Sarah Shahi
Biography
Sarah Shahi, born Aahoo Jahansouzshahi on January 10, 1980, in Euless, Texas, is an American actress and former NFL cheerleader. She is the daughter of an Iranian father and a Spanish-Iranian mother. Shahi attended Trinity High School and Southern Methodist University, where she studied opera. Before establishing her career in acting, she served as a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys from 1999 to 2000. She is recognized for her professional work in television and film, and she is noted as a descendant of a 19th-century Persian Shah. Her career has spanned over two decades, evolving from early screen appearances to prominent leading roles in various television series and dramatic productions.
Career overview
Sarah Shahi began her professional acting career in 2000, making her screen debut in the romantic drama Dr. T & the Women alongside Richard Gere. Over the following two decades, she transitioned from smaller roles in television series and melodramas to securing major parts in high-profile projects. Her television credits include portraying Carmen on The L Word, a role she played in 2005 and 2008. She later starred as Kate Reed in the USA Network legal drama Fairly Legal, which aired from 2011 to 2012. Shahi gained further recognition for her performance as Sameen Shaw on the CBS crime drama Person of Interest, appearing in the series from 2012 to 2016. Additionally, she played the character Billie in the Netflix series Sex/Life between 2021 and 2023. Her filmography includes an appearance in the feature film Black Adam. Throughout her career, Shahi has demonstrated a range of performances across various genres, moving from supporting appearances to leading character roles in both broadcast and streaming television productions.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Paradise: Official Podcast (2026) as Self
- Paradise (2025) as Dr. Gabriela Torabi
- After Midnight (2024) as Self
- Red, White & Royal Blue (2023) as Zahra Bankston
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022)
- Black Adam (2022) as Adrianna Tomaz
- Sex/Life (2021) as Billie Connelly
- Language Arts (2021) as Allison Forche-Marlow
- Bad Therapy (2020) as Annabelle
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- City on a Hill (2019) as Rachel Benham
- Dolly Parton's Heartstrings (2019) as Lucy Jane
- The Rookie (2018) as DHS Agent Jessica Russo
- Reverie (2018) as Mara Kint
- Halfway There (2017) as Carrie Claussen
- Hangman (2017) as Captain Lisa Watson
- Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special (2017) as Carmela
- Pitch (2016) as Natalie Luongo
- Drew (2016) as Nancy Drew
- There's Only One America's Team (2016)
- Guns for Hire (2015) as Carla
- Divine Access (2015) as Marian
- Road to Paloma (2014) as Eva
- Ray Donovan (2013) as Hasmig
- The Congress (2013) as Michelle
- Chicago Fire (2012) as Renée Royce
- Static (2012) as Addie Dade
- Bullet to the Head (2012) as Lisa Bonomo
- Person of Interest (2011) as Sameen Shaw
- Fairly Legal (2011) as Kate Reed
- I Don't Know How She Does It (2011) as Janine LoPietro
- The Trouble with Bliss (2011) as Hattie Skunk / Hattie Rockworth
- Young Justice (2010) as Killer Frost (voice)
- Crossing Over (2009) as Pooneh Baraheri
- Shades of Ray (2008) as Sana Khaliq
- AmericanEast (2008) as Salwah Marzoke
- Life (2007) as Dani Reese
- Rush Hour 3 (2007) as Zoe (uncredited)
- Psych (2006) as Ruby
- For Your Consideration (2006) as Sanchez
- The Dog Problem (2006) as Candy
- Teachers (2006) as Tina
- Supernatural (2005)
- Supernatural (2005) as Constance Welch
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- Hell's Kitchen (2005) as Self - Restaurant Patron
- A Lot Like Love (2005) as Starlet
- The L Word (2004) as Carmen de la Pica Morales
- Century City (2004) as Ms Morris
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Old School (2003) as Erica
- Coupling (2003) as Brenda
- Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) (2002) as TV Diva
- Monkey Love (2002) as Brenda
- Reba (2001) as Kate
- Reba (2001) as Bridget
- Alias (2001) as Jenny
- Off Centre (2001) as Angelica
- Extreme Honor (2001) as Shirin
- Boston Public (2000) as Laura
- Dr. T & the Women (2000) as Cheerleader Extra (uncredited)
- The Sopranos (1999) as Sonya Aragon
- Dawson's Creek (1998) as Sadia Shaw
- The View (1997) as Self
- City Guys (1997) as Cheerleader
- Spin City (1996) as Bachelorette
- ER (1994) as Tara King
- Frasier (1993) as Reservationist
- MTV Movie & TV Awards (1992) as Self - Presenter
- Nightline (1980) as Self
- Red, White & Royal Wedding as Zahra Bankston
- Road to Recovery
- The Hollys as Emma Holly
- The Hollys Executive Producer