Zarei, Merila (born April 14, 1974, Tehran)

Merila Zarei has an engineering degree in food industries.

She began her acting career with the series ‘Detective Alavi’ in 1994.

She has appeared in numerous series, such as ‘Khazra High School’ (1995-1996), ‘Fresh Air’ (1996), ‘Seasoned Rider’ (1997), ‘Tomorrow's Too Late’ (1997), ‘The Story of a City’ (1999-2000), ‘A Place of Love’ (2000), ‘Time of Fury’ (2000), ‘The Young Officer’ (2001), ‘The Seamen’ (2002), and ‘The Pahlavi Hat’ (2012-2013).

Zarei has also played in several movies, including ‘Filmaholic’ (2001), ‘The Fifth Reaction’ (2002), ‘The Equation’ (2003), ‘The Bachelors’ (2004), ‘The Verdict’ (2004), ‘Zagros’ (2005), ‘Half Mine, Half Yours’ (2006), ‘The Outcasts’ (2006), ‘The Sun Shines the Same on Everyone’ (2006), ‘The Fighter Rooster’ (2007), ‘A Tiny Mistake’ (2008), ‘The Sting and the Bee’ (2009), ‘Retribution’ (2009), ‘A Separation’ (2010), ‘I'm Sleepy’ (2011), ‘The Bear’ (2011), ‘Golden Diet’ (2012), ‘Ch (Chamran)’ (2012), ‘Hush! Girls Don't Scream’ (2013), and ‘Bodyguard’ (2015).

She was nominated for a Fajr International Film Festival Crystal Simorgh for her appearances in ‘The Unwanted Woman’ (2004), ‘About Elly’ (2008), and ‘Daughter’ (2015).

She was also nominated for the Iran Cinema Celebration awards for ‘Unwanted Woman’ (2004), ‘Empty Hands’ (2006) and ‘Invitation’ (2008).

She received the Iran Cinema Celebration statuette for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for ‘Two Women’ (1998).

She received the Best Television Actress award, a Crystal Simorgh and an Iran Cinema Celebration statuette for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for ‘Friday Soldiers’ (2003).

Zarei won a Crystal Simorgh from the Fajr International Film Festival for Best Actress in a Leading Role for ‘Track 143’ (2013).