Marie-Lou Nahhas Explained

Marie-Lou Nahhas
Birth Date:	September 7, 1989
Birth Place:	Beirut, Lebanon
Education:	University of Pittsburgh (BS) Duquesne University (MPH)
Occupation:	Actress, model

Marie-Lou Nahhas (Arabic: ماري لو نحاس; born September 7, 1989) is a Lebanese American actress, model, and activist best known for playing Egyptian-born inmate Shani Abboud on Season 7 of Orange Is the New Black.^[1] Season 7 aired on Netflix in July 2019.

She was a finalist for Miss Lebanon 2012.^[2] ^[3] ^[4] In August 2020, Nahhas appeared on the cover of Marie Claire Arabia.^[5]

Activism

After earning her master's degree, Nahhas moved to New York City to pursue her acting career professionally in theatre and film.^[6]

In 2019, it was announced that Nahhas would be participating in Dubai's STEP Conference 2020, a tech festival for start-ups, finance, and entrepreneurship.^[7] She is set to speak as part of the conference's speakers line-up.
Nahhas is vocal about ending female genital mutilation, visiting with victims in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia’s Afar region, with the United Nations Population Fund and posting regularly on her social media about positive progress made to eliminate the practice.^[8] Nahhas's character on Orange Is the New Black, Shani, was a victim of female genital mutilation.^[8]

Personal life

Nahhas speaks English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.

Filmography

Film

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
2015	Southpaw	Mrs. Miguel	Uncredited
2016	Craig Quits His Day Job	Nadia

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2018	The Looming Tower	Muslim Woman	Episode: "Y2K"
2019	Madam Secretary	Interpreter	Episode: "Proxy War"
2019	Orange Is the New Black	Shani Abboud	8 episodes
2019	Awake	Rita

Notes and References

Web site: Why Orange Is the New Black Brought the Immigration Crisis to Litchfield. Maria Elena. Fernandez. July 29, 2019. Vulture.
Web site: Marie-Lou Nahas is wearing a beautiful Marchesa gown. Miss Lebanon – Facebook. 29 September 2012.
Web site: 8 August 2018. Meet the Lebanese actress behind OITNB's new Egyptian character. StepFeed.
Web site: Marie Lou Nahhas: The Lebanese Actress Making Waves on Netflix. About Her. 18 August 2019 . 29 October 2019.
Web site: Marie-Lou Nahhas: تجارب الحياة دفعتني إلى ممارسة ما أحب والتمسّك بمصيري. 2021-04-24. marie claire arabia. ar.
Web site: 26 July 2019. Who Plays Shani On 'OITNB'? Marie-Lou Nahhas Is A New Face In TV. Romper.
Web site: Actress, Model, Activist.
Web site: OITNB's Marie-Lou Nahhas Meets Survivors of Female Genital Mutilation. October 21, 2019.