Nazanin Boniadi Quotes

Powerful Nazanin Boniadi for Daily Growth

About Nazanin Boniadi

Nazanin Boniadi is an Iranian-American actress, activist, and model, renowned for her work in film, television, and human rights advocacy. Born on October 22, 1983, in Tehran, Iran, Boniadi moved to California with her family when she was ten years old due to religious persecution. This formative experience has greatly influenced her commitment to promoting social justice and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. Boniadi's acting career began in 2003 with guest roles on popular TV shows like "General Hospital," "NCIS," and "How I Met Your Mother." Her breakthrough role came in 2011, when she portrayed Fara Sherazi, a pivotal character in the fifth season of "Homeland." In addition to her acting work, Boniadi is a vocal advocate for human rights, particularly focusing on issues related to Iran and women's rights. She has been involved with various organizations such as Amnesty International and Artists for Peace and Justice. Her activism led her to be named one of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World" by TIME magazine in 2017. Quotes attributed to Nazanin Boniadi reflect her resilience, passion, and commitment: 1. "In Iran, I was silenced. Here, I have a voice, and I will use it." 2. "If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem." 3. "Everyone has a story to tell, and everyone deserves to be heard." 4. "I am an actor, but most importantly, I am a human being who cares about the world we live in." Nazanin Boniadi's life story is one of resilience, passion, and commitment to using her platform for positive change. Her acting career, advocacy work, and quotes inspire many around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We are all human beings and it's important to remember that before we judge each other."

This quote underscores the fundamental unity of all human beings, emphasizing that despite our differences in culture, beliefs, or backgrounds, we share a common humanity. It encourages empathy and understanding over judgment, suggesting that it is essential to remember this basic fact before forming opinions about others. In other words, this quote invites us to consider the inherent sameness of all people before passing judgment, promoting inclusivity, tolerance, and mutual respect in our interactions with others.


"I think one of the most powerful things we can do is listen to people's stories with an open heart."

This quote emphasizes the importance of empathy, understanding, and compassion in human interactions. By actively listening to others' stories with an 'open heart', Nazanin Boniadi suggests that we create a space for connection, fostering trust and promoting mutual respect. Such openness encourages others to share their authentic experiences, thereby enabling us to grow together, learn from one another, and ultimately build stronger relationships.


"Never underestimate the power you have to change someone else's life, or even the world."

This quote emphasizes the immense potential that each individual possesses to bring about positive change, both in the lives of others and in the world at large. It encourages us to recognize our capacity for impact, inspire action, and empower ourselves and those around us to make a difference. Whether small or large, every act of kindness, compassion, and progress contributes to a ripple effect that can ultimately transform our shared reality.


"Being a woman in this industry can sometimes feel like swimming upstream, but I refuse to let it define me or my work."

This quote suggests that, for some women working within an industry (presumably acting), they may encounter resistance or obstacles due to their gender, much like a swimmer battling against a strong current. However, the woman in question refuses to let these challenges dictate her identity or the quality of her work. Instead, she persists, choosing not to be defined by the challenges she faces but rather by her own determination and resilience. It highlights both the struggle and the strength that can come with navigating a male-dominated field, while emphasizing personal empowerment and perseverance.


"I believe that love has no boundaries and we are all capable of connecting with people from different backgrounds and cultures."

The quote emphasizes the universal nature of love, suggesting that it transcends geographical, ethnic, or cultural boundaries. It implies that human connection is not limited by external factors such as race, nationality, or religion. Instead, it encourages empathy, understanding, and the ability to form meaningful relationships across diverse backgrounds and cultures. This perspective promotes unity, acceptance, and mutual respect among different people groups, fostering a more inclusive and harmonious world.


Women and girls, men and boys all share the right to live free of violence, which is, unfortunately, experienced by both men and women. Women and girls, however, disproportionately experience violence due to a deeply rooted global culture of gender discrimination.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Gender, However, Global

In my role as a spokesperson for Amnesty International U.S.A. and as a supporter of various charitable causes including Unlock Iran, a campaign to release prisoners of conscience in Iran, I have never been faced with the threat of intimidation or arrest.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Role, Been, Including, Arrest

A celebrated and hugely popular actress in her native Iran, Ahangarani first landed on the radar of the Iranian authorities for her open support of opposition figure Mir-Hossein Mousavi, which led to her arrest in July 2009 in the aftermath of a disputed presidential election in Iran.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Opposition, Iranian, Led, Arrest

I was born in Iran, which has a predominantly Muslim population, and I have relatives who are devout Muslims, so I know what it means to be judged based on your appearance and what you're wearing. But your ethnicity and your clothing do not define who you are.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Ethnicity, Muslim, Your, Clothing

I was very successful, and I graduated with honors. And then I called my dad, who still lives in London, and I said, 'Dad, thanks for college, but I'm going to go act now.' It didn't go over very well.

- Nazanin Boniadi

College, Over, Very, Honors

For me personally, I'm an activist, so I see a lot of turmoil and heartache in the world and tragedy.

- Nazanin Boniadi

I See, Activist, Lot, Turmoil

Violence against women and girls touches every corner of the globe and is one of the world's most pervasive human rights violations.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Against, Most, Violations, Women And Girls

My parents realized the dangers of raising a daughter in a social, political, and legal climate that was growing increasingly oppressive toward women and girls. Although they fled to London when I was just three weeks old, the challenges facing women's rights in Iran became ingrained in my social consciousness.

- Nazanin Boniadi

London, Increasingly, Became, Women And Girls

'Homeland' is great at challenging our preconceived ideas.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Great, Ideas, Homeland, Preconceived

While awareness-building is a crucial first step, cohesive efforts are needed to translate this into real-world change.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Change, Needed, Crucial, Real-World

I decided to start acting in my mid-twenties. I studied pre-med, and I have a bachelor's degree in Biology, so when I decided to pursue a different career, I got a lot of, 'What on earth are you doing?' But, I gave myself a year and thought, 'You know what, I'm going to just beat the odds.'

- Nazanin Boniadi

Thought, Career, Doing, Odds

I think a culture can really be elevated through the arts, and it's always a dream come true when I come across roles that enable me to fuse my love of storytelling with my passion for activism and raising social awareness.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Love, Storytelling, Through, Elevated

Although it is hard to see why any sensible authority would feel threatened by the peaceful expression of one's point of view, there is a long history of trying to repress subversive depictions of political figures - back in the 19th century, for example, France's King Louis Philippe was depicted as a piece of fruit.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Fruit, Subversive, Figures, Sensible

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not engaged in subversive work; she was an apolitical project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the Reuters news agency.

- Nazanin Boniadi

News, Engaged, Subversive, Arm

The idea that an actress - mostly lauded for her performances in more than a dozen films - somehow represents a threat to Iran's national security is laughable at best. But in Ahangarani's case, far from anything humorous, the allegations have actually resulted in the sober prospect of real prison time.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Idea, Resulted, Mostly, Allegations

Old-school Dire Straits songs are on heavy rotation: 'So Far Away,' 'Romeo and Juliet' and of course 'Sultans of Swing.'

- Nazanin Boniadi

Away, Rotation, Romeo, Dire

For me, the struggle for women's human rights began the moment I was born in Tehran at the height of the Iranian Revolution, a time when the status of women was quickly deteriorating.

- Nazanin Boniadi

I Was Born, Began, Iranian, Struggle

First of all, I'm Middle Eastern; I'm Iranian, so to be playing a leading role in a big Hollywood movie, I think, is possibly one of the first times.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Think, Big, Iranian, Possibly

I was shocked when I heard that Farghadani had been sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison on spurious charges, as Amnesty International notes, of 'spreading propaganda against the system,' 'insulting members of the parliament through paintings' and 'insulting the Supreme Leader' with her cartoon.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Leader, Through, Nine, Sentenced

Although each human rights victory energizes us to continue our work, there remains a deep sorrow for those prisoners still wrongfully languishing in jail.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Work, Deep, Still, Wrongfully

Clothes are a big part of a free society, I think, and what you wear is so indicative of the political climate you're living in.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Think, Big, Big Part, Free Society

I retweet Amnesty International tweets a lot. It isn't just, 'This person is incarcerated unjustly.' It's also, 'This person was just released.' Those are the victories we work toward, so if we don't inform people of the victories, it does become doom and gloom.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Victories, Doom, Inform, International

Despite the fact that Rouhani has been a long-time insider in a government that has committed countless human rights violations, and that he himself called for the execution of peaceful activists in 1999, many people inside and outside Iran are optimistic that he might indeed favor greater respect for the rights of the Iranian people.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Fact, Been, Iranian, Activists

Belgian chocolate is my weakness. I like over 72 percent cacao, which shows you how much of a dark chocolate snob I am.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Over, Like, Which, Snob

I was always fascinated with science, and being Persian, it's instilled in us at a young age to follow something very academic in our career.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Career, Always, Very, Instilled

Dance connects us to the musicality of life and to one another. No one should be denied such basic pleasures.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Pleasures, Another, Connects, Denied

In 2013, I started playing Fara Sherazi on 'Homeland.' I love playing her, not just because she's a strong woman, but because for the first time, a Muslim woman is being portrayed on television as a regular person, rather than a cliche or collection of stereotypes.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Love, Strong, Woman, Regular

It's been an interesting progression, going from soap to a sitcom with 'How I Met Your Mother' and now being a series regular on 'Homeland.'

- Nazanin Boniadi

Going, Been, Homeland, Regular

Jason Rezaian, held for 544 days in Iran, was not a spy but rather a 'Washington Post' journalist whose work aimed to increase cultural understanding between Iran and the world.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Work, Rather, Held, Spy

As an actress, I value and rely on peaceful self-expression, not only in my daily life, but also in my professional work. This is particularly true, as my commitment to the promotion of human rights is an integral part of my calling as an artist.

- Nazanin Boniadi

Peaceful, Artist, Part, Self-Expression

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.