Shaniaz Hama Ali
Actor / Writer
Acting
Film, TV & Theatre
Acting
Shaniaz recently played Sofia in Oscar nominated, Palme d'Or winner Ruben Ostlunds much anticipated new film "Triangle of Sadness". Shaniaz debuted with her one-woman show The Big Lie at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018. The show received critical praise and was nominated for the Amnesty Freedom of Speech Award. It is currently being developed for TV by Sony Pictures Entertainment, where Shaniaz will play the lead.
Shaniaz also starred in Harold Pinter’s Mountain Language at the Royal Court, alongside Douglas Hodge, Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton.
Television
| Production | Character | Director | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
BLOOD BROTHERS | Amine | Ole Endresen | Monday Scripted AS/Netflix |
MISSING PEOPLE | Mouna | Tova Magnusson | SVT / Unlimited Stories |
WHAT HAPPENED IN OSLO | Selma | Stian Kristiansen | TV2/Netflix/Monster Scripted/HOT |
YOUNG WALLANDER | Yara | Ole Endresen | Netflix/Yellow Bird Production |
LE BUREAU DES LÉGENDES | Sara | Antoine Chevrollier & Eric Rochant | Canal+ |
Film
| Production | Character | Director | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS | Sofia | Ruben Östlund | Plattform Production |
SISTERS IN ARM | Avesta | Caroline Fourest | Metropolitan Filmexport |
NESREEN'S STORY | Lead | Kayode Olorunfemi | Box of Matches |
PRACTICE | Lead | Deva Palmier | Deva Films |
Stage
| Production | Character | Director | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
MOUNTAIN LANGUAGE | Young Woman | Douglas Hodge | The Royal Court |
BLUEPRINT MEDEA | Glauke | Julia Pascal | Pascal Theatre Company, Finborough Theatre |
THE BIG LIE | Shaniaz | Oscar Toeman | Edinburgh Festival Fringe |
Radio
| Production | Character | Director | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
THE BULBUL WAS SINGING | Ariman | Emma Harding | BBC Radio 4 |
ONLY MOUNTAINS | Berglin/Layla | Nadia Molinari | BBC Radio Drama |
PLAYING DEAD | Nareen | Nadia Molinari | BBC Radio Drama |
Workshop
| Production | Character | Director | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
A FLASH OF LIGHT | Walaa | Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder | Box of tricks/Royal Exchange Theatre |
UNTITLED IRAQ PLAY | Leyla | Diyan Zora | Young Vic |
Film, TV & Theatre
Shaniaz debuted her one-woman show The Big Lie at the Edinburgh Fringe 2018. The show won critical praise with 4 stars reviews from Broadway Baby, the List and Edinburgh49. It was featured in the Scotsman, listed as one of four must-sees by the Daily Record and was nominated for the Amnesty Freedom of Speech Award. It is currently being developed for TV by Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Shaniaz was given a story credit for the short film Practice (2017), which she also starred in. The film has been given an Honorable Mention Award at LA Underground Film Forum and screened at the Tallahassee Film Festival Florida USA, and Women’s Film Festival, Philadelphia USA, in March 2018.
In Development
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
IN LOCKDOWN | Unlimited Stories | Short film in development |
UNTITLED COMMISSION | Palma Pictures | New TV Series in development with Palma Pictures |
UNTITLED COMMISSION | Media Pro | New TV series in development with Media Pro |
THE REFUGEE | Sony | Script commission |
Television
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
SHANIAZ TV PROJECT 2020 | Yellow Bird | Treatment & Pilot Script commission |
Theatre
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
ÇAVÊ WINDA 2020 | RSC | Translation of the Kurdish monolgue by Yıldız Çakar |
THE BIG LIE 2019 | The Frontline Club | Shaniaz was invited to perform her one woman show as part of the 'Frontline Fringe' event. |
THE BIG LIE 2018 | Edinburgh Fringe Festival | Dir. Oscar Toeman |
Short Films
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
PRACTICE 2018 | Deva Films | This was a collaborative writing process with writer Mandy Lee drawing together the final draft |
Press for THE BIG LIE
“A story of blockbuster proportions! Every now and then you hear a story and wish the whole world could hear it too. The Big Lie is one of those. Shaniaz Hama Ali beams with honesty, vulnerability and likeability throughout the performance, impressing with her grasp of comedy and subtlety…The Big Lie is an urgent and captivating story, told by a voice the world needs to hear.” ★★★★ - EDINBURGH49
“Shaniaz's storytelling capabilities are intelligent, apt and truly cutting; a welcome break from the more trivial pieces of this year's Fringe.” ★★★★ - THE LIST
“Shaniaz Hama Ali’s semi-autobiographical play contains all the elements needed for a great story…and like the rest of the fascinating hour that we spend in her company, we applaud her for it.” ★★★★ - BROADWAY BABY