Sakina Jaffrey: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|American actress (born 1962)}}
{{short description|American actress (born 1962)}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2008}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2013}}<!--[[WP:STRONGNAT]]-->
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2013}}<!--[[WP:STRONGNAT]]-->
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| death_date  =  
| death_date  =  
| death_place =  
| death_place =  
|alma_mater=[[Vassar College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
|alma_mater=[[Vassar College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB]])
|education =[[Nightingale-Bamford School]]
|education =[[Nightingale-Bamford School]]
|spouse = Francis Wilkinson
|spouse = Francis Wilkinson
|relatives=[[Kiara Advani]] (niece) <br/> [[Raghu Raj Bahadur]] (great-uncle)
|relatives=[[Kiara Advani]] (cousin) <br /> [[Raghu Raj Bahadur]] (cousin)
|mother=[[Madhur Jaffrey]]
|mother=[[Madhur Jaffrey]]
|father=[[Saeed Jaffrey]]
|father=[[Saeed Jaffrey]]
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}}
}}


'''Sakina Jaffrey''' (born February 14, 1962)<ref name='NFT-Bio'>{{cite web |url=https://newfederaltheatre.com/nft-artist/sakina-jaffrey/ |title=Sakina Jaffrey |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=Woody King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre |publisher= |access-date=12 June 2022 |quote=Sakina Jaffrey was born on February 14, 1962 in Manhattan.}}</ref> is an American actress.
'''Sakina Jaffrey''' (born February 14, 1962)<ref name='NFT-Bio'>{{cite web |url=https://newfederaltheatre.com/nft-artist/sakina-jaffrey/ |title=Sakina Jaffrey |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |publisher=[[New Federal Theatre]] |access-date=12 June 2022 |quote=Sakina Jaffrey was born on February 14, 1962 in Manhattan. |archive-date=August 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813162055/https://newfederaltheatre.com/nft-artist/sakina-jaffrey/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> is an American actress. Jaffrey is best known for portraying as Linda Vasquez in the [[Netflix]] original series [[House of Cards (American TV series)|''House of Cards'']], and Denise Christopher in the [[NBC]] series ''[[Timeless (American TV series)|Timeless]].''


==Early life==
==Early life==
Jaffrey was born in New York City, the youngest daughter of Indian-born parents, actress and food and travel writer [[Madhur Jaffrey]], and actor [[Saeed Jaffrey]]. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, and she grew up estranged from her father, who subsequently moved to the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The three faces of Saeed Jaffrey|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=February 2, 1992|author=Sid Adilman|page=C1}}</ref>
Jaffrey was born in New York City, the youngest daughter of Indian-born parents, actress and food and travel writer [[Madhur Jaffrey]], and actor [[Saeed Jaffrey]]. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, and she grew up estranged from her father, who subsequently moved to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite news |title=The three faces of Saeed Jaffrey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/173331195/ |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=February 2, 1992 |first=Sid |last=Adilman |page=C1}}</ref>


She grew up in the [[Greenwich Village]] section of Manhattan where she attended [[PS 41]]. Later she attended the [[Nightingale-Bamford School]] in the [[Upper East Side]].<ref name='NFT-Bio'/>
She grew up in the [[Greenwich Village]] section of Manhattan, where she attended [[PS 41]]. She later attended the [[Nightingale-Bamford School]] on the [[Upper East Side]].<ref name='NFT-Bio'/>


Jaffrey picked up her love of Chinese culture from her elder sister, Meera. She graduated from [[Vassar College]] in 1984, with a major in [[Mandarin Chinese|Chinese Language]] and Literature at the college, originally planning to be a translator before she became an actress.<ref>{{cite news|title=Actress Sakina Jaffrey: Getting Used to the Red Carpet|newspaper=Boca Raton News|date=July 4, 2004|author=Kay Renz|page=8V}}</ref>
Jaffrey picked up her love of Chinese culture from her elder sister, Meera. She graduated from [[Vassar College]] in 1984, with a major in [[Mandarin Chinese|Chinese Language]] and Literature, originally planning to be a translator before she became an actress.<ref>{{cite news |title=Actress Sakina Jaffrey: Getting Used to the Red Carpet |work=[[Boca Raton News]] |date=July 4, 2004 |first=Kay |last=Renz |page=8V}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
At the age of 17, Jaffrey made her professional acting debut in the play ''[[Marie and Bruce]]'' by [[Wallace Shawn]] at the Public Theatre in New York City.<ref name='NFT-Bio'/>
At the age of 17, Jaffrey made her professional acting debut in the play ''[[Marie and Bruce]]'' by [[Wallace Shawn]] at the Public Theatre in New York City.<ref name='NFT-Bio'/>


She appeared with her father in the film [[Masala (1991 film)|''Masala'']] (1991)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Woo|first=Elaine|date=2015-11-17|title=Saeed Jaffrey dies at 86; Actor exuded flair and versatility from Bollywood to Britain|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-saeed-jaffrey-20151117-story.html|access-date=2022-02-10|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> and with her mother in ''[[The Perfect Murder (1988 film)|The Perfect Murder]]'' (1988). In 2002, she appeared in ''[[The Truth About Charlie]]'' starring [[Mark Wahlberg]]. Her children Cassius and Jamila appear with her in ''[[Raising Helen]]'' (2004) and in ''[[The Ode]]'' (2008).
She appeared with her father in the film [[Masala (1991 film)|''Masala'']] (1991)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Woo |first=Elaine |date=2015-11-17 |title=Saeed Jaffrey dies at 86; Actor exuded flair and versatility from Bollywood to Britain |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-saeed-jaffrey-20151117-story.html |access-date=2022-02-10 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref> and with her mother in ''[[The Perfect Murder (1988 film)|The Perfect Murder]]'' (1988).<ref>The Perfect Murder 1988, directed by Zafar Hai | Film review (timeout.com)</ref> In 2002, she appeared in ''[[The Truth About Charlie]]'' starring [[Mark Wahlberg]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Truth About Charlie |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/438429/the-truth-about-charlie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010054959/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/438429/the-truth-about-charlie |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2020 |access-date=2024-06-20 |publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]]}}</ref> Her children Cassius and Jamila appear with her in ''[[Raising Helen]]'' (2004).<ref name=TCMHelen>{{Cite web |title=Raising Helen |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/452791/raising-helen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125200344/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/452791/raising-helen |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |access-date=2024-06-20 |publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]]}}</ref> Jaffrey starred in the English-language American-Indian [[drama film]] ''[[The Ode]]'' (2008).<ref name=TCMHelen/>


She starred as Linda Vasquez, the [[White House Chief of Staff]], in the [[Netflix]] series ''[[House of Cards (American TV series)|House of Cards]]'' (2013).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goodman|first=Tim|date=2013-01-26|title=House of Cards: TV Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/house-cards-netflix-tv-review-415589/|access-date=2022-02-10|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2014, it was announced that she would be appearing in the second season of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s television series ''[[Sleepy Hollow (TV series)|Sleepy Hollow]]'' as Leena Reyes, the new sheriff.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-05-27|title=Sleepy Hollow Casting Scoop: House of Cards Star Is the New Sheriff in Season 2|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/545773/sleepy-hollow-casting-scoop-house-of-cards-star-is-the-new-sheriff-in-season-2|access-date=2022-02-10|website=E! Online}}</ref>
She starred as Linda Vasquez, the [[White House Chief of Staff]], in the [[Netflix]] series ''[[House of Cards (American TV series)|House of Cards]]'' (2013).<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Goodman |first=Tim |date=2013-01-26 |title=House of Cards: TV Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/house-cards-netflix-tv-review-415589/ |access-date=2022-02-10 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In 2014, it was announced that she would be appearing in the second season of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s television series ''[[Sleepy Hollow (TV series)|Sleepy Hollow]]'' as Leena Reyes, the new sheriff.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-05-27 |title=Sleepy Hollow Casting Scoop: House of Cards Star Is the New Sheriff in Season 2 |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/545773/sleepy-hollow-casting-scoop-house-of-cards-star-is-the-new-sheriff-in-season-2 |access-date=2022-02-10 |work=[[E! News]]}}</ref>


From 2016 to 2018, she had a starring role in the [[NBC]] television series ''[[Timeless (TV series)|Timeless]]'' as Homeland Security Agent Denise Christopher.
From 2016 to 2018, she had a starring role in the [[NBC]] television series ''[[Timeless (American TV series)|Timeless]]'' as Homeland Security Agent Denise Christopher.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timeless |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/timeless/cast/1030189989/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |publisher=[[TV Guide]]}}</ref>


She also starred as Malini Soni in ''[[The Meyerowitz Stories]]'', a 2017 comedy-drama film directed by [[Noah Baumbach]] and costarring [[Dustin Hoffman]] and [[Adam Sandler]].
She also starred as Malini Soni in ''[[The Meyerowitz Stories]]'', a 2017 comedy-drama film directed by [[Noah Baumbach]] and costarring [[Dustin Hoffman]] and [[Adam Sandler]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-meyerowitz-stories-new-and-selected/cast/2030316167/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |publisher=[[TV Guide]]}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Jaffrey lives in suburban New York City with her husband, Francis Wilkinson, a journalist, and their two children, Cassius and Jamila.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/20/india/india-diaspora-series-sakina-jaffrey-intl/index.html|title = 'House of Cards' actress Sakina Jaffrey feels '100% New Yorker'|website = [[CNN]]|date = May 21, 2019}}</ref>
Jaffrey lives in New York with her husband, Francis Wilkinson, a journalist, and their two children, Cassius and Jamila.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/20/india/india-diaspora-series-sakina-jaffrey-intl/index.html |title='House of Cards' actress Sakina Jaffrey feels '100% New Yorker' |work=[[CNN]] |date=May 21, 2019}}</ref>


==Acting credits==
==Acting credits==
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| 1996 || ''[[Daylight (1996 film)|Daylight]]'' || Kit's passenger #1 ||  
| 1996 || ''[[Daylight (1996 film)|Daylight]]'' || Kit's passenger #1 ||  
|-
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Chutney Popcorn]]'' || Sarita ||  
| rowspan=2| 1999 || ''[[Chutney Popcorn]]'' || Sarita ||  
|-
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Cotton Mary]]'' || Rosie ||  
| ''[[Cotton Mary]]'' || Rosie ||  
|-
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Revolution No. 9]]'' || Dr. Ray ||  
| rowspan=2| 2001 || ''[[Revolution No. 9]]'' || Dr. Ray ||  
|-
|-
| 2001 || ''[[The Mystic Masseur]]'' || Suruj Mooma ||  
| ''[[The Mystic Masseur]]'' || Suruj Mooma ||  
|-
|-
| 2002 || ''[[The Guru (2002 film)|The Guru]]'' || Young Woman in Dance Class ||  
| rowspan=2| 2002 || ''[[The Guru (2002 film)|The Guru]]'' || Young Woman in Dance Class ||  
|-
|-
| 2002 || ''[[The Truth About Charlie]]'' || Sylvia ||  
| ''[[The Truth About Charlie]]'' || Sylvia ||  
|-
|-
| 2003 || ''Ash Tuesday'' || June ||  
| rowspan=2| 2003 || ''Ash Tuesday'' || June ||  
|-
|-
| 2003 || ''American Made'' || {{n/a}} || Short film
| ''American Made'' || {{n/a}} || Short film
|-
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Raising Helen]]'' || Nilma Prasad ||  
| rowspan=2| 2004 || ''[[Raising Helen]]'' || Nilma Prasad ||  
|-
|-
| 2004 || ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' || Mysterious Arabic Woman ||  
| ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' || Mysterious Arabic Woman ||  
|-
|-
| 2006 || ''Hiding Divya'' || Dr. Sharma ||  
| 2006 || ''Hiding Divya'' || Dr. Sharma ||  
|-
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Where God Left His Shoes]]'' || Doctor ||  
| rowspan=5| 2007 || ''[[Where God Left His Shoes]]'' || Doctor ||  
|-
|-
| 2007 || ''Dharini'' || Kiran || Short film
| ''Dharini'' || Kiran || Short film
|-
|-
| 2007 || ''Waking Dreams'' || Rajani ||  
| ''Waking Dreams'' || Rajani ||  
|-
|-
| 2007 || ''[[The Nanny Diaries (film)|The Nanny Diaries]]'' || Sima ||  
| ''[[The Nanny Diaries (film)|The Nanny Diaries]]'' || Sima ||  
|-
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Before the Devil Knows You're Dead]]'' || Manager ||  
| ''[[Before the Devil Knows You're Dead]]'' || Manager ||  
|-
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Definitely, Maybe]]'' || School Mom ||  
| rowspan=4| 2008 || ''[[Definitely, Maybe]]'' || School Mom ||  
|-
|-
| 2008 || ''The Toe Tactic'' || Lacticia Utt ||  
| ''The Toe Tactic'' || Lacticia Utt ||  
|-
|-
| 2008 || ''[[The Understudy (2008 film)|The Understudy]]'' || Nurse ||  
| ''[[The Understudy (2008 film)|The Understudy]]'' || Nurse ||  
|-
|-
| 2008 || ''[[The Ode]]'' || Parin ||  
| ''[[The Ode]]'' || Parin ||  
|-
|-
| 2009 || ''Company Retreat'' || Sareeta ||  
| 2009 || ''Company Retreat'' || Sareeta ||  
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| 2017 || ''[[The Meyerowitz Stories]]'' || Dr. Soni ||  
| 2017 || ''[[The Meyerowitz Stories]]'' || Dr. Soni ||  
|-
|-
| 2018 || ''[[Red Sparrow]]'' || Trish Forsyth ||
| rowspan=3| 2018 || ''[[Red Sparrow]]'' || Trish Forsyth ||
|-
|-
| 2018 || ''[[Behold My Heart]]'' || Jane ||  
| ''[[Behold My Heart]]'' || Jane ||  
|-
|-
| 2018 || ''[[The Equalizer 2]]'' || Fatima ||
| ''[[The Equalizer 2]]'' || Fatima ||
|-
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Late Night (film)|Late Night]]'' || Mrs. Patel ||
| 2019 || ''[[Late Night (film)|Late Night]]'' || Mrs. Patel ||
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| 2020 || ''[[Soul (2020 film)|Soul]]'' || Doctor || Voice role
| 2020 || ''[[Soul (2020 film)|Soul]]'' || Doctor || Voice role
|-
|-
|2021|| ''[[The Hating Game]]'' || Helen||  
| 2021 || ''[[The Hating Game]]'' || Helen ||  
|-
| 2026 || ''[[Super Troopers 3: Winter Soldiers]]'' || TBA || Post-production
|}
|}


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| 2003–2005 || ''[[Third Watch]]'' || Dr. Hickman || 16 episodes
| 2003–2005 || ''[[Third Watch]]'' || Dr. Hickman || 16 episodes
|-
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Sex and the City]]'' || Rama Patel || Episode: "Splat!"
| rowspan=2| 2004 || ''[[Sex and the City]]'' || Rama Patel || Episode: "Splat!"
|-
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Law & Order]]'' || Roya Koutal || Episode: "Caviar Emptor"
| ''[[Law & Order]]'' || Roya Koutal || Episode: "Caviar Emptor"
|-
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Heroes (U.S. TV series)|Heroes]]'' || Mrs. Suresh || 2 episodes
| 2006 || ''[[Heroes (American TV series)|Heroes]]'' || Mrs. Suresh || 2 episodes
|-
|-
| 2007 || ''What Goes On'' || Asha || Episode: "Blue"
| rowspan=2| 2007 || ''What Goes On'' || Asha || Episode: "Blue"
|-
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' || Geeta Chanoor || Episode: "Outsider"
| ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' || Geeta Chanoor || Episode: "Outsider"
|-
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Blue Bloods (TV series)|Blue Bloods]]'' || Mrs. Demir || Episode: "Thanksgiving"
| 2011 || ''[[Blue Bloods (TV series)|Blue Bloods]]'' || Mrs. Demir || Episode: "Thanksgiving"
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| 2016 || ''[[Blindspot (TV series)|Blindspot]]'' || Susan Albright || Episode: "Cease Forcing Enemy"
| 2016 || ''[[Blindspot (TV series)|Blindspot]]'' || Susan Albright || Episode: "Cease Forcing Enemy"
|-
|-
| 2016–2018 || ''[[Timeless (TV series)|Timeless]]'' || Agent Denise Christopher || 26 episodes
| 2016–2018 || ''[[Timeless (American TV series)|Timeless]]'' || Agent Denise Christopher || 26 episodes
|-
|-
| 2017
| 2017 ||  ''[[The Problem with Apu]]'' || Herself || Documentary film  
| ''[[The Problem with Apu]]''
| Herself
| Documentary film  
|-
|-
| 2018
| 2018
| ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]''
| ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'' || Dr. Meyer || 3 episodes  
| Dr. Meyer
| 3 episodes  
|-
|-
| 2019
| rowspan=2| 2019 || ''[[American Gods (TV series)|American Gods]]'' || [[Kali|Mama-Ji]] || 4 episodes
| ''[[American Gods (TV series)|American Gods]]''
| [[Kali|Mama-Ji]]
| 2 episodes
|-
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Lost in Space (2018 TV series)|Lost in Space]]'' || Captain Kamal || 5 episodes  
| ''[[Lost in Space (2018 TV series)|Lost in Space]]''
| Captain Kamal
| 5 episodes  
|-
|-
| 2020
| 2020 || ''[[Defending Jacob (miniseries)|Defending Jacob]]'' || Lynn Canavan || 7 episodes
| ''[[Defending Jacob (miniseries)|Defending Jacob]]''
| Lynn Canavan
| Main role
|-  
|-  
| 2021
| 2021–2022 || ''[[Snowpiercer (TV series)|Snowpiercer]]'' || Dr. Headwood || 16 episodes
| ''[[Snowpiercer (TV series)|Snowpiercer]]''
|-
| Dr Headwood
| 2022 || ''[[Ms. Marvel (miniseries)|Ms. Marvel]]'' || Auntie Shirin || Episode: "[[Destined (Ms. Marvel)|Destined]]"
| Season 2
|-
| 2022–2023 || ''[[Billions (TV series)|Billions]]'' || Daevisha ‘Dave’ Mahar || 20 episodes
|-
| 2024 || ''[[Ghosts (American TV series)|Ghosts]]'' || Champa Arondekar || Episodes: "A Very Arondekar Christmas," parts 1 and 2
|-
|-
| 2022
| rowspan=2| 2025 || ''[[Goosebumps (2023 TV series)|Goosebumps]]'' || Ramona || Recurring (season 2)
| ''[[Billions (TV series)|Billions]]''
| Daevisha ‘Dave’ Mahar
| Season 6
|-
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Deli Boys]]'' || Seema ||
| ''[[Ms. Marvel (TV series)|Ms. Marvel]]''
|Auntie Shirin
|Episode: "Destined"
|}
|}


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|Apple Corps Theatre
|Apple Corps Theatre
|
|
| <ref name="GWSH">{{cite news |last=Nelsen |first=Don |date=22 July 1988 |title=Hart-Kaufman Play is Mossy |url= |work=Daily News |location=New York, New York |access-date=}}</ref>
| <ref name="GWSH">{{cite news |last=Nelsen |first=Don |date=22 July 1988 |title=Hart-Kaufman Play is Mossy |url= |work=[[New York Daily News]] |access-date=}}</ref>
|-
|-
|''Phaedra Brittanica''
|''Phaedra Brittanica''
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|CSC
|CSC
|
|
| <ref name="Phaedra">{{cite news |last=Kissell |first=Howard |date=16 Dec 1988 |title='Phaedra' Seems to Be Out to Lunch |url= |work=Daily News |location=New York, New York |access-date=}}</ref>
| <ref name="Phaedra">{{cite news |last=Kissell |first=Howard |date=16 Dec 1988 |title='Phaedra' Seems to Be Out to Lunch |url= |work=[[New York Daily News]] |access-date=}}</ref>
|-
|-
|2009
|2009
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0415529}}
*{{Instagram}}
*{{IMDb name}}
*{{IOBDB name}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:American actresses of Indian descent]]
[[Category:American actresses of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses from New York City]]
[[Category:Vassar College alumni]]
[[Category:Vassar College alumni]]
[[Category:People from Manhattan]]
[[Category:Actresses from Manhattan]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]

Latest revision as of 19:48, 28 February 2026


Sakina Jaffrey
Jaffrey at the 2014 Montclair Film Festival
Born (1962-02-14) February 14, 1962 (age 64)
New York City, U.S.
EducationNightingale-Bamford School
Alma materVassar College (AB)
OccupationActress
Years active1979–present
Spouse(s)Francis Wilkinson
Children2
Parents
RelativesKiara Advani (cousin)
Raghu Raj Bahadur (cousin)

Sakina Jaffrey (born February 14, 1962)[1] is an American actress. Jaffrey is best known for portraying as Linda Vasquez in the Netflix original series House of Cards, and Denise Christopher in the NBC series Timeless.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Jaffrey was born in New York City, the youngest daughter of Indian-born parents, actress and food and travel writer Madhur Jaffrey, and actor Saeed Jaffrey. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, and she grew up estranged from her father, who subsequently moved to the United Kingdom.[2]

She grew up in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan, where she attended PS 41. She later attended the Nightingale-Bamford School on the Upper East Side.[1]

Jaffrey picked up her love of Chinese culture from her elder sister, Meera. She graduated from Vassar College in 1984, with a major in Chinese Language and Literature, originally planning to be a translator before she became an actress.[3]

Career[edit | edit source]

At the age of 17, Jaffrey made her professional acting debut in the play Marie and Bruce by Wallace Shawn at the Public Theatre in New York City.[1]

She appeared with her father in the film Masala (1991)[4] and with her mother in The Perfect Murder (1988).[5] In 2002, she appeared in The Truth About Charlie starring Mark Wahlberg.[6] Her children Cassius and Jamila appear with her in Raising Helen (2004).[7] Jaffrey starred in the English-language American-Indian drama film The Ode (2008).[7]

She starred as Linda Vasquez, the White House Chief of Staff, in the Netflix series House of Cards (2013).[8] In 2014, it was announced that she would be appearing in the second season of Fox's television series Sleepy Hollow as Leena Reyes, the new sheriff.[9]

From 2016 to 2018, she had a starring role in the NBC television series Timeless as Homeland Security Agent Denise Christopher.[10]

She also starred as Malini Soni in The Meyerowitz Stories, a 2017 comedy-drama film directed by Noah Baumbach and costarring Dustin Hoffman and Adam Sandler.[11]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Jaffrey lives in New York with her husband, Francis Wilkinson, a journalist, and their two children, Cassius and Jamila.[12]

Acting credits[edit | edit source]

Film[edit | edit source]

Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Perfect Murder Neena Lal
1989 Slaves of New York Willfredo's receptionist
1991 Masala Rita Solanki
1995 The Indian in the Cupboard Lucy
1996 Daylight Kit's passenger #1
1999 Chutney Popcorn Sarita
Cotton Mary Rosie
2001 Revolution No. 9 Dr. Ray
The Mystic Masseur Suruj Mooma
2002 The Guru Young Woman in Dance Class
The Truth About Charlie Sylvia
2003 Ash Tuesday June
American Made N/A Short film
2004 Raising Helen Nilma Prasad
The Manchurian Candidate Mysterious Arabic Woman
2006 Hiding Divya Dr. Sharma
2007 Where God Left His Shoes Doctor
Dharini Kiran Short film
Waking Dreams Rajani
The Nanny Diaries Sima
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead Manager
2008 Definitely, Maybe School Mom
The Toe Tactic Lacticia Utt
The Understudy Nurse
The Ode Parin
2009 Company Retreat Sareeta
2010 Nevermind Nirvana Dr. Sarita Matto Television film
2011 Breakaway Livleen Singh
2012 The Domino Effect Serena
2013 The Necklace Sunita Short film
2016 Claire in Motion Maya
2017 The Meyerowitz Stories Dr. Soni
2018 Red Sparrow Trish Forsyth
Behold My Heart Jane
The Equalizer 2 Fatima
2019 Late Night Mrs. Patel
2020 Soul Doctor Voice role
2021 The Hating Game Helen
2026 Super Troopers 3: Winter Soldiers TBA Post-production

Television[edit | edit source]

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Law & Order Dr. Balikrishan Episode: "Endurance"
2003–2005 Third Watch Dr. Hickman 16 episodes
2004 Sex and the City Rama Patel Episode: "Splat!"
Law & Order Roya Koutal Episode: "Caviar Emptor"
2006 Heroes Mrs. Suresh 2 episodes
2007 What Goes On Asha Episode: "Blue"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Geeta Chanoor Episode: "Outsider"
2011 Blue Bloods Mrs. Demir Episode: "Thanksgiving"
2012 Girls Gynecologist Episode: "Vagina Panic"
2013–2018 House of Cards Linda Vasquez 19 episodes
2014–2015 Sleepy Hollow Sheriff Leena Reyes 5 episodes
2014–2018 Madam Secretary Chondita Samant 2 episodes
2015–2017 Mr. Robot Antara Nayar 7 episodes
2015 Halal in the Family Fatima Qu'osby 4 episodes
2015–2016 The Mindy Project Sonu Lahiri 6 episodes
2016 Blindspot Susan Albright Episode: "Cease Forcing Enemy"
2016–2018 Timeless Agent Denise Christopher 26 episodes
2017 The Problem with Apu Herself Documentary film
2018 Homeland Dr. Meyer 3 episodes
2019 American Gods Mama-Ji 4 episodes
Lost in Space Captain Kamal 5 episodes
2020 Defending Jacob Lynn Canavan 7 episodes
2021–2022 Snowpiercer Dr. Headwood 16 episodes
2022 Ms. Marvel Auntie Shirin Episode: "Destined"
2022–2023 Billions Daevisha ‘Dave’ Mahar 20 episodes
2024 Ghosts Champa Arondekar Episodes: "A Very Arondekar Christmas," parts 1 and 2
2025 Goosebumps Ramona Recurring (season 2)
Deli Boys Seema

Theatre[edit | edit source]

Year Production Role Venue Notes Ref.
1979 Marie and Bruce Public Theatre Professional acting debut [1]
1988 George Washington Slept Here Apple Corps Theatre [13]
Phaedra Brittanica CSC [14]
2009 The River Crosses Rivers: Short Plays by Women of Color Castillo Theatre Production of New Federal Theatre [1]

Awards and nominations[edit | edit source]

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series House of Cards Nominated

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Sakina Jaffrey". New Federal Theatre. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022. Sakina Jaffrey was born on February 14, 1962 in Manhattan.
  2. ↑ Adilman, Sid (February 2, 1992). "The three faces of Saeed Jaffrey". Toronto Star. p. C1.
  3. ↑ Renz, Kay (July 4, 2004). "Actress Sakina Jaffrey: Getting Used to the Red Carpet". Boca Raton News. p. 8V.
  4. ↑ Woo, Elaine (November 17, 2015). "Saeed Jaffrey dies at 86; Actor exuded flair and versatility from Bollywood to Britain". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  5. ↑ The Perfect Murder 1988, directed by Zafar Hai | Film review (timeout.com)
  6. ↑ "The Truth About Charlie". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Raising Helen". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  8. ↑ Goodman, Tim (January 26, 2013). "House of Cards: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Sleepy Hollow Casting Scoop: House of Cards Star Is the New Sheriff in Season 2". E! News. May 27, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Timeless". TV Guide. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ "The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)". TV Guide. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ "'House of Cards' actress Sakina Jaffrey feels '100% New Yorker'". CNN. May 21, 2019.
  13. ↑ Nelsen, Don (July 22, 1988). "Hart-Kaufman Play is Mossy". New York Daily News.
  14. ↑ Kissell, Howard (December 16, 1988). "'Phaedra' Seems to Be Out to Lunch". New York Daily News.

External links[edit | edit source]

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