Ava Lalezarzadeh is a rising American actress and writer recognized for her contributions to theater, television, and film.
She recently portrayed Cleo in the Apple TV+ limited series Before, which features a distinguished cast that includes Billy Crystal and Judith Light.
Originally from Southern California, Ava now lives in New York City. She actively engages with her audience through social media, sharing insights into her personal and professional life.
In one of her social media posts, Ava identified herself as an American actress of Iranian-Jewish descent and also described herself as a poet. However, she expressed a desire not to be confined by labels.
@movieweb A troubled boy and his tortured psychiatrist. You’ve never seen Billy Crystal in a role like this. BEFORE premieres October 25 on @appletv. #Before #BillyCrystal #AppleTV #FYP ♬ original sound – MovieWeb
Lalezarzadeh was raised in a small suburb of Southern California, where she was the only Persian girl in her school, with just a few Jewish classmates. She proudly identifies as a Persian Jew.
Ava Lalezarzadeh’s roots in theater and her Broadway debut in 2025
In addition to her role in Before, Ava has several projects lined up for 2025. She has appeared in numerous short films and series, but her artistic journey began in the theater, where she continues to maintain strong roots.
Ava has accumulated extensive experience in theater. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theater from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. Additionally, she received training at the British American Drama Academy and École Philippe Gaulier.
As of now, the American Jewish actress has participated in a couple of plays and has received significant acclaim for her performances, attracting considerable attention. Notably, her play English recently achieved a significant milestone.
On January 11, 2024, Lalezarzadeh shared with her Instagram followers that her play English, written by Sanaz Toossi, will be making its way to Broadway. The play has garnered prestigious accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize, an Obie Award, and a Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play.
In this production, she will reprise her role as Goli, which she originally played in the Off-Broadway version of English. Also, this marks her debut on Broadway; thus, making it a significant achievement for her as well.
@inthegardenoftulips Getting a Chador Nagdeh for my future wedding…even though I’m still single. #weddingszn #persianjew #shortfilm #16mm #film #iranian #jews #inthegardenoftulips ♬ original sound – AvaLalezarzadeh & Julia Elihu
Besides English, Lalezarzadeh performed in Anne: A New Play, which marked her first professional theater experience, where she excelled in her role. She portrayed Anne Frank in a poignant production at the Museum of Tolerance, focusing on the experiences of Holocaust victims.
Lalezarzadeh is thriving on-screen, with her short film In the Garden of Tulips qualifying for the Oscars
Ava Lalezarzadeh’s rise from minor roles to critical praise has hit a new peak with her short film, In the Garden of Tulips, which now has a shot at an Oscar. Her on-screen journey began in 2018 with her first project as a director, producer, and writer titled Pool Man.
Following this, she appeared in various productions, leading to roles in The Morning Show (Apple TV+), New Amsterdam (NBC), and Big Mouth (Netflix). However, it was her work in In the Garden of Tulips, released in 2023, that truly put her in the spotlight.
For this film, Ava not only starred as Caroline but also co-wrote the story with Julia Elihu. The story draws from her mom’s experiences during the Iran-Iraq War. The movie shows the grit and bravery needed to survive in the chaos of the 1980s conflict.
In the Garden of Tulips nabbed the Best Live Action Short award at the St. Louis International Film Festival, making it eligible for Oscar consideration. Lalezarzadeh marked this achievement on Instagram, expressing her joy to followers. In her words,
We have some big news: Tulips won Best Live Action Short at St. Louis International Film Festival, which means…we are Oscar Qualified!
The Pursuit actress further added,
We are very excited to run our Oscar campaign for next Oscars season ‘25. Thank you so much St. Louis for the honor.
In case you didn’t know, Ava faced bullying for her looks, sparking a quiet rebellion within her
- In second grade, Lalezarzadeh faced teasing from a classmate about her body hair, which made her feel self-conscious.
- To hide it, she wore long sleeves and jeans even in the summer heat, leading to an unforgettable incident where she fainted in a rose bush.
- This early bullying shaped Ava’s view of her appearance, sparking years of self-consciousness about her body and the need to fit conventional beauty standards.
- Back in 2018, while living in Europe and lacking access to laser or electrolysis treatments, Ava decided to let her facial and body hair grow naturally for the first time.
- Rather than struggling against her body hair, she chose to embrace it, defying the Eurocentric beauty standards she had once felt pressured to follow.
- By rejecting these conventional expectations and becoming comfortable with her natural look, Ava called it her “quiet rebellion,” which allowed her to redefine beauty on her own terms.
