Paul Chahidi

Paul Chahidi, born Paul Khatib‑Chahidi on 22 August 1969 in Iran, is an Iranian‑born British actor whose career spans stage, film and television. Raised in Summertown, Oxford, after his family fled the Iranian Revolution in 1979, he attended the prestigious Dragon School and Winchester College before studying Arabic and Persian at the University of Cambridge, initially intending to become a foreign correspondent. Following his Cambridge graduation, Chahidi honed his craft at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, emerging as a versatile performer with a deep appreciation for classical texts. His early work with the Royal Shakespeare Company established him as an associate artist noted for his deft handling of Shakespearean comedy and tragedy, leading to acclaimed performances at Shakespeare’s Globe and on Broadway in all‑male productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III.

Chahidi’s portrayal of Maria in the 2013 Twelfth Night revival earned him both a Theatre World Award and a Clarence Derwent Award, and secured nominations for the Olivier and Tony Awards, underscoring his talent for infusing traditional roles with contemporary nuance. He later appeared as defence minister Nikolai Bulganin in Armando Iannucci’s satirical hit The Death of Stalin (2017) and delivered a memorable turn as Rev. Francis Seaton in the BBC Three comedy series This Country (2017‑2020), a performance that garnered a Royal Television Society nomination for Best Comedy Performance (Male). Beyond screen and stage, Chahidi is a frequent podcast guest, sharing insights on The QuaranTea Break Podcast and Seven Stages, further cementing his reputation as a thoughtful voice in the performing arts community.