The Los Angeles Times wrote on December 18 that Marc Forster found the most remarkable aspect of Ershadi’s performance in The Kite Runner to be its naturalness: “Many actors rely on their technique, but he relies only on his heart.” In 2009, Ershadi appeared as Aspasius in Agora directed by Alejandro Amenábar, further adding to his international reputation. He had a brief appearance in Zero Dark Thirty (2012) directed by Kathryn Bigelow. In 2014, he joined the project A Most Wanted Man directed by Anton Corbijn, acting alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, and Willem Dafoe as the character Dr. Abdullah. In 2016, Ershadi also appeared in the British romantic film Ali and Nino.
Homayoun Ershadi is an acclaimed actor known for his subtle, deeply human performances in both and international cinema. Born and raised in Abadan, Ershadi completed his high school education in his hometown before moving to Italy, where he pursued a degree in architecture. His years in Italy — over a decade in total — shaped his appreciation for art, design, and European culture, all of which would later influence his approach to acting. After eleven years abroad, he returned and began working as an architect. In 1996, his life took an unexpected turn when legendary filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami discovered him.
