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{{short description|Indian-born actor and writer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Firdous Bamji
| image = Firdous Bamji (1997).jpg
| caption = Bamji in 1997
| birth_name = Firdous Esadvaster Bamji
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1966|5|3}}
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|Erin Thigpen<br>|1990|1995|end=divorced}}
| partner = [[Hayley Mills]]<br>(1997–present)
| occupation = [[Actor]], [[writer]]
| education = [[St. Christopher's School, Bahrain]], [[Kodaikanal International School]], [[University of North Carolina-Greensboro]], [[University of South Carolina]]}}

'''Firdous Bamji''' is an Indian-born actor and writer.

==Early life==
Bamji was born in [[Bombay]], [[India]], to a Parsi family that was residing in Bahrain.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1zwvAAAAYAAJ&q=firdous+bamji|title=Parsiana|date=1996|publisher=P. Warden|language=en}}</ref><ref name="ref01">{{cite web|url=http://blog.roundabouttheatre.org/2014/09/02/interview-with-actor-firdous-bamji/|accessdate=7 July 2016|title= Interview with Actor Firdous Bamji - Roundabout Theatre Company Official Blog}}</ref> His father, Esadvaster, was the regional representative for Norwich Union Life Insurance Society. His mother, Roshan, was a homemaker, and both his parents were active in various civic organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Celebrating+a+glorious+past.-a0440697725 |title=Celebrating a glorious past. - Free Online Library |website=Thefreelibrary.com |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.gdnonline.com/NewsDetails.aspx?date=04/07/2015&storyid=202658 |title=Gulf Daily News » Local News » Sneha marks 20 years in style |website=Archives.gdnonline.com |date=2007-12-12 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dilmun-times.com/?p=30149 |title=Sneha marks silver jubilee | |website=Dilmun-times.com |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref>

==Education==
Bamji attended [[St. Christopher's School, Bahrain]], a British private school, till the age of ten. In 1977 he and his two brothers were sent to [[Kodaikanal International School]], an American boarding school in the mountains of South India.<ref name="ref01" /> He later attended the [[University of North Carolina at Greensboro|University of North Carolina, Greensboro]], and the [[University of South Carolina]], where he obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism and a Master of Fine Arts.

==Career==
During his last couple of years in undergraduate school he began acting at Columbia's first professional theatre, [[Trustus]], where the iconoclastic artistic director, [[Jim Thigpen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyBZk9H_fA0 |title=A Final Season: Jim and Kay Thigpen |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=2012-04-28 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jaspercolumbia.net/jim-and-kay-thigpen-and-the-trustus-legacy/ |title=Jim and Kay Thigpen and the Trustus Legacy : Jasper |website=Jaspercolumbia.net |date=2012-07-24 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> took him under his wing. At Trustus he played a variety of roles, including Pale in ''Burn This'', Torch in ''Beirut'', Danny in ''Danny and the Deep Blue Sea'', Peter Patrone in ''[[The Heidi Chronicles]]'' and all the parts in [[Eric Bogosian]]'s solo play, ''Drinking in America''.<ref>https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/Indian-Ink/Indian-Ink-Cast-and-Creative.aspx</ref>

After studying for an MFA in Theatre at USC, Bamji moved to [[Washington D.C.]] to finish his degree as an apprentice at [[The Shakespeare Theatre]]. In 1994 he was cast in Eric Bogosian's ''[[SubUrbia (play)|SubUrbia]]'' at Lincoln Center's Mitzi Newhouse Theater, and he and his then wife, Erin Thigpen, sold the car and moved to [[New York City]].<ref name=Variety1994>{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/1994/legit/reviews/suburbia-1200437041/ | title=Review: 'Suburbia' | first=Greg | last=Evans | date=23 May 1994 | work=Variety | accessdate=6 July 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lct.org/shows/suburbia/whos-who/ |title=subUrbia - Who's Who: Shows | Lincoln Center Theater |website=Lct.org |date=1994-08-28 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref>
Bamji has appeared on stages in New York, [[Chicago]], [[San Francisco]], Washington D.C. and [[Los Angeles]] and major regional theaters around the United States. He has played leading roles in world and American premieres of plays by playwrights such as [[Tom Stoppard]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/firdous-bamji-s-character-the-soul-of-indian-ink/article_c2f5f966-a295-11e4-8dfb-0b7591f6bfdb.html |title=Firdous Bamji's Character the Soul of 'Indian Ink' | Global |website=Indiawest.com |date=2015-01-22 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2014/09/30/off-broadway-review-indian-ink/16434235/ |title=Stoppard's 'Indian Ink' leaves indelible mark |website=Usatoday.com |date=2014-09-30 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> [[Tony Kushner]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Simon |first=John |url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/theater/reviews/9173/ |title=Homebody/Kabul - New York Magazine Theater Review |website=Nymag.com |date=2004-05-31 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> [[Naomi Wallace]], [[Rebecca Gilman]] and Eric Bogosian.<ref name=Variety1994 />

In 2007 he was invited by director [[Simon McBurney]] to co-write and perform in a new play with the British company [[Complicite]]. The piece was to revolve around the relationship between two pure mathematicians who lived at the turn of the 20th century, the self-taught genius, [[Srinivasa Ramanujan]] and [[Cambridge University]] don, [[G. H. Hardy]]. Bamji had been interested in this story for a few years and was working on a film script when he was approached by McBurney.<ref>https://www.michigandaily.com/content/metaphysical-theatrics-hits-ums-stage</ref><ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-09-13/features/0809120520_1_infinity-high-tech-show-big-deal</ref> The result was ''[[A Disappearing Number]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Calvi |first=Nuala |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2008/a-disappearing-number-review-at-barbican-theatre-london/ |title=A Disappearing Number review at Barbican Theatre London | Review | Theatre |newspaper=[[The Stage]] |date=2008-10-16 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/17/theater/reviews/17disappear.html?_r=0 | title=Human (and Mathematical) Equations | newspaper=The New York Times| date=16 July 2010 | first=Charles | last=Isherwood | accessdate=6 July 2016 }}</ref> which won the [[Laurence Olivier Award]] and the [[Critics Circle Theatre Award]] for Best New Play and the [[Evening Standard Award]] for Best Play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/latest-news/article/item71336/A-Disappearing-Number-wins-Best-New-Play/ |title=A Disappearing Number wins Best New Play |publisher=Official London Theatre |date=2008-03-09 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> Over the next four years, ''A Disappearing Number'' toured [[Europe]], [[Australia]], India and the United States<ref>http://blog.mlive.com/encorea2/2008/09/review_a_disappearing_number.html</ref> and finished its universally acclaimed run at the [[Novello Theatre]] in London's West End.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carpenter |first=Julie |url=http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/199999/Review-A-Disappearing-Number-Novello-Theatre-London |title=Review: A Disappearing Number, Novello Theatre, London | Theatre | Entertainment | Daily Express |website=Express.co.uk |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref>

Bamji's television credits include ''[[Law & Order]]'' and ''[[Law & Order SVU]]'' and his film credits include ''[[The Sixth Sense]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.listal.com/viewimage/9623586 |title=Picture of The Sixth Sense |website=Listal.com |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> ''[[Unbreakable (film)|Unbreakable]]'', ''[[Analyze That]]'', ''[[Ashes (2010 film)|Ashes]]'', ''Justice'' and ''[[The War Within (film)|The War Within]]'', for which he received an [[Independent Spirit Award]] nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2005/nov/30/entertainment/et-spirit30 |title=Getting into the Spirit of awards season |website=Articles.latimes.com |date=2005-11-30 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Robinson |first=Tasha |url=https://www.avclub.com/review/the-war-within-4283 |title=The War Within · Film Review The War Within · Movie Review · The A.V. Club |website=Avclub.com |date=2005-10-05 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-war-within/review/194390/ |title=The War Within - Movie Reviews and Movie Ratings |publisher=TV Guide|accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Atkinson |first=Michael |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/film/dv-suicide-bombing-drama-lacks-narrative-urgency-6402166 |title=DV Suicide-Bombing Drama Lacks Narrative Urgency |publisher=[[Village Voice]] |date=2005-09-20 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> In 2015 he received an [[Obie Award]] for his performance in Roundabout Theatre's production of Tom Stoppard's ''[[Indian Ink]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/theater/theaterspecial/the-tony-award-nominations-should-be.html?_r=0|title=Ben Brantley: The Tony Award Nominations Should Be ...|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_27364700/review-indian-ink-at-act-is-tom-stoppard |title=Review: 'Indian Ink' at ACT is Tom Stoppard mostly at his best |newspaper=[[San Jose Mercury News]] |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/indian-ink |title=Indian Ink | Theater in New York |website=Timeout.com |date=2014-09-30 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/indian-ink-tom-stoppard-premieres-new-york-article-1.1957166 |title='Indian Ink' by Tom Stoppard premieres in New York |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=2014-09-30 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Robert Feldberg |url=http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/theater/a-trip-to-india-leads-to-ties-that-span-generations-1.1099730?page=all |title=Theater review: 'Indian Ink' - Theater |website=NorthJersey.com |date=2014-10-01 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Gordon Cox |url=https://variety.com/2015/legit/news/2015-obie-awards-full-list-1201499595/ |title=2015 Obie Awards (FULL LIST): 'Hamilton,' Henderson Win Awards |publisher=Variety |date=2015-05-18 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.obieawards.com/2015/05/2015-obie-award-winners-announced/ |title=2015 Obie Award Winners Announced |publisher=Obie Awards |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> He has narrated more than twenty audio books, including ''[[The Gambler (novel)|The Gambler]]'' by [[Fyodor Dostoevsky]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Gambler/dp/B005GVRHBI |title=The Gambler (Audio Download): Amazon.co.uk: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Firdous Bamji, Recorded Books: Books |website=Amazon.co.uk |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> ''[[Siddhartha (novel)|Siddhartha]]'' by [[Hermann Hesse]], ''[[La Dame aux Camélias|Camille]]'' by [[Alexandre Dumas]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/89025/camille-the-lady-of-the-camellias-by-alexandre-dumas/ |title=CAMILLE THE LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS by Alexandre Dumas Read by Alyssa Bresnahan John McDonough Firdous Bamji | Audiobook Review |publisher=AudioFile Magazine |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> ''[[The Hungry Tide]]'' by [[Amitav Ghosh]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4193-3694-2 |title=Audio Book Review: The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh|website=Publishersweekly.com |date=2005-06-06 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/23138/the-hungry-tide-by-amitav-ghosh/ |title=THE HUNGRY TIDE by Amitav Ghosh Read by Firdous Bamji | Audiobook Review |publisher=AudioFile Magazine |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hong |first=Terry |url=http://smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/the-hungry-tide-by-amitav-ghosh-2/ |title=The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh | BookDragon |website=Smithsonianapa.org |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref> and ''[[The Enchantress of Florence]]'' by [[Salman Rushdie]], for which he received an [[Audie Award]] nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1279 |title=THE Voice of the Independent Publishing Industry |publisher=Independent Publisher |date=2009-05-29 |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=6sua0ca5 |title=Voice Over Xtra |publisher=Voice Over Xtra |accessdate=2016-07-07}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Bamji lives in [[London]] with his partner, British actress [[Hayley Mills]].

==Awards==
[[Obie Award]] 2015, [[Independent Spirit Award]] nom. 2005, [[Audie Award]] nom. 2009

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* {{IMDb name|0051479}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bamji, Firdous}}
[[Category:Kodaikanal International School alumni]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Parsi people from Mumbai]]
[[Category:American male actors of Indian descent]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Indian male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:Indian male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:University of South Carolina alumni]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Male actors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:American people of Parsi descent]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]]

Firdous Bamji - Revision history

>ShelfSkewed at 14:14, 14 September 2021