Zenobia Shroff(born May 27, 1965) is an Indian-born American actress. Shroff has been an actress, writer, teaching artist and sketch comedian for over 30 years and she is known for her role in the 2017 filmThe Big Sick,[2]and asMuneeba Khanin theDisney+TV seriesMs. MarvelandThe Marvels.
Zenobia Shroff | |
|---|---|
 Shroff in 2018 | |
| Born | May 27, 1965 |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | Circle in the Square Theatre School |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, comedian |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Known for | Muneeba KhaninMs. Marvel[1] |
Early life
editShroff grew up in aParsifamily in South Bombay, in what is now known asMumbai.[3]
Career
editShroff began her professional career at age sixteen as a commercial print model. After seven successful years as amodel,she switched to acting. She got her acting start in Mumbai under the mentorship ofPearl Padamsee.She then moved to study acting atNew York City'sCircle in the Square Theatre School.[4][5]Soon after, she appeared at the Broadway Castillo Theatre, where she played several roles such as Nora inHenrik Ibsen'sA Doll's Houseto German avant-gardistHeiner Müller.[6]She also performed inErotic Adventures in Veniceat theLa MaMa Experimental Theatre Cluband inMilan Kundera'sJacques and His Master.[citation needed]
2007–2016
editIn 2007, she was cast as Roxanne inLittle Zizou,written and directed bySooni Taraporevala.For that role she was nominated as best actress at theNew York Indian film festival.[7]A few years later, she appeared inWhen Harry Tries to Marry,an Americanromantic comedyfilm. She followed that up with her firstBollywood film,Ek Main Aur Ekk TualongsideImran Khan.The film received critical acclaim.[8]Her solo show,Show How to Succeed as an Ethnically Ambiguous Actorpremiered at the Planet Connections Festival in June 2016. For that performance she has been nominated as Outstanding Solo Performer.[9]
Shroff has been a lifelong dancer, starting with the classical Indian temple dance,Bharat Natyamfor several years and moving onto jazz and modern as a young adult. She is a founding company member of theShiamak Davardance company with whom she toured nationally doing musical theatre including playing Anita inWest Side Story,Cabaret,andA Chorus Line.[10]
2017–present
editShe has performed stand-up at the Guild Gallery, the Indo American Arts Council,[11]Don't Tell Mama,UCBand the South Asian International Performing Arts Festival.[citation needed]She went on to perform her show,Show How to Succeed as an Ethnically Ambiguous Actor,with over 30 characters in and off-Broadway at the Castillo Theatre in a full run in the summer of 2017.[12]Also in 2017, she was cast asKumail Nanjiani's mother inThe Big Sick,produced byJudd Apatow.The cast was nominated for aScreen Actors Guild Awardsin 2018.[13]
She has appeared in the Americanmedical dramaseriesThe Resident,Americanpolitical dramatelevision seriesMadam Secretary,and a recurring role as Priya Ullah in seasons 4 and 5 ofThe Affair.[14]In 2020, she voiced one of the many counselors named “Jerry”, in theDisney-PixarfilmSoul.
In 2022, she was cast asMuneeba Khanin theMarvel StudiosseriesMs. MarvelonDisney+.She reprised the role in the 2023 filmThe Marvels.[15]
Personal life
editShe holds a master's degree in Psychology.[16]
Filmography
edit| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Percy | Vera | ||
| 2008 | Little Zizou | Roxanne | [7] | |
| 2010 | When Harry Tries to Marry | Geeta Shankar | [7] | |
| 2012 | Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu | Nicole Braganza | [7] | |
| 2016 | Misaligned | Nadia's Mother | Short film | |
| 2017 | The Big Sick | Sharmeen | [2][17] | |
| 2019 | (t)here | Geeta (Mother) | Short film | [18] |
| 2020 | Save Yourselves! | Su's Mom | Voice role | [19][20] |
| 2020 | Soul | Counselor Jerry | Voice role | [21] |
| 2021 | 7 Days | Rita's Mom | [22] | |
| 2023 | The Marvels | Muneeba Khan | [23] | |
| TBA | This Tempting Madness† | TBA |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–2019 | The Resident | Himaya Pravesh | 3 episodes | [17] |
| 2018 | The Affair | Priya Ullah | 6 episodes | [17] |
| 2018 | The Greatest American Hero | Leena | TV film | |
| 2018 | Madam Secretary | Indian Prime Minister Vanya Kharti | Episode: "E Pluribus Unum" | [17] |
| 2022 | Ms. Marvel | Muneeba Khan | Main role (6 episodes) | [24] |
References
edit- ^Swaroop, Ananya (August 12, 2022)."Brown Mom Supremacy: Never Have I Ever & Ms. Marvel Represent (Our)Moms Like It's Nobody's Business!".www.mansworldindia.com.Man's World India.RetrievedJune 25,2023.
- ^ab"Scene Stealer: Zenobia Shroff as Kumail Nanjiani's Mother in 'The Big Sick'".8 December 2017.
- ^"Ms. Marvel star Zenobia Shroff talks Marvel motherhood".Entertainment Weekly. 2022-06-22.
- ^"Zenobia Shroff: The Big Sick changed the game for me".Elle India. 2018-05-30.
- ^"Little Zizou's Zenobia Shroff Stands Up".Lassi With Lavina. 2010-10-01.
- ^"Little Zizou's Zenobia Shroff Stands Up".Lassi With Lavina. 2010-10-01.
- ^abcd"'Not All Brown People Look Alike': Ms Marvel Actor Slams Western Press for Misrepresentation ".17 June 2022.
- ^Saltz, Rachel (13 February 2012)."After Mumbai, Letting His Socks Down in Las Vegas".The New York Times.
- ^"Planet Connections Theatre Festivity Awards Come to Cherry Lane This Weekend; Nominees Announced".BroadwayWorld. 2016-08-08.
- ^"'Ms. Marvel': The Cast on the Most Challenging Scene — the Bollywood Wedding Dance ".
- ^"Indo-American Arts Council, Inc".
- ^"Writing is Live 2022 – Theatre Arts & Performance Studies".
- ^"SAG Awards: 'Three Billboards,' 'Big Little Lies' Top Nominees".Hollywood Reporter. 2017-12-13.
- ^Collins, Sean T. (2018-07-01)."'The Affair' Season 4, Episode 3 Recap: Playing the Savior ".The New York Times.
- ^Hussaini, Syed Fahadullah (September 7, 2021)."Ms. Marvel Star Reveals Show Characters Return In Captain Marvel 2".www.screenrant.com.Screen Rant.RetrievedJuly 15,2022.
- ^"Zenobia Shroff in EXOTIC OBSERVATIONS".Indo-American Arts Council.2010-08-12. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-02-16.
- ^abcd"Why Muneeba Khan from Ms. Marvel Looks So Familiar".12 July 2022.
- ^https://www.thereshortfilm.com[bare URL]
- ^"SXSW Announces Midnighters, VR and More".
- ^"Review: 'Save Yourselves!,' starring Sunita Mani and John Reynolds".
- ^"Zenobia Shroff (Visual voices guide)".Behind the Voice Actors.Retrieved21 July2022.
- ^"Movie Review: 7 Days".
- ^Hussaini, Syed Fahadullah (September 7, 2021)."Ms. Marvel Star Reveals Show Characters Return In Captain Marvel 2".www.screenrant.com.Screen Rant.RetrievedJuly 15,2022.
- ^"'Ms Marvel' star Zenobia Shroff talks Marvel motherhood ".Entertainment Weekly.