| Marie-Lou Nahhas | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1989-09-07) September 7, 1989 (age 35) Beirut, Lebanon |
| Education | University of Pittsburgh (BS) Duquesne University (MPH) |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, model |
Marie-Lou Nahhas (Arabic: ماري لو نحاس; born September 7, 1989) is a Lebanese American actress, model, and activist best known for playing Egyptian-born inmate Shani Abboud on season 7 of Orange Is the New Black. Season 7 aired on Netflix in July 2019.
She was a finalist for Miss Lebanon 2012. In August 2020, Nahhas appeared on the cover of Marie Claire Arabia.
Activism
After earning her master's degree, Nahhas moved to New York City to pursue her acting career professionally in theatre and film.
- In 2019, it was announced that Nahhas would be participating in Dubai's STEP Conference 2020, a tech festival for start-ups, finance, and entrepreneurship. She is set to speak as part of the conference's speakers line-up.
- Nahhas is vocal about ending female genital mutilation, visiting with victims in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia’s Afar region, with the United Nations Population Fund and posting regularly on her social media about positive progress made to eliminate the practice. Nahhas's character on Orange Is the New Black, Shani, was a victim of female genital mutilation.
Personal life
Nahhas speaks English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Southpaw | Mrs. Miguel | Uncredited |
| 2016 | Craig Quits His Day Job | Nadia |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Looming Tower | Muslim Woman | Episode: "Y2K" |
| 2019 | Madam Secretary | Interpreter | Episode: "Proxy War" |
| 2019 | Orange Is the New Black | Shani Abboud | 8 episodes |
| 2019 | Awake | Rita |
References
- Fernandez, Maria Elena (July 29, 2019). "Why Orange Is the New Black Brought the Immigration Crisis to Litchfield". Vulture.
- "Marie-Lou Nahas is wearing a beautiful Marchesa gown". Miss Lebanon – Facebook. 29 September 2012.
- ^ "Meet the Lebanese actress behind OITNB's new Egyptian character". StepFeed. 8 August 2018.
- "Marie Lou Nahhas: The Lebanese Actress Making Waves on Netflix". About Her. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- "Marie-Lou Nahhas: تجارب الحياة دفعتني إلى ممارسة ما أحب والتمسّك بمصيري". marie claire arabia (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-04-24.
- "Who Plays Shani On 'OITNB'? Marie-Lou Nahhas Is A New Face In TV". Romper. 26 July 2019.
- "Actress, Model, Activist".
- ^ "OITNB's Marie-Lou Nahhas Meets Survivors of Female Genital Mutilation". October 21, 2019.