Zahra Noorbakhsh

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. 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 (1980-06-11) June 11, 1980
Sacramento County, California, U.S.
MediumStand-up
NationalityAmerican
Subject(s)Religion, American politics
Notable works and roles
  • All Atheists are Muslim
  • #GoodMuslimBadMuslim
Websitezahranoorbakhsh.com

Career

Noorbakhsh 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

Noorbakhsh 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
  1. California Birth Index. "Zahra Noorbakhsh, Born 06/11/1980 in California". California Birth Index. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  2. "Taz & Zahra". #GoodMuslimBadMuslim.
  3. "Lifting Veil on Love and Islam". January 23, 2012.
  4. "My Infidel Husband".
  5. "Muslim Funny Fest Team: Zahra Noorbakhsh". Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  6. Reza Aslan. "The Affectionate Hilarity of "All Atheists Are Muslim"". Aslan Media.
  7. Rachel Swan. "Zahra Noorbakhsh and the Atheist-Muslim Connection". East Bay Express.
  8. Kelly Rafferty. "The Van Life TV".
  9. "017 - LIVE from the White House". #GoodMuslimBadMuslim.
  10. Dexter Thomas. "Three Asian American leaders talk about what got them to the White House". LA Times.
  11. Nikki Gloudeman. "Zahra Noorbakhsh: Muslim American Feminist Comedian". Ravishly.
  12. "Bio". Zahra Noorbakhsh. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  13. "Individual Members". San Francisco Writer's Grotto. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  14. "How to Eat Pork, Drink Booze and Be a Good Muslim". Global PRI. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  15. "What is a Good Muslim Anyway? A Podcast Disrupts the Narrative". NPR. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  16. "An Interview with Good Muslim Bad Muslim". Soundcloud. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
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