Angela Sarafyan

Angela Sarafyan (, born June 30, 1983), sometimes credited as Angela Sarafian, is an Armenian-American actress. Her film credits include On the Doll, A Beautiful Life (2008), A Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011) and Lost & Found in Armenia (2012). She portrayed Clementine Pennyfeather in the television series Westworld (2016–22) and Lara, Superman's mother, in the film Superman (2025).

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 parentsactor Grigor Sarafyan and her painter motherto 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 made 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 her 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 Storys 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.

In 2025, Safaryan had a cameo appearance as Lara, Superman's mother, in the DC Universe film Superman.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 The Last Run Lauren 2005 Halfway Decent Liberty Edwards 2007 Kabluey Ramona On the Doll Tara 2008 Maggie Mary 2009 Half Truth Trig Short film Repo Chick Giggli Love Hurts Layla Velvet Beatrice Short film Foolishly Seeking True Love Belle Short film 2011 American Animal Not Blonde Angela Willow Talbot 2012 Vampire Riderz Lala Drift Short film Tia Lost & Found in Armenia Ani 2013 Noise Matters Sandy Magda Cybulska Paranoia Allison 2014 Night Vet Franny & Zoey Short film Never Rachel 2015 1915 Angela Me Him Her Heather Me You and Five Bucks Pam Blackbird Angel Short film 2016 Mercury Plains Alyssa Maral 2018 We Are Boats Francesca Pin-Up Sunny Short film 2019 Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile Joanna A Nasty Piece of Work Tatum Where Are You Cassandra 2020 Caged Amber Reid 2021 Reminiscence Elsa Carine King Knight Willow A House on the Bayou Jessica Chambers 2022 The Ray Maggie 2023 Hail Mary Gabrielle Pet Shop Days 2024 Little Death Record Store Woman 2025 G20 Quoll Superman Lara Lor-Van

Television Year Title Role Notes 2000 Judging Amy Aisha Al-Jamal Episode: "Culture Clash" 2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lori Episode: "Him" Paranormal Girl Crystal Television film 2004 Sosi Episode: "All In" Madison Grant Episodes: "Zero Tolerance: Parts 1 & 2" 2005 Wanted Natalia Episode: "Sex Pistols" 2006 South of Nowhere Paige Episode: "Say It Ain't So, Spencer" 24 Inessa Kovalevsky Episode: "Day 5: 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m." CSI: NY Sara Jackson Episode: "Open and Shut" 2007 Lincoln Heights Opal Woodford Episode: "Baby Doe" Cold Case Philippa 'Phil' Abruzzi (1919) Episode: "Torn" 2008 In Plain Sight Tasha Turischeva Episodes: Pilot, "To Serge with Love" Adrianna Jonovic Episode: "Ladies in Red" Ernesto Sydney Television film 2009 Hot Sluts Helena / Alena Recurring role Eastwick Jenna Episode: "Red Ants and Widows" Floored and Lifted Jade Episode: "Merde" 2010 Childrens Hospital Olga Episode: "Give a Painted Brother a Break" Samantha Evans Main role 2011 Criminal Minds Lucy Episode: "Supply and Demand" Nikita Oksana Episode: "Fair Trade" 2012 Let's Big Happy Olive Main role Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Anna Episode: "Acceptable Loss" 2013 I Am Victor Cucumber Television film 2014 Blue Bloods Frannie Ferguson Episode: "Custody Battle" 2015 American Horror Story: Freak Show Alice Episodes: "Magical Thinking", "Show Stoppers" 2016–2022 Westworld Clementine Pennyfeather Main role 2019 Into the Dark Tatum Episode: "A Nasty Piece of Work"2026CIAToni NapierGuest Role TBA Elisa Kazanjian Main role

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2019 Telling Lies Max

Music videos Year Artists Song Notes 2000 Celine Dion "I Want You to Need Me" Unreleased 2000 Britney Spears "Stronger" 2017 Vance Joy "Lay It On Me"

Web Year Title Role Notes 2009 Sex Ed: The Series Stormy Web series

Awards and nominations Year Ceremony Result Award Film/TV Refs 2017 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (shared with the cast) Westworld 2018 International Independent Film Awards Best Actress In A Supporting RolePlatinum Level Pin-Up IndieFEST Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Global Film Festival Awards Best Supporting Actress