Angela Sarafyan, sometimes credited as Angela Sarafian, is an Armenian-American actress. She has appeared as a guest star in several television series and has acted in the feature films: Kabluey (2007), On the Doll (2007), A Beautiful Life (2008), The Informers (2008), A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011), Lost & Found in Armenia (2012), and Reminiscence (2021). She portrayed Clementine Pennyfeather throughout the four seasons of the HBO series Westworld (2016–22).

Early life

Angela was born in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union, eight years before Armenia regained its independence. When she was four, she moved with her parents – actor Grigor Sarafyan and her painter mother – to the United States, settling in Los Angeles. She studied ballet and played piano as a child. She attended Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles.

Career

2000–2008: Early work

Sarafyan's first acting role was on the CBS legal drama Judging Amy in the episode "Culture Clash" in 2000. Afterwards, she went to make a cameo in the music video for Britney Spears' song "Stronger". Sarafyan later made a guest appearance on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and starred in the television film Paranormal Girl in 2002. She made film debut (though uncredited) in the 2004 comedy-drama The Last Run. Sarafyan continued with her work on television with roles on The Shield, The Division, Wanted, South of Nowhere, 24, CSI: NY, Lincoln Heights, Cold Case, In Plain Sight, and The Mentalist. She also had roles in the 2007 films Kabluey and On the Doll. In 2008, Sarafyan starred in her first lead role as Maggie in the drama film A Beautiful Life opposite Jesse Garcia. She also contributed to a minor role as Mary in The Informers.

2009–2015: Mainstream recognition

In 2009, Sarafyan starred in the films Repo Chick and Love Hurts, and the television series Eastwick. She also had a recurring role on the web series Hot Sluts and Sex Ed: The Series. In 2010, she portrayed Samantha Evans on the Fox series The Good Guys. She also appeared on Childrens Hospital. In 2011, Sarafyan starred in A Good Old Fashioned Orgy as Willow Talbot, the girlfriend of Martin Starr's character. She also appeared in the sixth season finale of Criminal Minds and the ninth episode of the second season of Nikita. Sarafyan went on to appear in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 as Egyptian vampire Tia, the mate of vampire Benjamin, and as Ani in Lost & Found in Armenia in 2012. In 2013, Sarafyan played a minor role in The Immigrant as Marion Cotillard's character's sister. She also appeared in Paranoia featuring Liam Hemsworth, Gary Oldman, Amber Heard, and Harrison Ford. The film bombed at the box office and received negative reviews from critics. In 2015, Sarafyan co-starred as the wife of Simon Abkarian's character in the psychological thriller 1915. The film follows a mysterious director staging a play to bring the ghosts of a forgotten tragedy back to life on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. She also co-starred with Luke Bracey, Dustin Milligan, and Emily Meade in the comedy Me Him Her. Between 2014 and 2015, Sarafyan appeared on the series Blue Bloods and American Horror Story's Freak Show season.

2016–2022: Westworld

In 2016, Sarafyan appeared as Maral in the epic historical war drama The Promise. The film starred Oscar Isaac, Charlotte Le Bon and Christian Bale and follows a love triangle that develops between an Armenian medical student, an American journalist, and an Armenian-born woman raised in France, immediately before and during the Armenian genocide. She also co-starred with Scott Eastwood in Mercury Plains. From 2016 to 2022, Sarafyan starred as Clementine Pennyfeather on the HBO science-fiction series Westworld. The role earned Sarafyan a nomination at the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series with her co-stars. Following Westworld, Sarafyan received acclaim for her role in the 2018 short film Pin-Up, winning awards at three film festivals for her performance. She starred as the lead role of Francesca in the 2018 film We Are Boats. In 2019, Sarafyan played a supporting role as Joanna in the Netflix biographical thriller Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile starring Zac Efron and Lily Collins, and as Max in the video game Telling Lies. She also had a role on an episode of the horror series Into the Dark. In 2020, she appeared in Caged opposite Edi Gathegi, Melora Hardin, and Tony Amendola. In 2021, Sarafyan contributed to a supporting role in Reminiscence starring Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, and Westworld co-star Thandiwe Newton. She also had roles in King Knight and A House on the Bayou.

2023–present: Continued work

In 2023, Safaryan participated in Armenian Film Society's Armenian Women in Film and Entertainment panel discussion. Sarafyan's post-Westworld roles were in 2023's Pet Shop Days and 2024's Little Death. In March 2024, Sarafyan was announced to have been cast in the action thriller G20 produced by and starring Viola Davis.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Music videos

Web

Awards and nominations