Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary
- Born:
- June 22, 1932, Isfahan, Iran
- Died:
- October 26, 2001, Paris, France
- Nationality:
- Iranian (later naturalized as a French citizen)
- Profession(s):
- Former Queen Consort of Iran, Actress
Early Life and Education
- Born into a prominent Iranian family of Bakhtiari origin.
- Father: Khalil Esfandiary-Bakhtiary, Iranian Ambassador to West Germany.
- Mother: Eva Karl, German.
- Educated in Tehran and later in Switzerland.
Career and Major Achievements
- Became Queen Consort of Iran in 1951, marrying Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
- Her marriage to the Shah ended in divorce in 1958 due to her inability to produce an heir.
- Following the divorce, she received a substantial settlement.
- Later pursued a brief career in acting.
Notable Works
- Autobiography: Le Palais des Solitudes (1991).
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | I tre volti (The Three Faces) | Soraya | Segment: "Gli amanti celebri" ("The Celebrated Lovers") |
| 1965 | The 1965 film, I Tre Volti, and the earlier discussions of a potential "soraya iranian princess movie" based on her life indicate the public interest in her persona. | N/A | This film itself explores different facets of a woman's life and image, paralleling the public's fascination with Soraya's story and the ideas surrounding a potential biopic. It is important to note this project was not a direct Soraya biographical film, despite discussions of such, but a movie starring Soraya following her departure from royal life. |
Legacy and Impact
Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiary remains a significant figure in Iranian history, remembered for her beauty, her brief reign as Queen Consort, and the circumstances surrounding her divorce. Her life captivated the public imagination, contributing to her enduring fame.