Hari Nef

Hari Nef
Nef in 2017
Born (1992-10-21) October 21, 1992 (age 32)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materColumbia University (BA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • writer
Years active2011–present
Modeling information
Height5 ft 9.5 in (1.77 m)[1]
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorHazel
AgencyIMG Models (worldwide)[2]

Hari Nef (born October 21, 1992)[3] is an American actress, model, and writer.[4] Nef's breakthrough role was Gittel in the Amazon original series Transparent, for which she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2016.[5]

She made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week Spring 2015, walking for both Hood By Air and Eckhaus Latta, and subsequently became the first openly transgender woman signed to IMG Models.[6][7] She became the first openly transgender woman to appear on the cover of a major British magazine. Nef has written on a breadth of topics from fine art and film to sex, gender, and transgender identity.[8] She lives and works in New York City.

Early life and education

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Hari Nef was born in Philadelphia[4] into a Jewish family. Her parents are David Neff, an advertising executive,[4][9] and Robin Clebnik.[8] Her parents divorced when she was two and she was raised by her mother in Newton, Massachusetts.[8] She attended Newton South High School and was part of the school's South Stage program.

Nef graduated from Columbia University in May 2015 with a degree in theater.[10][11]

Career

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Acting

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Nef starred as Tante Gittel in the 2015 Emmy-winning television series Transparent. Gittel's character is a Pfefferman family ancestor who lived her life as a cross-dresser in Berlin, Germany during the Weimar Republic and eventually was murdered during the Holocaust.[12] Creator Joey Soloway wrote the part for Nef after the two connected on social media and attended a PFLAG party together.[13] Nef received a 2016 SAG Award nomination for the role.[14]

In 2018, Nef starred as a major lead in Sam Levinson's comedy thriller Assassination Nation.[15] The film stars Nef alongside Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, and Abra. In the same year, she had a recurring role as Blythe on the Lifetime psychological thriller television series You.[16] In 2018, Nef made her New York theater debut as a lead in Jeremy O. Harris' Daddy.[17]

In 2022, Nef starred in the comedy film 1Up, alongside Ruby Rose, Paris Berelc, Taylor Zakhar Perez, and Nicholas Coombe.[18] In August, it was announced that Nef would portray Candy Darling in a biopic from Transparent writer Stephanie Kornick.[19]

Later that year, Nef returned to the stage and starred in Denis Johnson's play, Des Moines, at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn.[20] She performed in Thomas Bradshaw's debut of his adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, The Seagull, alongside Parker Posey, Patrick Foley, and Nat Wolff in spring 2023.[21]

Nef starred in the 2023 HBO drama series The Idol followed by a role in Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig.[22][23]

Writing

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Nef at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con

Nef has written profiles on various artists and cultural figures including director John Waters, singer/actress Cristina Ortiz Rodriguez, Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi's Spanish biographical series Veneno, painter Nash Glynn, and Lucas Hilderbrand's book, “The Bars Are Ours."[24][25] Nef wrote a regular sex advice and experience column for Sarah Nicole Prickett's Adult magazine. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Artforum, Dazed, Vice, Original Plumbing, L'Officiel, and BlackBook.[26][27]

Modeling

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In 2014, Nef was on the cover of Frische Magazine.[28] That same year, she was placed at number 68 on Dazed's 100 list.[10] Nef also moved to the top of the Dazed Readers 100, ranking number one overall,[10] and appeared in the i-D Pre-Fall Issue twice.[29]

In 2015, she again walked shows during New York Fashion Week, including Adam Selman, VFiles, Vejas, Degen, and Eckhaus Latta once more.[30][31] In May of the same year, Nef was signed to IMG Models, making her the first openly transgender model signed to that agency.[32][33][34] In the summer of 2015, Nef was cast in the second season of Amazon Prime's Transparent, which debuted in December 2015.[35] She also starred in The Drums' music video "There Is Nothing Left" in August.[36] The Forward newspaper included her in the Forward 50, a list of the year's 50 most influential Jewish-Americans.[9]

Elle printed special collectors' covers for their September 2016 issue, and one of them featured Nef, which was the first time an openly transgender woman had been on the cover of a major commercial British magazine.[37]

In January 2017, Nef starred in a television commercial for the L'Oréal Paris True Match line alongside Blake Lively, Lara Stone, and Xiao Wen Ju. The campaign was premiered at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards telecast.[38]

Nef walked nine runways during New York Fashion Week for the Spring/Summer 2023 season.[14]

Personal life

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Nef is transgender. In an interview with Elle, Nef said, "[As a teenager,] I wanted to wear certain clothes and couldn't. I sort of did it anyway, but there was always a friction with my peers and a mother who was less close-minded than worried."[39] Nef began transitioning while attending Columbia University and is an advocate for transgender women and girls.[40]

As of 2024, Nef lives in New York City and is currently in a relationship with journalist and The Nation editor, Ludwig Hurtado.[41]

Nef has spoken out against Israel and in support of Palestine. [42]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 Hellaware Cy
2014 She Told Me She Was Dead Amber Mugabe Short film
2015 Self Aware Hari Short film
Family Tree Hari Short film
2016 Crush Clare Short film
2017 A–Z of Hair Short film
2018 Mapplethorpe Tinkerbelle
Assassination Nation Bex Warren
2020 First Date Alex Short film
2022 1Up Sloane
Meet Cute Chai
2023 Barbie Doctor Barbie
Bad Things Cal
TBA Who Am I? † Depression Post-production
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Transparent Gittel Recurring role
2017 Love Advent Herself Episode: "Hari Nef"
2018 You Blythe Recurring role
Camping Nia Episode: "Up All Night"
2020 Acting for a Cause Polonius Episode: "Hamlet"
Room 104 Katherine Episode: "The Murderer"
2022 And Just Like That... Rabbi Jen Episode: "Seeing the Light"
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel L. Roy Dunham Episode: "Maisel vs. Lennon: The Cut Contest"
2023 Extrapolations Anna Episode: "2068: The Going-Away Party"
The Idol Talia Recurring role

Theater

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Year Title Role Venue Notes
2019 "Daddy" Alessia The New Group Off-Broadway
2022 Des Moines Jimmy Theatre for a New Audience
2023 The Seagull/Woodstock, NY Sasha The New Group

Podcasts

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 Day by Day Annabelle Clarke (voice) Episode: "#AnnabelleClarkeIsOverParty"

References

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  1. ^ "Hari Nef - IMG Models". Imgmodels.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  2. ^ Ferrier, Morwenna (May 27, 2015). "Top modelling agency IMG signs transgender model Hari Nef". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Inside Hari Nef's Birthday Party in New York City". W Magazine. October 25, 2021. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Wellington, Elizabeth (August 12, 2015). "Mirror, Mirror: Philly-born transgender model is breaking down fashion barriers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  5. ^ "SAG Awards Nominations: Complete List". Variety. December 9, 2015. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "Hari Nef: After Dark at NYFW #2 – visions, revelations". Dazed. September 10, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  7. ^ Galore Girl (October 2014). "Hari Nef On Being a Successful Transgender Model in the Binary Fashion Industry". Galore. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Schulman, Michael (September 18, 2016). "Hari Nef, Model Citizen". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Forward 50 2015". The Forward. November 7, 2015. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c Dazed (December 2, 2014). "#68 – Hari Nef". Dazed. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "Campus Character: Hari Nef". Bwog. September 6, 2014. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  12. ^ Shattuck, Kathryn (December 2, 2015). "Hari Nef Adds Another Layer to 'Transparent' (Published 2015)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  13. ^ Lambe, Stacy (December 18, 2015). "'Transparent' Breakout Hari Nef Takes Control of Her Story One Instagram at a Time". Medium. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Becker, Morgan (November 29, 2022). "Hari Nef and Lena Dunham on the complicated communion of performance". Document Journal. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  15. ^ Nicholson, Amy (January 22, 2018). "Sundance Film Review: 'Assassination Nation'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (September 14, 2017). "'You' Casts Hari Nef; Isabel Arraiza Takes 'The Oath'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  17. ^ Brantley, Ben (March 5, 2019). "Review: This 'Daddy' Has Issues. A Pool and Alan Cumming, Too". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  18. ^ Rude, Mey (January 29, 2021). "Ruby Rose Replaces Elliot Page in '1Up,' Upcoming Esports Comedy". Out. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  19. ^ Cordero, Rosy (August 2, 2022). "Hari Nef To Portray Candy Darling In Biopic From 'Transparent' Writer Stephanie Kornick". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  20. ^ Phillips, Maya (December 17, 2022). "'Des Moines' Review: Drowning in the Drink". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  21. ^ "Parker Posey, Hari Nef, and More Cast in World Premiere of The Seagull/Woodstock, NY | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  22. ^ Hess, Liam (July 6, 2022). "Hari Nef Is Having a Moment in the Hair Color of the Season". Vogue. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  23. ^ Donnelly, Matt (April 14, 2022). "Margot Robbie's 'Barbie' Casts 'And Just Like That' Actor Hari Nef (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  24. ^ "About Adult". Adult Mag. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "January/February 2021 in Artforum". e-flux. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  26. ^ "Koons, The Koons, and Me: An Encounter with the Art Star Jeff Koons". BlackBook. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  27. ^ "Chelsea Girl". VICE. August 25, 2013. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  28. ^ "FRISCHE Magazine — FRISCHE magazine NO.6—FW14". bigcartel.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  29. ^ "meet hari nef, the american actress leading the transgender revolution". i-D. December 29, 2014. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  30. ^ "NYFW: Hari Nef, 'New York Needs a Confidence Boost'". styleite.com. February 18, 2015. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  31. ^ Tharrett, Matthew. "NYFW "It Girl" Hari Nef Has Something To Say About Fashion's Fixation With Trans Women". NewNowNext. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  32. ^ "Fashion Shoot's All-Transgender Crew Breaks Another Barrier". TakePart. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  33. ^ Vingan, Alyssa (May 26, 2015), "IMG Signs Transgender Model Hari Nef", Fashionista, archived from the original on July 2, 2023, retrieved May 26, 2015
  34. ^ Hari Nef, IMG Worldwide, 2015, archived from the original on September 7, 2015, retrieved September 9, 2015
  35. ^ "hari nef and petra collins join season two of transparent - read". i-D. July 13, 2015. Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  36. ^ "The Drums' "There is Nothing Left" Video Stars Hari Nef". Pitchfork. August 12, 2015. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  37. ^ Hughes, Sarah (June 30, 2016). "Meet Hari Nef: actor, model – and Elle's first transgender cover girl in UK". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  38. ^ Richards, Amanda (January 8, 2017). "L'Oreal's Latest True Match Ad Features Hari Nef, Blake Lively, Xiao Wen Ju, Sabina Karlsson & Many More Diverse Faces – VIDEO". Bustle. Archived from the original on January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  39. ^ Hughes, Sarah (July 30, 2016). "Meet Hari Nef: actor, model – and Elle's first transgender cover girl in UK". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  40. ^ JWA Staff. "Hari Nef". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  41. ^ Wilson, Eric. "Hari Nef: Life As a Trans Model And Actress". TIME. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  42. ^ "Tweet via Hari Nef".

Further reading

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