Oscar Nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Septimius Awards 2025

On September 4, 2025, the historic Tuschinski Theater in Amsterdam—often cited as one of the most beautiful cinemas in the world—served as the backdrop for a momentous occasion. During the annual Septimius Awards, the Iranian-American actress Shohreh Aghdashloo was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor celebrated more than five decades of a career defined by resilience, a distinctive gravelly voice, and a commitment to portraying complex, underrepresented characters.

The Septimius Awards, known for prioritizing international diversity and cinematic excellence, selected Aghdashloo not only for her technical mastery of the craft but for her role as a cultural bridge-builder.

A Career Defined by Resilience

Shohreh Aghdashloo’s journey to the stage of the Tuschinski was anything but linear. Born in Tehran in 1952, she rose to fame during the Iranian New Wave of the 1970s. Working with visionary directors like Abbas Kiarostami in The Report (1977) and Ali Hatami in Sooteh-Delan (1978), she became a leading lady of Iranian cinema before the age of 25.

However, the 1979 Revolution forced a dramatic pivot. Fleeing her home country, she relocated to England and later the United States, effectively starting her career from scratch in a foreign language. Her early years in the West were spent balancing education—earning a degree in International Relations—with small roles that rarely showcased her true range.

Breaking Barriers in Hollywood

The global landscape of cinema changed for Aghdashloo in 2003 with the release of House of Sand and Fog. Her portrayal of Nadereh "Nadi" Behrani, the wife of an exiled Iranian colonel (played by Ben Kingsley), was a masterclass in nuance. She captured the tragic intersection of pride, displacement, and grief so poignantly that she became the first Iranian woman to be nominated for an Academy Award.

This breakthrough shattered the "terrorist or victim" stereotype often relegated to Middle Eastern actors. Instead, Aghdashloo brought a regal humanity to the screen, a quality she would later carry into television. In 2008, she made history again by winning a Primetime Emmy Award for her role as Sajida Talfah in the HBO miniseries House of Saddam.

The Voice of Authority: Sci-Fi and Beyond

For many modern fans, Aghdashloo is synonymous with the formidable Chrisjen Avasarala in the hit sci-fi series The Expanse. Over six seasons, she portrayed the United Nations Secretary-General with a blend of political ruthlessness and maternal protectiveness. Her performance turned the character into a feminist icon of the genre, proving that an actress in her 60s could command a high-stakes, action-oriented franchise.

Beyond the screen, her voice has become a legendary tool in its own right. From voicing characters in the Mass Effect and Destiny video game franchises to narrating documentaries about human rights, she has used her unique vocal texture to provide gravity and authority to every project she touches.

A Legacy of Advocacy

At the Septimius Awards ceremony, the tribute highlighted that Aghdashloo’s "lifetime achievement" extends far beyond her filmography. She has been a tireless advocate for human rights and women’s empowerment in Iran. During her acceptance speech in Amsterdam, she reportedly touched upon the power of storytelling to foster empathy and the importance of providing a platform for those whose voices have been silenced by political upheaval.

The 2025 Septimius Awards ceremony also honored other industry giants, including actor Kevin Spacey and the late producer Irv Gotti, but the evening's emotional core was centered on Aghdashloo. As she stood in the ornate Art Deco hall of the Tuschinski, the award served as a formal recognition of a woman who lost her first career to a revolution and built a second one that conquered the world.

Shohreh Aghdashloo’s Lifetime Achievement Award is a testament to the fact that talent, when paired with an unshakeable spirit, knows no borders. As she continues her work into 2025 and beyond—appearing in upcoming projects like The Wheel of Time—her legacy remains a beacon for international artists everywhere.