Sepideh Moafi

Sepideh Moafi is an Iranian-American actress and singer known for her work across opera, theater, film, and television. During her childhood, Moafi studied opera and later explored musical theater and jazz, beginning to sing at age 15. She earned a full scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she completed a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, and later received an MFA in Acting from UC Irvine. Her stage credits include performances at The David Geffen Hall—NY Philharmonic, Davis Symphony Hall, and The John F. Kennedy Center, as well as roles in original off-Broadway musicals, plays, and operas.

Moafi's screen career gained momentum with her portrayal of Loretta in the HBO drama "The Deuce." She later played Gigi Ghorbani on Showtime's "The L Word: Generation Q," a role that expanded her audience and contributed to LGBTQ+ representation on television. Additional television credits include "Black Bird," "The L Word: Generation Q," and "Class of '09." In the Apple TV+ true crime drama "Black Bird," Moafi portrayed FBI agent Lauren McCauley.

Moafi joined the HBO Max medical drama "The Pitt" in its second season, earning an Emmy Award nomination for her role as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi. With this nomination, she became the first Iranian woman and woman from the Middle East to be recognized in the supporting actress in a drama series category. "The Pitt" received 25 Emmy nominations, including best drama series and several for Moafi's co-stars. Her performance in the final episodes of Season 2, in which her character revealed a seizure disorder and faced questions about her medical career, received critical attention.

In addition to her on-screen work, Moafi remains active in theater. She starred in the off-Broadway drama "New Born" at The Audible Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City. Her theater credits include originating the role of Scheherzadeh/Dahna in the musical "A Thousand Nights and One Day," as well as roles in "Romeo & Juliet," "As You Like It," "The Wild Party," and "The Rose Tattoo." Her opera credits include "Le Nozze di Figaro," the title role in Handel's "Agrippina," and several world premieres.

Moafi is also involved in humanitarian work, drawing on her personal history as the child of parents who sought political asylum before immigrating to the United States. She has served as an International Rescue Committee ambassador and sits on advisory boards for Talent Beyond Boundaries and Eat OffBeat. Moafi has spoken about the significance of portraying characters with complex identities, disabilities, and mixed heritage, and the importance of representation for women in positions of power in the entertainment industry.