of working alongside the likes of Mehdi Reisfirooz, a master of the cinematic arts, Samuel Khachikian, a visionary filmmaker, Masoud Kimiai, a pioneer of Iranian cinema, Farrokh Ghaffari, a celebrated director, and Fereidoun Goleh, a renowned filmmaker.
Throughout her illustrious career, Pouri has left an indelible mark on the world of Iranian cinema, with her most notable performances being those in the critically acclaimed Iranian new wave films, Qeysar, released in 1969, and The Mandrake, a cinematic masterpiece that continues to captivate audiences to this day.
Pouri's inaugural feature film was a cinematic endeavour, specifically "The Foreign Bride", which was skillfully directed by the renowned Iranian filmmaker, Nosratollah Vahdat. Interestingly, their collaboration was facilitated by a distant familial relationship between the two, which ultimately led to Vahdat suggesting Pouri for the role in his film. In 1967, Pouri shared the screen with the accomplished Iranian actor, Behrouz Vosoughi, marking the beginning of a successful acting career. Throughout her career, Pouri had the privilege of working alongside other prominent Iranian actors, including the illustrious Mohammad Ali Fardin, the versatile Naser Malek Motiee, the talented Manouchehr Vosugh, the gifted Iraj Ghaderi, the accomplished Ali Nasirian, and the celebrated Parviz Sayyad.
Pouri's voice was brought to life by the talented dubber Zhaleh Kazemi, whose contribution played a significant role in enhancing the actress's on-screen presence. Prior to the 1979 revolution, Pouri had the opportunity to work on a variety of films that would later be recognized as landmarks in Iranian cinema, including The Mandrake, The Falconet, Qeysar, and Ghazal.
Notably, Pouri's cinematic repertoire extends beyond the realm of Iranian cinema, as she has also made significant contributions to a variety of international productions, including English-language films.
Some of her most notable foreign collaborations include the 1978 film "Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident", a thought-provoking cinematic exploration of the dangers of nuclear warfare, as well as the 1977 film "The Moon and a Murmur", a poignant and introspective drama that delves into the complexities of human emotions.
Throughout her illustrious career, Pouri has had the privilege of sharing the screen with some of the most renowned actors in the industry, including the esteemed Peter Graves, the talented Curd Jurgens, the accomplished John Ireland, and the beloved Mickey Rooney, among others.
In the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, a significant exodus of the country's film industry professionals, including actors and actresses, occurred, as they had been involved in the production and performance of explicit content prior to the revolution. In stark contrast, Pouri Broujerdi, a renowned actress, elected to remain in Iran, defying the prevailing trend of her peers. Her decision, however, was met with severe consequences, as she was subsequently imprisoned at the notorious Evin Detention House for a period exceeding one year. Following her eventual release in late 1980, Pouri Broujerdi never resumed her acting career in cinema, despite technically being free to do so.
Pouri, a notable individual, was previously engaged to Behrouz Vosoughi, a significant other who, although the couple shared a deep affection, ultimately did not proceed with a formal marriage ceremony.
In addition to her personal life, Pouri's family is also worth mentioning. She has a sister, Aki Banayi, whose professional stage name is Akram Banayi, who has pursued a successful career as a singer. Currently, Aki resides in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, where she continues to hone her craft and entertain fans with her captivating voice.
