The National: Exiled Iranian actress moves into international spotlight
When the official lineup of films that would be competing for the foreign language Oscar at the next Academy Awards was announced earlier this month, there was one notable omission. Iran, whose official submission, Asghar Farhadi's A Separation, famously won the award in February, was not among the 71 countries, having pulled out in protest over the video The Innocence of Muslims.
But the list does contain one Iranian admission. Golshifteh Farahani, the Iranian actress living in exile from Iran for more than four years, stars as the lead in Afghanistan's entry, The Patience Stone, giving a moving and emotionally charged performance that should well see the film make it through to the final shortlist.
"If it happens, of course I will be an ambassador, I will be representing Iran," says Farahani, speaking at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and seemingly shocked at the news Iran will not be competing. "It's against Farhadi. It's against winning an Oscar."
Should The Patience Stone make it to Hollywood in February, it could spark further controversy for the 29-year-old who has becoming something of an icon for Iran's cultural exiles.
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