# Necar Zadegan
**Necar Zadegan** (born 1982) is an Iranian-American actress and producer known for television roles as Special Agent Hannah Khoury on *NCIS: New Orleans*, Assistant D.A. Evelyn Foley on *Mayor of Kingstown*, and Nikki Reynard on CBS's *CIA*, and for film roles in *Elena Undone* and *Unthinkable*. She was born in [Heidelberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/heidelberg), Germany, to Iranian parents and holds American nationality[1](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/1219835/) • [2](https://www.legit.ng/1232404-ncis-necar-zadegan-bio-age-fiance-gay-rumors-movies-tv-shows.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982, Heidelberg, Germany, to Iranian parents[1](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/1219835/) • [2](https://www.legit.ng/1232404-ncis-necar-zadegan-bio-age-fiance-gay-rumors-movies-tv-shows.html) |
| Professions | Actress and producer; Kinopoisk lists 53 credits from 1990 to 2025, including 2 as producer[1](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/1219835/) |
| Signature TV roles | Hannah Khoury on *NCIS: New Orleans* (2018–2021)[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/); Delia Banai on *Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce* (2014–2018)[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/); Evelyn Foley on *Mayor of Kingstown* (2021–2025)[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/7475/necar-zadegan) |
| Current role | Nikki Reynard, Deputy Chief of Station, on CBS's *CIA* (2026–present)[5](https://popculture.com/tv-shows/news/cia-star-necar-zadegan-previews-fast-paced-new-series-with-fantasy-spy-stories-exclusive/) |
| Award | FilmOut Festival Award, Best Supporting Actress, for *Meth Head* (2013)[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2464261/awards/) |
| Stage | Original Broadway production of *Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo* (2011)[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/) |
| Voice work | Nawal Shafiq-Barclay in *Indiana Jones and the Great Circle* (2024)[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/) |
## Background
Zadegan was born in Heidelberg and moved to the United States with her parents at an early age[1](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/1219835/) • [7](https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/promis/necar-zadegan-trump-ist-aus-der-ferne-sicher-lustig-oder-art-329044). An interview in *MONTECRISTO* magazine describes her parents as technically brilliant professionals who were artists on the side: her father, a sometimes-drummer and engineer, fed into her artistic upbringing, and her mother, a part-time dancer and cosmetics executive, believed pre-birth rehearsals prepared her daughter for an actress's life[8](https://montecristomagazine.com/arts/necar-zadegan). At 16 she began her career in a theater production at the [Edinburgh Festival Fringe](https://www.edgepedia.org/edinburgh-festival-fringe)[8](https://montecristomagazine.com/arts/necar-zadegan). She speaks four languages[7](https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/promis/necar-zadegan-trump-ist-aus-der-ferne-sicher-lustig-oder-art-329044).
## Television career
Her early television work consisted of guest appearances through the 2000s: *The Bernie Mac Show* (2005), *[Nip/Tuck](https://www.edgepedia.org/nip-tuck)* (2006), *NCIS* (2007), *The Unit* (2007), *How I Met Your Mother* (2007), *Big Shots* (2007), *Lost* (2008), *The Shield* (2008), and *CSI: Miami* (2010)[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/).
**Series regular roles.** In 2012 she played Dr. Gina Bandari on *Emily Owens, M.D.*[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/). From 2014 to 2018 she played divorce attorney Delia Banai on *[Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce](https://www.edgepedia.org/girlfriends-guide-to-divorce)*, Bravo's first original scripted series, a drama based on the Girlfriends' Guides book series[9](https://www.livingneworleans.com/?p=12119). She has described the character as the glamourpuss of the show and said that a chic bob haircut she adopted with costume designer Cynthia Summers was written into the story after producers liked it[8](https://montecristomagazine.com/arts/necar-zadegan) • [10](https://www.newbeauty.com/view/necar-zadegan-interview-2024). In October 2018 she joined *NCIS: New Orleans* as Special Agent Hannah Khoury, the senior agent in the field office, remaining with the series through its end in 2021[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/) • [2](https://www.legit.ng/1232404-ncis-necar-zadegan-bio-age-fiance-gay-rumors-movies-tv-shows.html).
She then played Assistant D.A. Evelyn Foley on *Mayor of Kingstown* from 2021 to 2025, first as a guest and later as a starring cast member[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/7475/necar-zadegan). In interviews she has described shooting *NCIS: New Orleans* during COVID and wrapping the show's final season, and noted that her character has a high school history with [Jeremy Renner](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeremy-renner)'s character[11](https://music.amazon.co.jp/podcasts/c5be9d5f-4536-4607-af3e-7054d8eea147/episodes/ddf54158-26eb-4d81-ad76-27e4ba14aa66/story-and-craft-with-marc-preston-necar-zadegan-from-%E2%80%9Cthe-rookie%E2%80%9D-to-cbs%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Ccia%E2%80%9D-a-journey-without-a-formula).
Other television credits include *[Extant](https://www.edgepedia.org/extant-tv-series)*, *Legends* (as Ana Paulanos), *Rake* (as Scarlet Leon), *Masters of Sex* (as the Queen of Iran), *The Good Doctor* (Dr. Ko), *Here and Now* (Layla Shokrani), *[Documentary Now!](https://www.edgepedia.org/documentary-now)* (Ra-Sharir), and a guest role as Bjayzl in *Star Trek: Picard* (2020)[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/) • [1](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/1219835/). She has had a recurring role as ADA Vivian Eckert on ABC's *The Rookie*, continuing into its eighth season in autumn 2026[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/7475/necar-zadegan) • [2](https://www.legit.ng/1232404-ncis-necar-zadegan-bio-age-fiance-gay-rumors-movies-tv-shows.html), and appeared as Defense Attorney Bonnie Kimura in *Law & Order* (2025)[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/).
## CIA and current work
Zadegan plays Nikki Reynard, the CIA Deputy Chief of Station for the New York field office, on *CIA*, CBS's Dick Wolf-produced offshoot of *FBI* headlined by Tom Ellis and Nick Gehlfuss; she took over the role from [Michael Michele](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-michele), who departed the production the previous fall[5](https://popculture.com/tv-shows/news/cia-star-necar-zadegan-previews-fast-paced-new-series-with-fantasy-spy-stories-exclusive/) • [12](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=necar-zadegan-3). The series premiered on CBS on February 23, 2026, and was renewed for a second season before its first season was halfway through; season 2 premiered on October 5, 2026[5](https://popculture.com/tv-shows/news/cia-star-necar-zadegan-previews-fast-paced-new-series-with-fantasy-spy-stories-exclusive/) • [2](https://www.legit.ng/1232404-ncis-necar-zadegan-bio-age-fiance-gay-rumors-movies-tv-shows.html). It was her first series regular role in a procedural since her stint on another CBS series[13](https://tvbrittanyf.com/2026/02/23/cia-cbs-necar-zadegan-interview/).
Nikki and CIA analyst Gina Gosian, played by [Natalee Linez](https://www.edgepedia.org/natalee-linez), often hold down the unit's headquarters while the field agents work cases abroad, a dynamic Zadegan has described as a powerful position for two women, watching from a bird's-eye view and directing the agents in the field[14](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/cbs-necar-zadegan-opened-up-about-feeling-bored-projects-without-female-characters-what-cia-doing-right). In an early episode, Nikki insisted on traveling to Hong Kong to bring home a deeply embedded U.S. intelligence officer, and her cover was blown[15](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/cia-star-hypes-what-the-agents-cant-even-ask-for-in-the-risky-new-episode-trust-is-everything). Zadegan has said her character's leadership style evolves toward a calm, strategic posture, and that she is drawn to projects with strong female characters, saying she gets bored watching movies without female characters[16](https://www.semana.com/amp/cultura/television/articulo/necar-zadegan-habla-en-semana-de-espionaje-liderazgo-y-secretos-de-la-cia-su-nueva-serie/202630/) • [14](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/cbs-necar-zadegan-opened-up-about-feeling-bored-projects-without-female-characters-what-cia-doing-right).
The series participates in crossovers with its parent show: Zadegan guest-starred as Reynard on *FBI*, and *FBI* stars including [Missy Peregrym](https://www.edgepedia.org/missy-peregrym) and Alana De La Garza have crossed over to *CIA*[14](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/cbs-necar-zadegan-opened-up-about-feeling-bored-projects-without-female-characters-what-cia-doing-right) • [17](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/i-love-fbi-cia-crossovers-mike-weiss-showrunner-rules).
## Film and voice work
Her film credits include *Crossroads* (2008, as Shada), *Elena Undone* (2010, title role), *Unthinkable* (2010, as Jehan Younger), *Joshua Tree* (2011), *Meth Head* (2013, as Maia, for which she won the 2013 FilmOut Festival Award for Best Supporting Actress), the voice role of Viola in the virtual-reality science-fiction film *Eleven Eleven* (2019), *Dear Albert* (2022, as Simone), *Inheritance* (2025, as Erika Papp), and *The Electric State* (2025, as Farah Bedi)[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2464261/awards/). Her upcoming film credit includes *Blind Owl*, in which she plays the Medicine Woman[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/).
She has an extensive video game voice résumé: additional voices in *The Elder Scrolls Online* (2014), Ourea in *Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds* (2017), Ruby Roundhouse in the German version of *Jumanji: The Video Game* (2019), additional voices in *Diablo IV* (2023), voice work in *The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom* (2023) and *Gold Road* (2024), and Nawal Shafiq-Barclay in *Indiana Jones and the Great Circle* (2024)[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/).
## Stage and production work
Zadegan appeared on Broadway in the original 2011 production of *Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo*, playing the Iraqi Woman, Leper, and Arabic vocals[3](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/). She has also worked as a producer, with two producing credits listed by Kinopoisk[1](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/1219835/), and co-founded the production company SuperNova8 Films with Iranian actor Armin Amiri[2](https://www.legit.ng/1232404-ncis-necar-zadegan-bio-age-fiance-gay-rumors-movies-tv-shows.html).
## Personal life
Zadegan keeps her personal life private. She was previously engaged to Gadi Erel, with the engagement ending in the early 2010s, and no marriage has been confirmed since then[2](https://www.legit.ng/1232404-ncis-necar-zadegan-bio-age-fiance-gay-rumors-movies-tv-shows.html). She is 1.75 m tall[1](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/1219835/).
## References
1. [Некар Задеган (Necar Zadegan), Кинопоиск](https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/1219835/)
2. [Necar Zadegan: bio, age, The Rookie role, and personal life, Legit.ng](https://www.legit.ng/1232404-ncis-necar-zadegan-bio-age-fiance-gay-rumors-movies-tv-shows.html)
3. [Necar Zadegan, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Necar-Zadegan/)
4. [Necar Zadegan, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/7475/necar-zadegan)
5. ['CIA' Star Necar Zadegan Previews 'Fast-Paced' New Series With 'Fantasy Spy Stories' (Exclusive), PopCulture.com](https://popculture.com/tv-shows/news/cia-star-necar-zadegan-previews-fast-paced-new-series-with-fantasy-spy-stories-exclusive/)
6. [Necar Zadegan – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2464261/awards/)
7. [Necar Zadegan: Trump ist aus der Ferne sicher lustig, oder?, Abendzeitung München](https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/promis/necar-zadegan-trump-ist-aus-der-ferne-sicher-lustig-oder-art-329044)
8. [Necar Zadegan, MONTECRISTO Magazine](https://montecristomagazine.com/arts/necar-zadegan)
9. [Beauty and Brains on Bravo, New Orleans Living Magazine](https://www.livingneworleans.com/?p=12119)
10. [Mayor of Kingstown's Necar Zadegan: 'Self-Care Is My Mantra', NewBeauty](https://www.newbeauty.com/view/necar-zadegan-interview-2024)
11. [Story and Craft with Marc Preston: Necar Zadegan, From "The Rookie" to CBS's "CIA", Amazon Music](https://music.amazon.co.jp/podcasts/c5be9d5f-4536-4607-af3e-7054d8eea147/episodes/ddf54158-26eb-4d81-ad76-27e4ba14aa66/story-and-craft-with-marc-preston-necar-zadegan-from-%E2%80%9Cthe-rookie%E2%80%9D-to-cbs%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Ccia%E2%80%9D-a-journey-without-a-formula)
12. [Necar Zadegan, Paramount Press Express](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=necar-zadegan-3)
13. [CIA star Necar Zadegan teases new CBS series: 'Very fun and throwback spy thriller stuff', TVBrittanyF.com](https://tvbrittanyf.com/2026/02/23/cia-cbs-necar-zadegan-interview/)
14. [After CBS' Necar Zadegan Opened Up About Feeling 'Bored' By Projects Without Female Characters, Here's What CIA Is Doing Right, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/cbs-necar-zadegan-opened-up-about-feeling-bored-projects-without-female-characters-what-cia-doing-right)
15. [CIA Star Hypes What The Agents 'Can't Even Ask For' In The Risky New Episode: 'Trust Is Everything', CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/cia-star-hypes-what-the-agents-cant-even-ask-for-in-the-risky-new-episode-trust-is-everything)
16. [Necar Zadegan habla en SEMANA de espionaje, liderazgo y secretos de la CIA, su nueva serie, SEMANA](https://www.semana.com/amp/cultura/television/articulo/necar-zadegan-habla-en-semana-de-espionaje-liderazgo-y-secretos-de-la-cia-su-nueva-serie/202630/)
17. [I Love The FBI And CIA Crossovers, But The Showrunner Told Me They Have Some Ground Rules, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/i-love-fbi-cia-crossovers-mike-weiss-showrunner-rules)
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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 › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames X to Z*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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