Pouri Banai

Pouri Banayi (; born Seddigheh Banayi , 11 October 1940) is an Iranian actress. She acted in more than 85 feature films between 1964 and 1979. During her years of acting before the Iranian revolution, she worked with directors such as Mehdi Reisfirooz, Samuel Khachikian, Masoud Kimiai, Farrokh Ghaffari, and Fereidoun Goleh. Her most memorable performances are in Iranian new wave films such as Masoud Kimiai's Qeysar in 1969 and Fereydun Gole's The Mandrake.

She also acted in some foreign films such as Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident directed by Leslie H. Martinson in which she co-starred with Peter Graves. In another film directed by Fereydun Gole, named The Moon and a Murmur (1977), she co-starred with John Ireland and Mickey Rooney. Jean Negulesco chose her and Behrouz Vosoughi to play the roles of a couple in his last film The Invincible Six (1970). Jun'ya Sato, the Japanese director chose her for the lead actress in his 1973 adaptation of the manga, Golgo 13.

Life and career She was born Seddigheh Banayi (in Persian: صدیقه بنایی) in Arak, Iran. She lived there for four years. She has six sisters: Mehri, Akram (Aki), Ashie, Eshie, Masoumeh and Nasrin, all of whom live in California, and one brother, Mohammad, living in Tehran. he suggested to her to act in his film.

Foreign and bilateral films She participated in some foreign and common films during her career, including Leslie H. Martinson's 1978 film, Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident; Fereydun Goleh's 1977 film, The Moon and a Murmur, made in the US and Iran; Jean Negulesco's last film, The Invincible Six in 1970; Jun'ya Satō's 1973 adaptation of Golgo 13, which was a joint production of Iran and Japan; and some Turkish films such as Ah bu gençlik (Oh, youth), Tek basina (Loneliness) and Tövbekar (The Regretful).

After 1979 Revolution Many Iranian actors and actresses left Iran after the 1979 revolution. Although Pouri Banayi was called to the infamous Evin Prison for questioning, she decided to stay in Iran but only appeared as an extra in one feature film after the revolution.

Filmography

Year Title Persian Title Role 1964 The Foreign Bride عروس فرنگی Arūse Farangi MaryaThe City Thief دزد شهر Dozde Shahr Farideh 1965 The Forced Vacation مرخصی اجباری Morakhasi-ye EjbāriThe singer Poor Thing!زبان‌بسته Zaban Basteh Leila The Blond Woman of Our Townموطلایی شهر ما Moo-alaye-ye Shahr-e Mā Golrokh 1966 Farewell Tehran خداحافظ تهران Khodahafez TehranAzar One step to Heavenیک قدم تا بهشت Yek Ghadam ta BeheshtShahla Hatam-e Taeeحاتم طائی Hatam-e Tāee Sharareh A Man in the Cage مردی در قفس Mardi dar GhafasFake Mahin/ Agent 1967 Satan's Temptation وسوسه‌ی شیطان Vasvase-ye Sheitān A Man from Isfahanمردی از اصفهان Mardi az EsfahānMahtab The Fateسرنوشت SarneveshtSima The Golden Cageقفس طلایی Ghafas-e TalāyiParvin 1968 I Also Criedمن هم گریه کردم Man Ham Geryeh KardamMandana The Whirlpool of Sinگرداب گناه Gerdābe Gonāh Pouri The Wild Riverرودخانه‌ی وحشی Rūdxane-ye VahshiPouneh The Gypsy's Furyخشم کولی Xashm-e Kowli Gypsy The Roads of Criminalsجاده‌ی تبهکاران Jāde-ye TabahkārānGiti The Thief in Blackدزد سیاهپوش Dozde SiāhpūshFereshteh 1969 Gheisarقیصر GheisarAzam Golden Heartsقلبهای طلایی Ghalbhā-ye TalāyiThe wife Blue Worldدنیای آبی Donyā-ye ĀbiMaryam The Separationجدایی JodāyiMaryam Malkoçoğlu Cem Sultan سرزمین دلاوران Sarzamine Delāvarān Melek 1970 Kooche-mardhaکوچه‌مردها Kūcheh MardhāAghdas Sin Cityشهر گناه Shahr-e GonāhZohreh Scandalرسوایی RosvāyiMaryam Around the World with Empty Pocketsدور دنیا با جیبهای خالیDore Donyā bā Jibhāye XaliThe girl The Invincible Sixقهرمانان GhahremananJahan's wife The Nameless Knightفرزند شمشیر Farzande ShamshirGulnaz 1971 The Men of the Dawnمردان سحر Mardāne SaharMina A Beautiful Girl and So Much Troubleیک خوشگل و هزار مشکل Yek Xoshgel-o Hezar Moshkel Mahnaz Molla Mammad Janملا ممد جان Mollā Mammad JānSafoura Retaliationقصاص GhesāsLa'ya In the Mallزیر بازارچه Zire BāzārchehGoli Lady for One Nightزن یک‌شبه Zane YekshabehAfsaneh The Glass Wallدیوار شیشه‌ای Divāre Shishe-eeMaryam For Whom the Hearts Beat قلبها برای که می‌تپند؟ Ghalbhā Baraye Keh MitapadNazi

Year Title Persian Title Role 1971 The Rowers قایقرانان GhāyeghrānānReyhaneh The Rebellionعاصی ĀsiSetareh Bride Priceشیربها Shirbahā Golbanoo Pretty خوشگله XoshgelehZhaleh The Hell + Meجهنم + من Jahannam Be Ezafe-ye ManThe girl The Only Man in the Neighborhoodتنها مرد محله Tanhā Mard-e Mahalleh Ali's sister 1972 Pedar ke na-khalaf oftadپدر که ناخلف افتد Pedar Ke Naxalaf OftadParvaneh Ingloriousنانجیب NānajibAshraf Ali, the Coachmanعلی سورچی Ali SūrchiRa'na A little Prejudiceیک جو غیرت Yek Jow GheiratAccountant's daughter 1973 God Bless Iranian Womenقربون زن ایرونی Ghorbūne Zane IrūniSakineh Golgo 13گلگو 13 Golgo SizdahCatherine The Married Manعیالوار AyālvārGolbahar Fancy Manخیالاتی XiālātiFortuneteller Happy Go Luckyخوشگذران XoshgozarānParvin The Strangerبیگانه BigānehMaryam 1974 Golnesa in Parisگلنسا در پاریس Golnesa dar PārisGolnesa 1975 The Falconetزنبورک Zanbūrak The Mandrakeمهر گیاه Mehre GiāhMehri Ghazal غزل GhazalGhazal 1976 Legacyمیراث MirasMaryam The Fire of the Southآتش جنوب Ātash dar JonūbJamileh The Lady Wants a Motorcycle / Ah bu gençlik خانم دلش موتور می‌خواد Xanom Delesh Motor MixadRa'na Tek Başına تنهایی TanhāyiEmineh Can Pazari دختر جوان و مرد انتقامجو Doxtar-e Javan va Marde EnteghamjūSelma 1977 The moon and a murmurماه و همهمه Māh-o Hemhemeh Paybackتلافی TalāfiMaryam Back and Dagger پشت و خنجر Posht-o XanjarEffat The Soldierسرباز SarbāzMahtab Tövbekar توبه‌کار Towbeh KārIpek 1978 Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident موشک سری Mushak-e SerrriLeila 1979 Maryam and Mani مریم و مانی Maryam-o MāniMaryam 2008 Shirinشیرین ShirinWoman in the audience

Personal life She was engaged to Behrouz Vosughi, but they didn't get married and Vosughi married Googoosh, famous Iranian singer and actress. One of Banayi's sisters is Aki Banayi (Akram Banayi). She was a singer and lived in Los Angeles, prior to her death in 2025.