Fatemeh Motamed-Arya is a highly respected Iranian actress known for her significant contributions to post-revolutionary Iranian cinema and her bold stance on social and political issues. Born on October 29, 1961, in Tehran, she began her career as a puppeteer for a popular children's television show, "The Mice School," before transitioning to film roles in the 1980s. Her performances have earned her numerous awards, including the Best Actress Award at the Montréal Film Festival for her role in "Here Without Me" (2011), and the Prix Henri-Langlois in France for her lifetime achievements in cinema.

Motamed-Arya's activism has made her a prominent figure in the Women, Life, Freedom movement. She has publicly opposed the mandatory hijab laws in Iran, which led to her being banned from leaving the country on several occasions. In October 2022, during the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, she appeared in a viral video without her hijab, expressing her solidarity with the protesters and condemning the government's violent crackdown on dissent.

Despite facing severe restrictions and backlash, including being banned from traveling to international events like the Wiener Festwochen art festival in Vienna, Motamed-Arya remains a vocal advocate for human rights and continues to support various charitable causes in Iran. She has been involved in numerous philanthropic activities, such as supporting children with cancer and promoting mental health awareness​.

Selected Filmography:

• "The Blue-Veiled" (1995)
• "Gilaneh" (2005)
• "Here Without Me" (2011)
• "Nabat" (2014)
• "Avalanche" (2015)
• "Yeva" (2017)
• "The Warden" (2019)
• "The Sun" (2020)

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