Starring in a Hollywood political thriller requires complex negotiations for actresses from the Islamic Republic:
When Iranian movie star Golshifteh Farahani moved from Tehran to Hollywood, she didn’t bring along her head scarf, which is obligatory in her own country.
The 25-year-old actress appeared at the New York red-carpet premiere of Ridley Scott‘s new action movie, “Body of Lies,” last Sunday sporting a broad smile, a sleeveless designer dress and bare curly hair. In the movie, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, Farahani plays a pious Muslim woman who works as a nurse.
In the past week, heated debates on dozens of Iranian Web sites have pitted those who support Farahani’s decision to remove her scarf against those who accuse her of selling out her Muslim heritage.
The blogosphere is alive with debate and the verdict appears mixed.