Narges Rashidi Wins BAFTA Best Actress for Role as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

11/05/2026

LONDON, May 11: Narges Rashidi has won the Best Actress award at the BAFTA TV Awards for her portrayal of British-Iranian detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in the drama Prisoner 951, which depicts her years of imprisonment in Iran before her release in 2022.

Accepting the award, Rashidi described the role as “a very emotional role” and said it was “an absolute honor” to portray Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s story on screen.

In her speech, she also highlighted the impact of conflict on children around the world, referencing her own experience as a child survivor of war. She spoke about children in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, saying many “may never get that opportunity” for a better future.

Rashidi added that storytelling plays a vital role in changing perceptions, saying, “The stories we tell matter. It’s time we humanize those who have been dehumanized.”