Biography
Irene Zazians (August 20, 1927 – July 28, 2012), known mononymously as Irene, was an Iranian-Armenian actress of cinema and television. She worked with famous Iranian new wave directors both before and after the 1979 revolution, such as Samuel Khachikian, Amir Naderi, Nosrat Karimi, Masoud Kimiyayi, and Alireza Davood Nejad. Her two films after the revolution, The Red Line directed by Kimiyayi and The Reward by Davood Nejad, were banned.
She also appeared in four TV series. She portrayed Mahde Olya (Nasereddin Shah's mother) in Soltan-e Sahebgheran directed by Ali Hatami in 1976. Her role in Hezar Dastan, another series directed by Ali Hatami, was cut out. After the Iranian revolution she was banned from taking part in any artistic activities. She travelled to Germany, where she re-trained as a beautician. She returned to Iran in 1986, during the harshest time of the Iran-Iraq war. Her last performance in cinema was in Shirin in 2008, a film by Abbas Kiarostami. She died of lung cancer in 2012 in Tehran.
Filmography
Cast Credits

Filmfarsi
Character: (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2019

Razor's Edge: The Legacy of Iranian Actresses
Character: Self
MOVIE • 2016

Shirin
Character:
MOVIE • 2009

The Red Line
Character: Lale's mother
MOVIE • 1982

Berehne ta zohr ba sorat
Character:
MOVIE • 1976

Agitation
Character: Shahla
MOVIE • 1976

The Last Supper
Character:
MOVIE • 1976

The Red-Haired
Character: Nayyer
MOVIE • 1974

Rooster
Character: Belgheis
MOVIE • 1973

Akbar the Interpreter
Character: Maliheh
MOVIE • 1973

The Triple Bed
Character: Touran
MOVIE • 1973

Hakim-bashi
Character: Ensiyeh
MOVIE • 1972

Baluch
Character: Farangis
MOVIE • 1972

The Interim Husband
Character:
MOVIE • 1971

Homaye Sa'adat
Character: Nazanin
MOVIE • 1971

Goodbye, Friend
Character:
MOVIE • 1970

Noah's Ark
Character: Leyla
MOVIE • 1968

Anxiety
Character:
MOVIE • 1962

The Shadow of Fate
Character:
MOVIE • 1961

Mardi ke ranj mibarad
Character: Sorour
MOVIE • 1957