Shahla Riahi was born on February 7, 1927 in Tehran, Iran.

She began her career as a stage actress when she was only 17 on the advice of her husband Esmaeil Riahi (1920-2010), a film and theater director.

The 1951 full-length feature film “Golden Dreams,” directed by Moezzodivan Fekri (1900-1985), launched Riahi’s career as a film actress.

In the 1950s and 60s, Riahi took on iconic roles that secured her place as one of the country’s prominent performing artists. They included “Love Thief” (1952) directed by Esmail Koushan, “The Great Love” (1962) directed by Mohammad Ali Jafari, “The Bride of the Village” (1962) directed by Naser Malek-Motiei and “Highway of Death” (1963), director by Esmaeil Riahi.

Riahi made her directorial debut in 1956 with a full-length movie “Marjan,” and became Iran’s first-ever female filmmaker.

Riahi worked as a TV presenter for several children’s programs. She came to prominence with the 1988 mini TV series for children “Dar Khane” directed by Masoud Rassam (1957-2009).

She also worked as a voice artist on foreign films including “The War Wagon” (1967) and “Gone with the Wind” (1939).

Riahi was a prolific actress starring in many groundbreaking films that defined Iranian cinema in the 1970s and 80s, including “The Carriage Driver” (1971), “Khane-Kharab” (1975), “Golnar” (1988), “Death of a Leopard” (1989), “One Ticket Two Movies” (1990), “Children of Divorce” (1990) “Delavaran-e Koocheye Delgosha” (1992), “Del Shodegan” (1992), and “Mikhaham Zendeh Bemanam” (1995).

Riahi retired from acting after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2003. (By Azadeh Karimi)

Filmography

As director

 1956 Marjan (as Shahla)

As an actress

 2004 Mehmanpazir Toba (TV Series)
 2002 Da'vat be sham
 2000 Badamha-ye talkh
 2000 Guest (TV Movie)
 1995 Enteha-ye ghodrat
 1995 Hala che shavad!
 1995 I Want to Live
 1995 Marzieh
 1994 Badal
 1994 Roya-ye nime-shab-e tabestan
 1994 Tohfe-ye Hend
 1994 In khane dour ast (TV Series)
 1993 Bi to hargez
 1993 Cheshmhayam baray-e to
 1993 Rabete-ye penhani
 1992 Delavaran-e koocheye delgosha
 1992 Del Shodegan
 1991 Rah o birah
 1991 Do film ba yek belit
 1990 Tigh-e aftab
 1990 Zaman-e az dast rafteh
 1990 Bache-haye talagh
 1989 Marg-e palang
 1989 Rande-shode
 1989 Dar masir tondbad
 1989 Golnar
 1988 Dar Khane (TV Mini Series)
 1988 Gol-e maryam
 1988 Parastar-e shab
 1978 Italia Italia (TV Mini Series)
 1975 Khane-kharab
 1973 Pesar-khande
 1973 Sarab
 1972 Hakim-bashi
 1972 Khaterkhah
 1971 Del-haye bi-aram
 1971 Doroshkechi
 1971 Shab-e aroosi (as Shahla)
 1971 Shater Abbas
 1971 Asemoon-e bi-setare
 1969 Behesth door nist
 1969 Ghatelin ham migeryand (as Shahla)
 1969 Rabete
 1969 Setare-ye foroozan
 1969 Donya-ye poromid (as Shahla)
 1969 Khashm-e koli
 1968 Bahram shirdel
 1968 Poli be sooye behesht
 1968 Setare-ye haft-asemoon
 1968 Shokoh-e-javanmardi
 1968 Mard-e-besetare
 1967 Charkh-e falak
 1967 Zir-e gonbad-e kabood (as Shahla)
 1967 Arouse Tehran
 1967 Chahar Khahar
 1967 Gedayan Tehran
 1966 Leilaj
 1966 Bist sal entezar
 1966 Jahan Pahlavan
 1966 Sharlatan
 1964 Sheitan dar mizanad (as Shahla)
 1963 Jaddeh marg (as Shahla)
 1962 Aroos-e dehkadeh
 1962 Eshqe bozorg (as Shahla)
 1961 Dam-e eshgh (as Shahla)
 1961 Morghabi sorkhkardeh (as Shahla)
 1960 Afate zendegi ya morphin (as Shahla)
 1960 Arusake poshte pardeh (as Shahla)
 1956 Marjan (as Shahla)
 1956 Booseh madar (as Shahla)
 1953 Dokhtare sar rahi
 1953 Gonahkar
 1953 Chehrehe ashna
 1952 Dozde eshq (as Shahla)
 1952 Yek negah (as Shahla)
 1951 Khabhaye talayi