Hannah Simone

Hannah Simone is a British-Canadian actress, television host, and former model whose diverse background spans continents, cultures, and careers. Growing up abroad and participating in local theater productions in Saudi Arabia, India, Greece, and Canada, Simone graduated from the University of British Columbia with a major in international relations and political science. She worked as a human rights and refugee officer with the United Nations in London and conducted research on the rights of children and women for a book under former Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada Lloyd Axworthy. This foundation of global awareness and civic engagement has informed both her career choices and public persona.

Before establishing herself in Hollywood, Simone built a presence in Canadian media. She hosted HGTV Canada's design show "Space for Living" before moving to MuchMusic, Canada's largest music channel. At MuchMusic, she served as anchor-host for "Much News Weekly" and hosted "The NewMusic," introducing new videos and interviewing musicians. After MuchMusic, Simone moved to Los Angeles, where she hosted two seasons of "WCG Ultimate Gamer" for Syfy. These years of live hosting and on-camera work developed her skills for scripted television.

Simone starred in Fox's comedy "New Girl" alongside Zooey Deschanel, gaining recognition as Cece Parekh. Her performance in the acclaimed series highlighted her comedic abilities and allowed her to connect with audiences through her character's journey. Her film credits include "Oldboy," "Killing Gunther," and "Miss India America," demonstrating her range across genres. She was also featured alongside Kate Upton and Génesis Rodríguez in Gillette's "What Women Want" campaign.

Simone appeared for the entire seven-season run on "New Girl" and subsequently starred in two back-to-back comedy pilots for ABC: a reboot of "Greatest American Hero" and an untitled comedy that she starred in, wrote, and executive produced. She then joined the cast of ABC's "Not Dead Yet," starring Gina Rodriguez as an obituary writer haunted by her recently departed subjects. In "Not Dead Yet," Simone played the role of best friend, bringing depth to the ensemble cast.

Off-screen, Simone is an advocate and creative force. She has supported charities including UNICEF, the Children's Defense Fund, and Free the Children. Her work with WE Charity includes participating in the WE Day youth empowerment event in Illinois and helping build schools in Kenya and rural India. Simone has also found success in voice-over, appearing in animated projects such as "Hoops," "Loafy," and "Where's Waldo?", and voicing a character in "Mira, Royal Detective" alongside Utkarsh Ambudkar and Kal Penn. She co-hosts "The Mess Around," a "New Girl" rewatch podcast with Lamorne Morris, distributed by iHeartRadio. With a career spanning hosting, acting, producing, writing, and advocacy, Simone demonstrates versatility across the entertainment industry.