# Hannah Simone
**Hannah Simone** is a British-Canadian actress, television host, VJ, and fashion model, born in 1980, best known for playing Cece Parekh on the Fox sitcom *New Girl* from 2011 to 2018[1](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231521) • [2](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-511384/filmographie/). Before acting, she worked in Canadian television as a video jockey for MuchMusic, and after the sitcom ended she moved to the ABC comedy *Not Dead Yet* and to podcasting with her former co-stars[3](https://www.seema.com/hannah-simone-age-personal-life-and-career/) • [4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/hannah-simone/) • [1](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231521).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1980, in London, England; hometown listed as Vancouver, British Columbia[5](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/hannah-simone.html) • [6](https://newgirl.fandom.com/wiki/Hannah_Simone) |
| Signature role | Cece Parekh on *New Girl*, seasons 1 through 7 (2011–2018)[2](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-511384/filmographie/) |
| Broadcasting | Hosted HGTV Canada's design show *Space for Living*, then joined MuchMusic as a video jockey from May 2006 to November 2008[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1924196/) • [3](https://www.seema.com/hannah-simone-age-personal-life-and-career/) |
| Lead roles after *New Girl* | Sam on *Not Dead Yet* (ABC, 2023–2024)[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/hannah-simone/) |
| Film work | *Oldboy* (2013), *Miss India America* (2015), *Band Aid* (2017), *Killing Gunther* (2017), *Super Troopers 3* (2026)[2](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-511384/filmographie/) • [1](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231521) |
| Podcasting | Co-host of the *New Girl* rewatch podcast *Welcome to Our Show* (2022) and of iHeartPodcasts's *The Mess Around with Hannah and Lamorne*[8](https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/new-girl-stars-zooey-deschanel-hannah-simone-lamorne-morris-done-show-ended.html/) • [1](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231521) |
| Education | Two degrees: one in international relations and political science, one in radio and television arts[9](https://www.rajgirn.com/actress-hannah-simone/) |
## Early life and background
Simone's childhood was itinerant. She has described growing up in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, India, England, and Canada[9](https://www.rajgirn.com/actress-hannah-simone/). Her father is Indian and her mother is half German-Italian and half Greek-Cypriot[9](https://www.rajgirn.com/actress-hannah-simone/). She spent part of her youth in [Cyprus](https://www.edgepedia.org/cyprus), living in the divided capital Nicosia on the Green Line that separates the Greek south from the Turkish north, and has called learning that history a turning point[9](https://www.rajgirn.com/actress-hannah-simone/). At 16 she moved to New Delhi and attended the American Embassy School before returning to Canada after a year[3](https://www.seema.com/hannah-simone-age-personal-life-and-career/).
Her father, Naren Simone, born in 1947 into newly independent India, was the first in his family to choose a love marriage over an arranged one; in a 2014 essay she credited him with making her education non-negotiable and with encouraging her independence[10](https://time.com/3595535/hannah-simone-time-for-thanks/).
## Broadcasting career in Canada
Simone's first television work was in hosting rather than acting. Before *New Girl*, she hosted HGTV Canada's design show *Space for Living*[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1924196/). In May 2006 she joined MuchMusic, Canada's largest music channel, where she worked as a video jockey, host of *The NewMusic*, and presenter of *Much News Weekly* until November 2008[3](https://www.seema.com/hannah-simone-age-personal-life-and-career/). In interviews from that period she emphasized the channel's social-issue programming and her interest in causes such as human rights[9](https://www.rajgirn.com/actress-hannah-simone/).
## Humanitarian work before acting
Before entertainment became a full-time career, Simone worked in the humanitarian field. She worked with youth at the United Nations Association in the U.K.[9](https://www.rajgirn.com/actress-hannah-simone/), and Bustle describes a former role as a human rights and refugee officer at the United Nations[11](https://www.bustle.com/p/hannah-simone-is-living-proof-that-theres-no-need-to-fear-change-47126). Living in India at 16, she learned that women and children with HIV/AIDS were being hidden in hospital basements and helped organize a benefit concert that raised money to build a shelter[9](https://www.rajgirn.com/actress-hannah-simone/). After landing *New Girl*, she continued this work, telling Bustle that artists often have a bigger platform than policy workers, and she has partnered with the Canadian organization WE, formerly Free The Children, on education in rural communities[11](https://www.bustle.com/p/hannah-simone-is-living-proof-that-theres-no-need-to-fear-change-47126).
## New Girl and Cece Parekh
In 2011 Simone was cast as Cece Parekh, the best friend of [Zooey Deschanel](https://www.edgepedia.org/zooey-deschanel)'s Jess, on Fox's ensemble sitcom *New Girl*[3](https://www.seema.com/hannah-simone-age-personal-life-and-career/). Deschanel said on the Zach Sang Show that she knew immediately that Simone should play Jess's best friend after seeing her smart, deadpan approach to the character[12](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/zooey-deschanel-reveals-new-girl-team-had-to-fight-for-lamorne-morris). The role ran through all seven seasons, ending in 2018[2](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-511384/filmographie/). The part won her the Choice TV Breakout Performance Teen Choice Award (Female) in 2012[3](https://www.seema.com/hannah-simone-age-personal-life-and-career/).
The character drew attention for its portrayal of an Indian American woman. Cece's cultural background appeared in episodes about her arranged-marriage storyline, and in seasons 5 and 6 her mother, played by Anna George, became a recurring presence[13](https://time.com/3780210/fred-armisen-guest-star-new-girl/). Notable guest moments during the run included a 2014 appearance by Prince, who invited Jess and Cece to a party at his L.A. mansion[14](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/princes-odd-behavior-during-shocking-new-girl-cameo-revealed/). During the show's run, Simone recalled for TheWrap that paparazzi had once mistook her for [Kim Kardashian](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-kardashian), a moment she described from her early years in Los Angeles before she was on a show[15](https://www.thewrap.com/new-girl-hannah-simone-says-paparazzi-once-mistook-her-for-kim-kardashian-video/).
[Jay Chandrasekhar](https://www.edgepedia.org/jay-chandrasekhar) directed episodes of *New Girl* over the years, an experience Simone later described as significant for her as a South Asian actor[16](https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/2210406-new-girl-hannah-simone-filming-super-troopers-3-wild-snake-dance-scenes).
## Film and later television work
Simone's film credits run parallel to the sitcom. She played Stephanie Lee in the 2013 remake *Oldboy*, Sonia Nielson in *Miss India America* (2015), Emily in *Folk Hero & Funny Guy* (2015), Beth in *Flock of Dudes* (2016), Grace in *Band Aid* (2017), and Sanaa in *[Killing Gunther](https://www.edgepedia.org/killing-gunther)* (2017), which starred [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://www.edgepedia.org/arnold-schwarzenegger)[2](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-511384/filmographie/) • [1](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231521).
On *Miss India America* she worked as both star and producer on a 2015 film with a predominantly female cast and crew[11](https://www.bustle.com/p/hannah-simone-is-living-proof-that-theres-no-need-to-fear-change-47126). In 2017 she hosted the Fox reality competition *Kicking & Screaming*, filming in Fiji with 12-hour jungle days, an experience she called one of her most rewarding[11](https://www.bustle.com/p/hannah-simone-is-living-proof-that-theres-no-need-to-fear-change-47126).
After *New Girl* ended, she took recurring and guest television roles: Dr. Monica Dewan on *Single Parents* (2018), Terry on *[No Activity](https://www.edgepedia.org/no-activity)* (2017–2021), Dr. Brooks on *Hoops* (2020), and the voice of Pinky in the Disney series *[Mira, Royal Detective](https://www.edgepedia.org/mira-royal-detective)* (2020)[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/hannah-simone/) • [17](https://www.metacritic.com/person/hannah-simone/). In 2023 she returned as a series lead as Sam in the ABC comedy *Not Dead Yet*, alongside [Gina Rodriguez](https://www.edgepedia.org/gina-rodriguez); she told TheWrap that the life she had lived since *New Girl* informed the character[18](https://www.thewrap.com/hannah-simone-growing-up-new-girl-not-dead-yet/). The series was canceled in May 2024[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/hannah-simone/).
In 2026 she joined the [Broken Lizard](https://www.edgepedia.org/broken-lizard) comedy *[Super Troopers 3](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-troopers-3)* as Sarita, reuniting on screen with Chandrasekhar, and described the film's snake and dance scenes in an interview around its release[16](https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/2210406-new-girl-hannah-simone-filming-super-troopers-3-wild-snake-dance-scenes).
## Podcasts and reunions
In 2022 Simone reunited with Zooey Deschanel and [Lamorne Morris](https://www.edgepedia.org/lamorne-morris) for *Welcome to Our Show*, a rewatch podcast about *New Girl*[8](https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/new-girl-stars-zooey-deschanel-hannah-simone-lamorne-morris-done-show-ended.html/). She and Morris, who played Winston Bishop, now host the iHeartPodcasts TV & Film podcast *The Mess Around with Hannah and Lamorne*, in which the two real-life friends rewatch the series and bring on guest stars, writers, and directors from the show[1](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231521).
## Personal life
Simone grew up with a brother, Zach. She began dating photographer and musician [Jesse Giddings](https://www.edgepedia.org/jesse-giddings) in 2012; the two married secretly in 2016 and welcomed a son in August 2017[5](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/hannah-simone.html).
## References
1. [Hannah Simone – Movies, TV Shows, and Podcasts, Apple Snapshot](https://snapshot.apple.com/us/person/6621231521)
2. [Hannah Simone : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-511384/filmographie/)
3. [Hannah Simone: Know About Her Education & Career, Seema](https://www.seema.com/hannah-simone-age-personal-life-and-career/)
4. [Hannah Simone – Actress, Host, Model, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/hannah-simone/)
5. [Hannah Simone – Age, Bio, Family, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/hannah-simone.html)
6. [Hannah Simone, New Girl Wiki (Fandom)](https://newgirl.fandom.com/wiki/Hannah_Simone)
7. [Hannah Simone, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1924196/)
8. [What Have 'New Girl' Stars Done Since the Show Ended?, Showbiz Cheat Sheet](https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/new-girl-stars-zooey-deschanel-hannah-simone-lamorne-morris-done-show-ended.html/)
9. [Open Chest Interview with Hannah Simone, Raj Girn / ANOKHI Life](https://www.rajgirn.com/actress-hannah-simone/)
10. [Hannah Simone: What I'm Thankful For, TIME](https://time.com/3595535/hannah-simone-time-for-thanks/)
11. [Hannah Simone Is Living Proof That There's No Need To Fear Change, Bustle](https://www.bustle.com/p/hannah-simone-is-living-proof-that-theres-no-need-to-fear-change-47126)
12. [Zooey Deschanel Reveals The New Girl Co-Star The Team Had To 'Fight For', CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/zooey-deschanel-reveals-new-girl-team-had-to-fight-for-lamorne-morris)
13. [Fred Armisen to Guest Star on New Girl, TIME](https://time.com/3780210/fred-armisen-guest-star-new-girl/)
14. [Prince's New Girl Flashlight Pitch Came From a Dark Bathroom, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/princes-odd-behavior-during-shocking-new-girl-cameo-revealed/)
15. ['New Girl' Star Hannah Simone Says Paparazzi Once Mistook Her for Kim Kardashian, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/new-girl-hannah-simone-says-paparazzi-once-mistook-her-for-kim-kardashian-video/)
16. [New Girl's Hannah Simone Talks Filming Super Troopers 3, ComingSoon](https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/2210406-new-girl-hannah-simone-filming-super-troopers-3-wild-snake-dance-scenes)
17. [Hannah Simone, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/hannah-simone/)
18. [Hannah Simone Drew From Lessons Learned by 'Growing Up' After 'New Girl' for 'Not Dead Yet', TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/hannah-simone-growing-up-new-girl-not-dead-yet/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Canadian actors › Surnames R to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license