Biography
Sitara Attaie is an Afghan-born American and Dutch actress, activist, and advocate for women’s rights. She is deeply passionate about the rights of Afghan women and women globally, and has made it her life’s mission to give voice to the voiceless and face to the faceless through her art. Through her work, Sitara consistently represents underrepresented women on screen, using storytelling as a tool for awareness, empathy, and change.
Sitara appeared on the Emmy Award winning series Homeland alongside three-time Emmy winner Claire Danes, portraying the courageous Samira Noori. She also starred on Chuck Lorre’s sitcom United States of Al, where she represented Afghan female advocates of education and leadership. Additionally, Sitara highlighted the struggles of Afghan mothers on the ABC series Stumptown alongside Cobie Smulders.
Beyond her acting career, Sitara is a committed humanitarian and activist. She serves on the Board of Directors of Eagle Online Academy, an organization dedicated to promoting education for girls and women in Afghanistan through online platforms. She also conducts live seminars aimed at inspiring and empowering women in Afghanistan during times when hope feels distant. Sitara has taken a clear and public stance against gender apartheid in Afghanistan and is actively involved with the nonprofit movement Womanspost.org, where the ongoing fight against gender apartheid continues.
Sitara has also lent her voice to audio-book narration, empowering Afghan voices by telling their stories through literature. She has narrated multiple books and portions of books focused on amplifying Afghan perspectives and lived experiences.
Born in Afghanistan, Sitara spent her formative years living in Afghanistan, India, and The Netherlands before settling in the United States. Immersed in diverse cultures from an early age, she became fluent in Dari, Farsi, Dutch, German, Hindi, Urdu, and Pashto, and is conversational in French.
Sitara earned a BFA in English Literature from the University of Groningen, an Associate Degree in Teacher Training from Hanze Hogeschool, and a Certificate in Journalism from Hogeschool van Utrecht. During her early years in Europe, she won several national competitions and choreographed commercials, music videos, and stage performances. She appeared in multiple Dutch television projects, including VARA’s 12×12 and Missen, and worked as a freelance journalist for platforms such as "Spunk" and "Cultuur Scouts Magazine".
In addition to her work in film and television, Sitara has modeled for various fashion brands after winning beauty pageants in The Netherlands and Turkey, using those platforms to challenge stereotypes and broaden representation.
