Anecdotes

After playing in Ridley Scott's Une vie de mensonges (2008), she was banned from leaving her home country Iran in February 2008 on her way to London to make a screen test for Prince of Persia: Les sables du temps (2010). The role she was set to audition for eventually went to English actress Gemma Arterton. This was only reported six months later when she actually could leave the country. She now lives in Paris, France.

Fluent in English, French, and Farsi. Some knowledge of Arabic and Kurdish.

First Iranian star after the 1979 revolution to play in a major Hollywood production: Ridley Scott's Une vie de mensonges (2008) with Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.

Her underground rock band "Kooch" got the first prize at the 2nd Tehran Avenue Underground Rock Festival in 2003. Rock music and women singing are banned in Iran.

In Santouri (2007), Golshifteh plays the piano herself.

The name "Golshifteh" was not accepted by the authorities as a proper name, so the name "Rahavard" was chosen as an "official" first name for her.

First lead role at 14.

Daughter of Behzad Farahani and Fahimeh Rahimnia.

Sister of Shaghayegh Farahani and Azarakhsh Farahani.

Member of the international jury at the 63rd Locarno Film Festival in 2010.

As of 2009, was living in Paris, France.