Desiree Akhavan was born on December 27, 1984, in New York City, to Iranian immigrant parents. She was raised in a secular household. She attended Smith College and later New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied film.
Akhavan is an actress, writer, and director. She began her acting career in independent films. She gained wider recognition for her role as Tanya in the HBO series Girls, appearing in multiple episodes from 2014 to 2017.
Akhavan’s notable acting credits include:
Akhavan is primarily known for her work as a writer and director. Appropriate Behavior, her debut feature, premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. The Miseducation of Cameron Post won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. The Bisexual, a television series exploring bisexual identity, has been critically acclaimed.
Akhavan has received several awards and nominations, including: