Full name: Sarah Shahi
DOB: 10-01-1980
Place of birth: Euless,Texas, USA
Occupation: Actress , former NFL Cheerleader
Born Aahoo Jahansouzshahi to Spanish and Persian parents - her lineage on the latter side could be traced to a 19th-century shah - in Euless, TX on Jan. 10, 1980, Shahi was an overachiever at an early age, participating in sports and beauty pageants, training as an opera singer, and earning a brown belt in karate. In addition to her outside interests, she excelled at school, going on to graduate at the top of her class from Southern Methodist University. After winning the Miss Fort Worth competition in 1997, she tired of the pageant routine and considered becoming a country singer, of all things. While exploring that venue, Shahi joined up with the iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders from 1999-2000, ending up as the first rookie to ever grace the cover of their calendar. During this time, she also appeared in layouts for Muscle and Fitness and Curve magazines, and toured the Balkans and Southern Europe as part of the U.S.O.While working as an extra on "Dr. T. and the Women" (2000), Shahi met director Robert Altman, who encouraged her to pursue acting. She relocated to Los Angeles and began working almost immediately in television and film. Shahi graduated quickly from bit parts, to recurring roles on series like "Alias" (ABC, 2001-06) and "Dawson's Creek" (The WB, 1999-2003). A turn in the 2003 theatrical comedy "Old School" also earned her numerous male fans, after she gave an impressive pantomime of oral sex. In 2005, Shahi joined the cast of "The L Word" as Carmen de la Pica Morales, a budding D.J. who plays roommates Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig) and Jenny (Mia Kershner) off each other in an attempt to win Shane's affections. Eventually, she becomes involved with Shane, but the relationship ends up tumultuous, with much of the conflict over issues of fidelity. Their romance climaxes with Shane abandoning Carmen on the day of their wedding. Carmen's fiery temper and the intense psycho-sexual drama of her relationship with Shane helped make the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons among the series' most dramatic and watchable. Interestingly enough, Shahi was unsure if she wanted the role after she landed it, but soon came to consider it among her best work.Shahi had a small role in Christopher Guest's mockumentary "For Your Consideration" (2007), but her most noteworthy turn of that year came in the "Sopranos" episode titled "Kennedy and Heidi." In it, she played Sonya Aragon, a savvy Las Vegas-based woman paying her way through college by stripping, who also happens to be a friend of Tony's cousin and loyal crew member Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli). Tony arrives in Vegas to deliver the news of Christopher's death - which he caused - to Sonya, and becomes physically involved with her. The pair spends a hedonistic weekend together, capped off by the use of peyote, which appeared to have a profound affect on the guilt-ridden Mafia chieftain.
DOB: 10-01-1980
Place of birth: Euless,Texas, USA
Occupation: Actress , former NFL Cheerleader
Born Aahoo Jahansouzshahi to Spanish and Persian parents - her lineage on the latter side could be traced to a 19th-century shah - in Euless, TX on Jan. 10, 1980, Shahi was an overachiever at an early age, participating in sports and beauty pageants, training as an opera singer, and earning a brown belt in karate. In addition to her outside interests, she excelled at school, going on to graduate at the top of her class from Southern Methodist University. After winning the Miss Fort Worth competition in 1997, she tired of the pageant routine and considered becoming a country singer, of all things. While exploring that venue, Shahi joined up with the iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders from 1999-2000, ending up as the first rookie to ever grace the cover of their calendar. During this time, she also appeared in layouts for Muscle and Fitness and Curve magazines, and toured the Balkans and Southern Europe as part of the U.S.O.While working as an extra on "Dr. T. and the Women" (2000), Shahi met director Robert Altman, who encouraged her to pursue acting. She relocated to Los Angeles and began working almost immediately in television and film. Shahi graduated quickly from bit parts, to recurring roles on series like "Alias" (ABC, 2001-06) and "Dawson's Creek" (The WB, 1999-2003). A turn in the 2003 theatrical comedy "Old School" also earned her numerous male fans, after she gave an impressive pantomime of oral sex. In 2005, Shahi joined the cast of "The L Word" as Carmen de la Pica Morales, a budding D.J. who plays roommates Shane McCutcheon (Katherine Moennig) and Jenny (Mia Kershner) off each other in an attempt to win Shane's affections. Eventually, she becomes involved with Shane, but the relationship ends up tumultuous, with much of the conflict over issues of fidelity. Their romance climaxes with Shane abandoning Carmen on the day of their wedding. Carmen's fiery temper and the intense psycho-sexual drama of her relationship with Shane helped make the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons among the series' most dramatic and watchable. Interestingly enough, Shahi was unsure if she wanted the role after she landed it, but soon came to consider it among her best work.Shahi had a small role in Christopher Guest's mockumentary "For Your Consideration" (2007), but her most noteworthy turn of that year came in the "Sopranos" episode titled "Kennedy and Heidi." In it, she played Sonya Aragon, a savvy Las Vegas-based woman paying her way through college by stripping, who also happens to be a friend of Tony's cousin and loyal crew member Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli). Tony arrives in Vegas to deliver the news of Christopher's death - which he caused - to Sonya, and becomes physically involved with her. The pair spends a hedonistic weekend together, capped off by the use of peyote, which appeared to have a profound affect on the guilt-ridden Mafia chieftain.Sarah Shahi: “It’s what men and women dream of”
You probably know her as steaming hot L Word DJ Carmen who was left at the altar when Shane did a runner.Speaking with a deep, sexy voice, Sarah Shahi has DIVA's Bella Qvist sweating on the other side of the phone as she rings up to talk about lesbian sex scenes, strong women and what it is like to kiss Katherine Moennig.
Five years after leaving The L Word the 31-year-old plays Kate, a high-powered mediator in the funny American drama series, Fairly Legal. Her new role sees the Texas-born actor running around the streets of San Francisco in pencil skirts and high heels, dealing with clients in a comical Ally McBeal kind of way.There is one common factor that draws Sarah to her roles: she likes the idea of portraying strong yet troubled women.
"With [my character] Kate and with the last role that I did on a show called Life, they are both women who, even though they worked in very male dominated worlds, were struggling with a lot of their own demons and were pushed on what they should do."Kate is a straight character with men on her mind but Sarah admits she prefers getting down and dirty with women. On camera at least.
"When it's girl on girl it's actually a little bit more comfortable because as women we understand each others bodily issues," she says and stops as if to think back at a particular moment.
"If I needed to have Katherine Moennig cover a breast or cling on top of me in a way to hide something from the camera, there was no issue asking about it. With men it gets a little tricky because if they get excited, you know," she laughs, probably blushing a little.
And seeing as she's already mentioned her name, the following question is inevitable. What is it like kissing Katherine Moennig?
Sarah laughs; now she really is embarrassed.
"It's what men and women dream of," she says before changing her tone of voice, sounding as if she is quoting a love poem as she continues.
"She has lips as luscious as a peach and a golden ripe petal on a summer day, dripping with sweet nectar."
"You can actually describe it like that," she says, speaking in her normal voice again.
With such kisses, there is no wonder Shane broke hearts.
It seems Sarah needs a moment after that thought (who wouldn't?) and she takes her time before answering what she thinks about my next question: what did Carmen go on to do after she was left at the altar?
"For all I'm feeling she is probably still doing the same thing, still pining over Shane. I don't know if she will ever love the way she loved Shane and I think that there is a place in her mind that still hopes that Shane comes back."
Sarah admits she gets a very strong connection to the characters she plays. She puts herself into them and becomes intertwined with them to the extent where she thinks about them even when is not on set.
"I think Carmen had a sadness to her… she never really was able to come out under her family," she says at one point, sounding genuinely thoughtful.
The fact that people obsess about her old role doesn't bother her.
"[The L Word] was a cultural phenomenon, it made history and in a way I was able to be a part of that… I'm very proud that I was a part of that and that people still talk about it."
Indeed, despite Shahi marrying a man, people have often questioned her sexuality.
"I think for a while the girls were definitely convinced that I was gay," she laughs.
"But I'm pretty sure they've all got the message that I'm straight by now."
Sadly, yes.
Five years after leaving The L Word the 31-year-old plays Kate, a high-powered mediator in the funny American drama series, Fairly Legal. Her new role sees the Texas-born actor running around the streets of San Francisco in pencil skirts and high heels, dealing with clients in a comical Ally McBeal kind of way.There is one common factor that draws Sarah to her roles: she likes the idea of portraying strong yet troubled women.
"With [my character] Kate and with the last role that I did on a show called Life, they are both women who, even though they worked in very male dominated worlds, were struggling with a lot of their own demons and were pushed on what they should do."Kate is a straight character with men on her mind but Sarah admits she prefers getting down and dirty with women. On camera at least.
"If I needed to have Katherine Moennig cover a breast or cling on top of me in a way to hide something from the camera, there was no issue asking about it. With men it gets a little tricky because if they get excited, you know," she laughs, probably blushing a little.
And seeing as she's already mentioned her name, the following question is inevitable. What is it like kissing Katherine Moennig?
Sarah laughs; now she really is embarrassed.
"It's what men and women dream of," she says before changing her tone of voice, sounding as if she is quoting a love poem as she continues.
"She has lips as luscious as a peach and a golden ripe petal on a summer day, dripping with sweet nectar."
"You can actually describe it like that," she says, speaking in her normal voice again.
With such kisses, there is no wonder Shane broke hearts.
It seems Sarah needs a moment after that thought (who wouldn't?) and she takes her time before answering what she thinks about my next question: what did Carmen go on to do after she was left at the altar?"For all I'm feeling she is probably still doing the same thing, still pining over Shane. I don't know if she will ever love the way she loved Shane and I think that there is a place in her mind that still hopes that Shane comes back."
Sarah admits she gets a very strong connection to the characters she plays. She puts herself into them and becomes intertwined with them to the extent where she thinks about them even when is not on set."I think Carmen had a sadness to her… she never really was able to come out under her family," she says at one point, sounding genuinely thoughtful.
The fact that people obsess about her old role doesn't bother her.
"[The L Word] was a cultural phenomenon, it made history and in a way I was able to be a part of that… I'm very proud that I was a part of that and that people still talk about it."
Indeed, despite Shahi marrying a man, people have often questioned her sexuality.
"I think for a while the girls were definitely convinced that I was gay," she laughs.
"But I'm pretty sure they've all got the message that I'm straight by now."
Sadly, yes.
