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Poorna Jagannathan Biography
Poorna Jagannathan is an American actress and producer. She is famous for her portrayal of Safar Khan in The Night Of. The show was nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe- show. Poorna has also played the lead in the Bollywood cult comedy film Delhi Belly. She is the producer of the play Nirbhaya. The play dealt with breaking the silence about sexual violence.
Her play won the 2013 ‘Amnesty International Award’. She was mentioned by The Telegraph as the “One of the most powerful pieces of theater you’ll ever see”. Jagannathan was featured among the top 10 in Femina magazine’s “India’s 50 most beautiful women” in 2012 and in 2014. She was named among the top 50 most powerful women in India.
Poorna Jagannathan Age
Poorna was born on 22 December in Tunis, Tunisia. She is the daughter of an Indian diplomat. Jagannathan was born in Tunis, Tunisia, and grew up in Pakistan, Ireland, India, Braziland Argentina. Her father was an alcoholic. Her zodiac sign is Capricorn. Jagannathan had horrific experiences of sexual abuse as a child. Her parent’s names have not been disclosed.
Poorna Jagannathan Education
Jagannathan graduated in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park She also did some college at the University of Brasilia, Brazil. On a scholarship, she attended the Actors Studio Drama School. Although she dropped out after the first year. She later continued to study acting under her mentor, Elizabeth Kemp, whom she met there.
Poorna Jagannathan Career
Jagannathan has appeared on several TV shows including a recurring role on Better Call Saul, playing Blacklister #44 on The Blacklist. She appeared as the guest lead on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Her upcoming film credits include playing one of the leads in A24’s upcoming film Share. Jagannathan is an established theater actress.
She is a board and company member of The Barrow Group in New York City. In 2012, Deadline.com reported that Jagannathan had joined the cast of HBO’s new show The Night Of as a series regular. The Night Of was released on HBO on July 10, 2016, to critical acclaim. On September 2016, it was announced that Jagannathan was joining the cast of Gypsy as a series regular.
She is playing Katie Richmond, a significant recurring character who appears in season 2. Jagannathan recently lent her voice to three podcasts in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series, based on The New York Times Best Seller list books by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo. She read the stories of Mary Kom, Margaret Hamilton and Madam C.J. Walker. The series was named among the 50 best podcasts for 2018 by TIME.
Advocacy
Jagannathan initiated and produced a testimonial play called Nirbhaya. Meaning Fearless”, a pseudonym given to the victim. The play uses the rape and death of Jyoti Singh Pandey as a catalyst to break the silence about sexual violence. She collaborated with internationally acclaimed playwright and director, Yael Farber. Nirbhaya opened at the Assembly Hall in August 2013 during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
In March 2014, Nirbhaya was the centerpiece performance for Southbank’s “Women of the World” festival. It played to sold-out houses in the UK. Nirbhaya opened to critical acclaim in India on March 17, 2014, playing to sold-out houses in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. In August 2014, The Guardian audiences voted Nirbhaya among the top 10 “best fringe moments” in the Edinburgh Festival’s history.
Nirbhaya opened to rave reviews at The Culture Project in New York City in May 2015. She rose to become the NYT Critics’ Pick. The play toured for three years in multiple cities in Ireland, Canada, the UK, India, and the U.S.
Recognition
Jagannathan’s performance received positive reviews for The Night Of. Her comic performance in Room 104 was widely praised by critics. Jagannathan also won critical acclaim for her role as a spunky. The Daily News and Analysis said that Jagannathan shines in the film. Her performance in Delhi Belly earned Jagannathan the Stardust award for Best Supporting Actress and the L’Oreal Femina Award for Breakthrough Performance in 2012.
- Jagannathan has been featured on the cover of Marie Claire, Femina, Jade, and Exotica and covered in numerous publications like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Cosmopolitan and Grazia.
- In 2014, Verve Magazine named her among the top 50 most powerful women in India.
- She was featured in Vogue‘s October 2012 anniversary issue as one of 8 women who is changing the face of beauty in India.
- Jagannathan was featured among the top 10 in Femina magazine’s “India’s 50 most beautiful women” in 2012.
- Vogue included her in their list of most stylish women in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
- Grazia awarded Jagannathan the “Best Dressed Award” for 2014.
- She was ranked Most Fashionable Indian Woman by Cosmopolitan in their October 2013 and 2012 issues.
- She was included in Verve‘s “2012’s Best Dressed Women” issue.
- Italian Marie Claire named Jagannathan as one of the 12 women from the East impacting Western cinema in 2012.
- She was included in Elle magazine’s hot 100 lists for 2011.
- She was voted among the Top 50 Coolest Indians From Around The World for 2013 and 2011 by Desiclub.
She is also a brand ambassador for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Poorna Jagannathan Husband
Poorna is married to Azad Oommen. The couple has been married since 2003.