Anna Khaja Explained

Anna Khaja
Nationality:American
Occupation:Actress & Playwright
Known For:Role of Indira in The Walking Dead: World Beyond and Manisha in Good Place
Spouse:Chris Rossi

Anna Khaja is an American actress and playwright. She is known for her roles as Indira in AMC's post-apocalyptic horror drama ,[1] [2] [3] Manisha Al-Jamil in the NBC comedy series The Good Place,[4] Sita Parrish in Quantico,[5] and Rachel in Silicon Valley.[1] [6] Khaja also wrote and starred in the off-Broadway play Shaheed: The Dream and Death of Benazir Bhutto.[7] [8] [9] [10]

Early life and education

Khaja attended Castro Valley High School, where she starred in theater productions such as The Diary of Anne Frank and graduated in 1992.[11] Khaja graduated from UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television in 1997.

Khaja is one of the recipients of the 2020-21 Black List and Google Assistant Storytelling Fellowship.[12]

Career

After graduating, Khaja played roles in TV series such as NUMB3RS, Weeds, FlashForward, and House. She also appeared in the Mark Taper Forum's production of the play Stuff Happens by David Hare.[13] [14] Khaja also originated the role of Nerjas in the U.S. premiere of the play Palace of the End. She received an LA Weekly Theater Award for Solo Performance for her work in the play.[15]

Personal life

Khaja is married to screenwriter Chris Rossi.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Man Woman FilmAnastasia X
2006YasinAminaShort film
2006No. 6Milena PetrescuShort film
2007King of CaliforniaOfficer Contreras[16]
2008Yes ManFaranoush[17]
2009ReunionAnna
2009Post GradJuanita
2010Order of ChaosMeter Maid
2011AdmissionsDaphnaShort film[18]
2012California SoloAnna
2014The Pink SorrysBandit QueenShort film
2014PyromanceRoseShort film[19]
2014FaithOurielShort film
2015How I Do MathAnnaShort film
2015MeadowlandFatimah
2015The Party Is OverRania
2015He SaidDr. MillerShort film
2016$hitty Job$BossShort film
2016The CaretakerDr. Patel
2016HolyMinisterMusic video for Danielle LoPresti[20]
2017OscarMarijuanaShort film
2017SurefireLuhaMusic video for John Legend[21]
2017KholRanjanShort film[22]
2018The BrideShort film
2019HeroinesShort film[23]
2020Rumble StripCarmen[24]
2020Definition PleaseJaya[25]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002For the PeopleLupe
2005Strong MedicineER Receptionist
2006NUMB3RSSaida Kafaji
2006Sleeper CellN.O.C. Agent
2007WeedsFemale Agent
2008DirtNurse
2009FlashForwardOlder Woman
2009Private PracticeCooper's Lawyer
2009HouseDr. D'Razio
2009This Might HurtTelevision movie
2010The Real Girl's Guide to Everything ElseAliyah
2010The CloserMrs. Mota
2012BentDr. Patel[26]
2012True BloodZaafiraRecurring role, 6 episodes
2013Criminal MindsFrancie Kendall
2013The NewsroomShanon Hammid[27]
2013Talita Pambakian
2014The MentalistEllen[28]
2015The FostersJoan[29]
2015BonesPrincipal Anne Franklin
2015–2016StitchersGetti AhluwaliaRecurring role, 5 episodes[30]
2015–2018Silicon ValleyRachelRecurring role, 9 episodes
2015–2018QuanticoSita ParrishRecurring role, 6 episodes
2016ConvictionKadisha Abdullah
2016ElementaryNazria Durrani
2016PowerhouseMaxine Mazari
2016–2020The Good PlaceManisha Al-JamilRecurring role, 5 episodes
2017The Good FightZeinah Abdoulafia
2017The Training DayKathy Meyers
2017ShooterGabinaRecurring role, 2 episodes
2017–2019Madam SecretaryAmina SalahRecurring role, 3 episodes[31]
2018S.W.A.T.Agent Abby DuBois
2018ShamelessDoctor Padma Singh
2018–2019For the PeopleVera SimmonsRecurring role, 4 episodes
2018–2019Lethal WeaponSenator Donna MalickRecurring role, 2 episodes[32]
2019Last SeenKatWeb series
2019Brooklyn Nine-NineTheresa Moore[33]
2019NCISEliza Hutchins
2019The BoysLydia Parker
2020Yara Mahmoud
2020FBIYara Mahmoud
2020TommyRima Fayed[34]
2020The Baker and the BeautyBetsi
2021The ResidentHimaya Pravesh[35]
2021IndiraRecurring Role, 7 Episodes
2021The Sex Lives of College GirlsProfessor Levin
2022The BlacklistHelen MaghiEpisode: "Helen Maghi (No. 172)"
2022The Lincoln LawyerDr. Miriam Arslanian
2022The Young and the RestlessDr. Malone[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wehrstedt. Lisa. 2021-08-20. The Walking Dead World Beyond adds The Boys star to the cast. 2022-01-25. Digital Spy. en-GB.
  2. Web site: 2022-01-10. TWD World Beyond's Anna Khaja starring in Definition Please on Netflix. 2022-01-25. Undead Walking. en-US.
  3. Web site: The Walking Dead: World Beyond Adds Quantico, The Good Place Actor for Season 2. 2022-01-25. TV Shows. 20 August 2021 . en.
  4. Web site: Hill-Paul. Lucas. 2020-10-02. The Good Place: Tahani star opens up on moment that left her sobbing 'uncontrollably'. 2022-01-25. Express.co.uk. en.
  5. Web site: 2015-10-12. 'Quantico' recap: How many dark secrets do YOU have?. 2022-01-25. EW.com. en.
  6. Web site: Petski. Denise. 2021-08-19. 'The Walking Dead: World Beyond' Casts Anna Khaja; David DeSantos Joins 'S.W.A.T.'. 2022-01-25. Deadline. en-US.
  7. Web site: 2013-03-14. Shaheed, Anna Khaja's Solo Play About Assassinated Political Leader, Opens Off-Broadway March 14. 2022-01-25. Playbill. en.
  8. News: Saltz. Rachel. 2013-03-20. Many Strands Make Up One Woman. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-01-25. 0362-4331.
  9. Web site: 2011-03-29. Alumna Anna Khaja wins Ovation Award for lead actress in self-written play "˜Shadeed: The Dream and Death of Benazir Bhutto'. 2022-01-25. Daily Bruin.
  10. 2008-04-21. Shaheed The Dream And Death Of Benazir Bhutto. 2022-01-25. The New Yorker. en.
  11. Web site: 2014-04-25. Hollywood Star Anna Khaja Visits Her Hometown. 2022-02-15. The Olympian. 2. en.
  12. Web site: Drury. Sharareh. 2021-05-10. The Black List and Google Assistant Announce Recipients for Storytelling Fellowship. 2022-02-15. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
  13. Book: Willis. John. Theatre World. Hodges. Ben. 2007-02-26. Hal Leonard Corporation. 978-1-55783-685-4. en.
  14. Web site: Bush-Iraq Drama Stuff Happens Makes American Debut in Los Angeles, May 25. 2022-02-15. Playbill. en.
  15. Web site: Sierra. Gabrielle. No Word in Guyanese for Me Plays Sidewalk Studio Theatre 5/14-6/12. 2022-02-15. BroadwayWorld.com. en.
  16. Web site: 2011-02-04. Ovation Award winner Anna Khaja launches bold new role. 2022-01-25. UCLA School of TFT.
  17. Web site: O'Neill. Shane. 2021-08-20. Anna Khaja is about to become a World Beyond regular. 2022-01-25. Looper.com. en-US.
  18. Web site: "Admissions" is a nice little movie with a big theme: Forgiveness Features on White Crow Books. 2022-01-25. whitecrowbooks.com.
  19. Web site: Brennan. Matt. 2015-10-21. AFI FEST 2015 Lands 127 Films from 45 Nations, 'Son of Saul' to 'No Home Movie'. 2022-01-25. IndieWire. en.
  20. Web site: 2016-11-21. Indie Artist Danielle LoPresti Releases New Music Video. 2022-01-25. LOTL. en-US.
  21. Web site: Staff Writer. 2021-05-13. 2 South Asian Americans Among 5 to Receive Black List and Google Assistant Storytelling Fellowship. 2022-01-25. American Kahani. en-US.
  22. Web site: NYIFF 2018. 2022-01-25. www.iaac.us.
  23. Web site: SXSW 2019 / Sunvalley Film Festival – Heroines. 2022-01-25. We are moving stories. 8 April 2019 . en-US.
  24. Web site: 2020-09-22. Trailer & Poster: MAD MAX Meets THE ROAD in Dystopian Revenge Saga RUMBLE STRIP. 2022-01-25. Dread Central. en-US.
  25. Web site: 2020-08-19. Sujata Day's "Definition Please" Interrogates the Model Minority Myth. 2022-01-25. Teen Vogue. en-US.
  26. Web site: 2013-02-08. Off-Broadway's Culture Project to Present Anna Khaja's Acclaimed Shaheed: The Dream and Death of Benazir Bhutto TheaterMania. 2022-01-25. www.theatermania.com. en-US.
  27. Web site: 2012-12-08. 'Newsroom' season 2: 2x01 cast list revealed. 2022-01-25. Hypable. en-US.
  28. Web site: Who Is Alex Parrish's Mother Sita on 'Quantico'?. 2022-01-25. 2paragraphs.com. en-US.
  29. Web site: 2021-05-11. ROBIN DALE MEYERS Anna Khaja ("The Fosters"). 2022-01-25. ROBIN DALE MEYERS. en-US.
  30. Web site: 2017-02-09. East West Players Presents 'Free Outgoing'. 2022-01-25. Rafu Shimpo. en-US.
  31. Web site: 2021-12-30. WAEN's Interview with Actress Anna Khaja. 2022-01-25. We Are Entertainment News. en-US.
  32. Web site: DeVault. Ryan. 2019-01-08. Who plays Erica Malick and her mom, Senator Malick, on Lethal Weapon? Nishi Munshi and Anna Khaja return as guest stars. 2022-01-25. Monsters and Critics. en-US.
  33. Web site: Brooklyn Nine-Nine finally analyzes Jake Peralta's need for therapy. 2022-01-25. The A.V. Club. 22 March 2019 . en-us.
  34. Web site: Ruby. Jamie. Exclusive: The Walking Dead: World Beyond's Anna Khaja Takes a Stand Against the CRM. 2022-01-25. SciFi Vision. en-gb.
  35. Web site: Blu. Jasmine. 2021-02-01. Mothering Devon -Tall - The Resident Season 4 Episode 4. 2022-01-25. TV Fanatic. en.
  36. Web site: Mistretta . Amy . Meet the Young & Restless Newcomer Who May Be Just What Chelsea Needs . Soap Opera Network . 9 November 2022 . 11 December 2022.

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