Zahra Noorbakhsh (born June 11, 1980)[1] is an Iranian-American comedian, writer, actor and co-host of the #GoodMuslimBadMuslim podcast.[2] The New Yorker called her one-woman show All Atheists Are Muslim a highlight of the New York International Fringe Festival.[citation needed] She is a contributor to the New York Times featured anthology Love Inshallah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women,[3] with a monthly column entitled, "My Infidel Husband".[4] Noorbakhsh was a featured comic at the first-ever Muslim Funny Fest in New York City.[5]
| Zahra Noorbakhsh | |
|---|---|
 Noorbakhsh at PRI's Global Nation | |
| Born | June 11, 1980 Sacramento County, California, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up |
| Subject(s) | Religion, American politics |
| Notable works and roles |
|
| Website | zahranoorbakhsh |
Career
editNoorbakhsh graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Theatre & Performance Studies in 2006. Though she began as a stand-up comic, her love of impressions, characters and storytelling drew her into the world of theater and ultimately solo performance. Her solo performance career began in 2007 under the direction of W. Kamau Bell at the Solo Performance Workshop, where Noorbakhsh penned several shows, including All Atheists Are Muslim[6] and Hijab and Hammerpants.[7]
She played a half-Persian friend in the web series The Van Life.[8] She has also performed a live recording of the #GoodMuslimBadMuslim podcast with her co-host Tanzila Ahmed on the grounds of the White House.[9][10]
Personal life
editNoorbakhsh grew up in Danville, California with her mother, father, and three siblings. Much of her comedy revolves around growing up as a second generation Iranian-American Muslim.[11] She lives and works in San Francisco, California, with her husband, Duncan. She is also a member of the San Francisco Writers' Grotto.[12][13]
Her work with the podcast #GoodMuslimBadMuslim stems from a conversation with her co-host Tanzila Ahmed. Zahra has stated that she eats pork and drinks alcohol but still feels strongly about her Muslim identity.[14][15][16]
References
edit- ^ California Birth Index. "Zahra Noorbakhsh, Born 06/11/1980 in California". California Birth Index. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "Taz & Zahra". #GoodMuslimBadMuslim.
- ^ MacFarquhar, Neil (January 23, 2012). "Lifting Veil on Love and Islam". The New York Times.
- ^ "My Infidel Husband". Archived from the original on 2017-02-26. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "Muslim Funny Fest Team: Zahra Noorbakhsh". Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ Reza Aslan. "The Affectionate Hilarity of "All Atheists Are Muslim"". Aslan Media.
- ^ Rachel Swan (6 July 2011). "Zahra Noorbakhsh and the Atheist-Muslim Connection". East Bay Express.
- ^ Kelly Rafferty. "The Van Life TV".
- ^ "017 - LIVE from the White House". #GoodMuslimBadMuslim.
- ^ Dexter Thomas (4 May 2016). "Three Asian American leaders talk about what got them to the White House". LA Times.
- ^ Nikki Gloudeman. "Zahra Noorbakhsh: Muslim American Feminist Comedian". Ravishly.
- ^ "Bio". Zahra Noorbakhsh. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "Individual Members". San Francisco Writer's Grotto. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "How to Eat Pork, Drink Booze and Be a Good Muslim". Global PRI. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "What is a Good Muslim Anyway? A Podcast Disrupts the Narrative". NPR. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
- ^ "An Interview with Good Muslim Bad Muslim". Soundcloud. Retrieved 2016-06-21.