Nazneen Contractor is a Canadian actress known for her role as Layla Hourani on CBC’s The Border, and as Kayla Hassan on 24 in 2010. Nazneen was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India but was raised and educated in Nigeria and London. When she was ten, Nazneen and her family emigrated to Toronto, Canada. During her youth, she studied and trained to be a classical ballerina. After almost ten years of dance training, Nazneen Contractor decided to become an actress.
Nazneen started performing at plays gaining recognition at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where she performed the lead roles in several Shakespeare plays. After her success at the stage, she dedicated herself to completing degrees in Sociology, Psychology and Theatre at the University of Toronto. During these times, she performed a few guest star and recurring roles on Canadian and American television. She then landed the lead role of Layla Hourani on The Border, a popular drama in Canada. During her stint at the show, she worked with fellow 24-alum Al Sapienza.
Nazneen is married to Carlo Rota, who played Morris O’Brian during three seasons of 24. They also appeared together in a 2008 production of Othello.
An adherent to Zoroastrianism, Nazneen is one of approximately 150,000 Parsis remaining in the world.
Contractor had a small part in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness (with Scott Lawrence and Peter Weller), in which she played the wife of fellow Trek newcomer Noel Clarke. In 2012, she appeared in Last Resort, with Daniel Bess, Cas Anvar and Michael Gaston. Contractor also appeared in the backdoor pilot of the upcoming Chicago Justice that aired in Chicago P.D. (with Philip Winchester), but left to do another show Ransom. In 2021, she appeared in Spiral, along with Marisol Nichols.
When not working, Contractor is an avid runner and yogi. She loves to travel the world, and her preferred method of transportation while in other countries is by motorcycle. She was also born into the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism, and is one of the 150,000 Parsis in the world. Philanthropy is a huge priority for Contractor, she is a strong supporter of the organization Second Harvest to feed the homeless, and Look Good Feel Better, supporting women with cancer. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, son, and border terrier.
Nazneen Contractor Parents And Family
Nazneen contractor was born to her Parsi parents on August 26, 1982, in Mumbai, India, where her mother’s name is Yasmin Contractor. According to a different source, her father passed away in 2011, and his name is still the subject of suspense. She has an elder brother in her family. However, she has not disclosed much information about him in the media.
Nazneen Contractor has appeared in The Perfect Paring as the Christina. The Perfect Pairing has released on January 9, 2022.
Nazneen Contractor’s husband
Nazneen Contractor is married to Carlo Rota who is also a Canadian actor.
They got married in April 1, 2010. They are blessed with two beautiful children, one son and one daughter. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles.
Nazneen Contractor’s net worth:
The net worth of Nazneen Contractor is of a huge number of 10 million dollars. There are many things she loves to do.
She loves to stay in shape by run and doing yoga on a daily basis. She is also very fond of traveling and seeing the world.
She loves to explore different places of the world she visits in motorcycle and also says that is her favourite mode of transportation.
She has been part of mega movies in her career and this has boosted her earnings. She appeared in a movie called Star Trek Into Darkness.
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Role on 24:
Nazneen played the role of Kayla Hassan during Season 8 of 24. Hassan was the daughter of Omar Hassan, President of the Islamic Republic of Kamistan. Nazneen appeared in 21 episodes, and was credited as a guest star.
Nazneen Contractor Biography
| Name | Nazneen Contractor |
| Real Name | Nazneen Contractor |
| Nickname | Nazneen |
| Profession | Canadian Actress |
| Date of Birth | 26 August 1982 |
| Age | 39 years |
| Father Name | N/A |
| Mother Name | Yasmin Contractor |
| Height | 5′Â 4″Â (1.63Â m) |
| Weight | 63 Kg |
| Religion | Parsi |
| Educational Qualification | Graduate |
| School | Etobicoke School of the Art |
| Birth Place | Bombay, Maharashtra, India |
| Popular for | Her role in 24 as Kayla Hassan in 2010 |
| Children | 2 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Martial Status | Married |
| Spouse | Carlo Rota (m. 2010) |
| Current City | Los Angeles |
Nazneen Contractor Early Life and Career:
Born in Mumbai, India and raised in Nigeria until the age of seven, Contractor was well-versed in world travels and a variety of cultures at a very young age. She attended boarding school in London from seven to nine years old, then her family moved to Toronto, Canada, where she spent the majority of her childhood and young adulthood.
In Toronto, Contractor excelled in academics and trained as a classical ballerina. She attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts, a specialized public arts high school where she not only danced but studied theater as well. At the age of 16, after nearly 10 years of dance Contractor realized she wanted to pursue acting seriously. Upon graduating from high school she accepted a full scholarship to the University of Toronto, where she pursued a masters in theatre and a double major in psychology and sociology.
After one year at University, Contractor went to an open call audition for the play Pericles at the prestigious, world-renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival [Ontario, Canada], and landed the lead role. She received rave reviews for her work in the 92 shows performed, the play was voted the #1 production of the year by Canadian critics, in 2002. Contractor was offered the opportunity to enroll in Stratford’s conservatory program, where a select eight men and four women are accepted for a 20-week crash course on classical theater, which she eagerly took.
Contractor was guaranteed a spot in the next season of plays, and landed the role of Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. By the third season with the company, Contractor wanted to pursue film and television. In 2005 she booked a role in a FOX pilot by Anthony Hines [Borat, Bruno, The Dictator].
The role was intense, leaving the actors in character for eight to nine hours a day in front of an audience, and was a precursor to the style of film that Borat would be, just one year later. When the pilot did not get picked up, Contractor decided to go back to school and finish her education. While securing her degrees, she booked “The Border,” a Canadian drama for CBC. She starred as Layla Hourani for 26 episodes, and the series aired worldwide. The role also garnered her a Golden Nymph Award at The Montecarlo Television Festival, in 2008. Once the show wrapped, Contractor made the move to Los Angeles.
In 2009, Contractor booked the role of Kayla Hassan, in 21 episodes of the hit FOX series “24.” As President Omar Hassan [Anil Kapoor] and Dalia Hassan’s [Necar Zadegan] daughter, she was a scene stealer, portraying a seemingly sheltered young woman, whose secret life ends up putting her in horrible conditions. While in production on “24” Contractor also booked a recurring role on CBS’ “Rules of Engagement” opposite David Spade and Adhir Kalyan. Other television credits for Contractor include “Lone Star” [FOX] and “Last Resort” [ABC]. On the film front, Contractor has been seen in Seance: The Summoning [Lionsgate] in which she won Best Supporting Actress at WorldFest Houston, in 2012.
In May 2013, Contractor appeared as a devoted wife and mother facing extreme challenges in her family in the highly anticipated, Paramount feature film Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).
When not working, Contractor is an avid runner and yogi. She loves to travel the world, and her preferred method of transportation while in other countries is by motorcycle. She was also born into the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism, and is one of the 150,000 Parsis in the world. Philanthropy is a huge priority for Contractor, she is a strong supporter of the organization Second Harvest to feed the homeless, and Look Good Feel Better, supporting women with cancer. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, son, and border terrier.
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Nazneen Contractor Facts:
- She trained at the Birmingham Conservatory for classical training in between her first and second season at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
- Was the first woman of Indian descent to play a lead role in a Shakespearean piece on the main stage of the Stratford Festival in 51 years of the festival’s history.
Her first professional theatre job was paying the female lead in “Pericles” at the Stratford Festival. - Got her first break at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival through an open call audition.
- Discovered in her mid teens that despite dancing up to ten times a week, she would never have the turnout muscles to have a career in ballet.
Born into the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. She is one of the 150,000 Parsis in the world. - She and her husband, Carlo Rota have both appeared in 24 (2001), though in different seasons. Rota appeared as Morris O’Brian in seasons five to seven, while Contractor played Kayla Hassan in the show’s eighth and final season.
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