Nasim Pedrad

Personal context

Summary

Nasim Pedrad is an Iranian American actor and comedian known for five seasons on Saturday Night Live and roles in New Girl and Scream Queens. In her one-woman show Me, Myself, and Iran, she portrayed several Middle Eastern characters; she created Chad to tell stories about an Iranian American family and counter the negative portrayals of Middle Easterners she saw on television. Her work often explores immigrant identity, belonging, and cultural difference. Pedrad has also spoken publicly about women’s rights and political repression in Iran, saying she felt a responsibility to amplify the voices of people silenced by the regime.