Setareh Maleki

{{short description|Iranian actress (born 1992)}}

{{short description|Iranian actress (born 1992)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}

'''Setareh Maleki''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: ستاره ملکی; born October 12, 1992) is an Iranian actress. She is best known for her role as Sana in [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Academy Award-nominated]] drama film ''[[The Seed of the Sacred Fig]]'' (2024).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Setareh Maleki |url=https://www.europeanfilmawards.eu/talent/setareh-maleki/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=European Film Academy |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |date=2024-11-22 |title=How an Iranian Filmmaker Made a Movie Criticizing the Regime Right in the Middle of Tehran |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/seed-of-the-sacred-fig-director-challenge-regime-1236067830/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oscars nod 'truly magical' for Iranian film's young stars - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012 |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/02/oscars-nod-truly-magical-iranian-films-young-stars |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.al-monitor.com |language=en}}</ref>{{Infobox person

{{Infobox person/Wikidata

| fetchwikidata = ALL

| name = Setareh Maleki

| name = Setareh Maleki

| native_name = ستاره ملکی

| image = Director Mohammad Rasoulof and cast of The Seed of the Sacred Fig at 2024 Cannes Film Festival.jpg

| image = Director Mohammad Rasoulof and cast of The Seed of the Sacred Fig at 2024 Cannes Film Festival.jpg

| caption = First from right, Maleki at the [[2024 Cannes Film Festival]]

| caption = First from right, Maleki at the [[2024 Cannes Film Festival]]

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|10|12}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|10|12|dm=y}}

| birth_place = [[Tehran]], Iran

| birth_place = [[Tehran]], Iran

| occupation = Actress

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 2012–present

| years_active = 2012–present

| known_for = Leading actress in ''[[The Seed of the Sacred Fig]]''

}}

}}

'''Setareh Maleki''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: ستاره ملکی; born October 12, 1992) is an [[Persians|Iranian]] actress. She is best known for her role as Sana in the [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Academy Award-nominated]] drama film ''[[The Seed of the Sacred Fig]]'' (2024), directed by [[Mohammad Rasoulof]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Setareh Maleki |url=https://www.europeanfilmawards.eu/talent/setareh-maleki/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=European Film Academy |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Setareh Maleki was born on October 12, 1992, in [[Tehran]], Iran.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Setareh Maleki - Actor Filmography، photos، Video |url=https://elcinema.com/en/person/2325446/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=elCinema.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Douglas |date=2024-05-25 |title=8 Rising Stars to Know After the 2024 Cannes Film Festival |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/8-rising-stars-to-know-2024-cannes-film-festival |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref>

Shortly after finishing filming, Rasoulof as well as the three actresses Niousha Akhshi, [[Mahsa Rostami]] and Setareh Maleki had to flee Iran.

== Life and career==

Setareh Maleki was born on 12 October, 1992, in [[Tehran]], Iran.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Setareh Maleki - Actor Filmography، photos، Video |url=https://elcinema.com/en/person/2325446/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=elCinema.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Douglas |date=2024-05-25 |title=8 Rising Stars to Know After the 2024 Cannes Film Festival |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/8-rising-stars-to-know-2024-cannes-film-festival |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2024, Maleki gained international recognition for her performance as Sana, the younger daughter of an [[Islamic Revolutionary Court]] judge, in Mohammad Rasoulof's film ''The Seed of the Sacred Fig''. The film depicts a family's growing fear and internal conflict amid protests following the [[death of Mahsa Amini]]. Rostami’s portrayal received critical acclaim, contributing to the film's success at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. The film was selected the same year as Germany's submission for [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Best International Feature Film]] at the [[97th Academy Awards]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oscars nod 'truly magical' for Iranian film's young stars - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012 |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/02/oscars-nod-truly-magical-iranian-films-young-stars |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.al-monitor.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sitaras |first=Alex |date=2024-12-03 |title=The Seed of the Sacred Fig ★★★★ |url=https://cineccentric.com/2024/12/03/the-seed-of-the-sacred-fig/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Cineccentric |language=en}}</ref>

The film was secretly shot in early 2024 in Iran, with director Rasoulof having to hide in the trunk of a car and communicating with the actors only through intermediaries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |date=2024-11-22 |title=How an Iranian Filmmaker Made a Movie Criticizing the Regime Right in the Middle of Tehran |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/seed-of-the-sacred-fig-director-challenge-regime-1236067830/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Exile in Germany ==

Following the last phases of filming, Maleki, along with director Rasoulof and fellow actresses Niousha Akhshi and Mahsa Rostami left Iran due to fears of government reprisals. Since 2024, she has been based in [[Berlin]], Germany, where she has received support and artistic residencies. She continues to promote the film and participates in events in support of [[Women's rights movement in Iran|Iranian women’s rights]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Golshiri |first=Ghazal |date=2024-09-17 |title=Three Iranian actresses forced into exile after starring in 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig,' which won at Cannes |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2024/09/17/three-iranian-actresses-forced-into-exile-after-starring-in-in-the-seed-of-the-sacred-fig_6726283_117.html |access-date=2025-07-03 |work=www.lemonde.fr |language=en}}</ref>

== Critical reception ==

Critical reception of Rostami's acting has mainly centered on her role as Sana in ''The Seed of the Sacred Fig''. Thus, [[Justin Chang]] of ''[[NPR]]'' wrote that the actors were "uniformly superb" and remarked "the nuanced sibling dynamic between Mahsa Rostami, as the sensitive, thoughtful older sister, and Setareh Maleki, as the slyer, more mischievous younger one."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=2024-12-11 |title=Shot in secret, 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' calls out Iran's authoritarian regime |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/12/11/nx-s1-5223531/the-seed-of-the-sacred-fig-review-iran |access-date=2025-07-04 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' after the film's release in [[Israel]] in March 2025, Hannah Brown noted the "excellent" performance of the actresses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Hannah |date=2025-03-09 |title=Iranian film 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' merges politics and suspense {{!}} The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-845025 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

== Filmography ==

* [[Cinema of Iran]]

* [[Cinema of Iran]]

* [[Mahsa Rostami]]

* [[Soheila Golestani]]

* [[Soheila Golestani]]