Angela Sarafyan is an Armenian-american actress who has been acting since the 90s when she began to guest star in popular television series such as Judging Amy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her success led her to film appearances in films such as On the Doll, A Beautiful Life and The Informers, as well as a supporting role in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.
It’s more than likely that most will recognize her from her role as Clementine Pennyfeather on the successful HBO series Westworld. She has appeared on the show since 2016 in a main role and has received excellent reviews for her performance. Her most recent performance is in Richard Bates Jr.’s King Knight, in which she plays the high priestess of a coven opposite Criminal Minds’s Matthew Gray Gubler. King Knight premiered in 2021 at the Fantasia Film Festival and was released in select theaters and VOD on February 18, 2022. Here’s a look at Angela Sarafyan’s best performances to date, ranked.
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6 American Horror Story
American Horror Story is a hugely popular TV show which has been running since 2011. The anthology series changes its subject matter every season, presenting a new timeline, new characters, and a new story. Angela Sarafyan starred in the fourth season, American Horror Story: Freak Show. The season was set in 1952 Florida, telling the story of one of the last remaining freak shows and its inhabitants. Sarafyan featured as a guest star with her character, Alice, who was killed after the husband of her lover found out about their affair. The role is memorable, and she slots in easily with the rest of the cast.
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MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 The Good Guys
Angela Sarafyan earned a main role in Matt Nix’s The Good Guys, released in 2010. The series in an action-comedy about an old-school cop and modern-day detective that ran for one season on Fox. Bradley Whitford stars as Dan Stark, an old-school cop, and Colin Hanks as Jack Bailey, Dan’s younger and more ambitious counterpart. Angela Sarafyan plays Samantha Evans, who is an awkward and overeager crime scene investigator. It’s a different kind of role for Sarafyan, and she succeeds in the comedy genre.
4 The Immigrant
James Gray’s The Immigrant was released in 2013 and features an ensemble cast including Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jeremy Renner. Cotillard plays Ewa, a Polish nurse who is forced into sex work by a theater manager (Joaquin Phoenix). It’s a raw and hard-hitting film that won several awards, including the New York Film Critics awards and featured very strong performances from the cast which received widespread critical acclaim. Sarafyan portrayed Ewa’s sister, Magda, and brought a sense of sentimentality to the role, allowing us more of a window into the characters’ existences.
3 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2
The Twilight franchise was a huge success, and the final instalment to this came in the form of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2. The film picks up right after the events of Breaking Dawn - Part 1, and sees Bella (Kristen Stewart) who has freshly been turned into a vampire after giving birth to a daughter. Angela Sarafyan stars as Tia, who is a member of the Egyptian vampire coven. Her role is fairly small; however, she fits in perfectly with the action, and performs her role with a confidence that makes us believe her character.
2 1915
1915 is a 2015 American psychological thriller, which was written and directed by Garin Hovannisian and Alec Mouhibian. The film follows a director who is staging a play with the intention of bringing the ghosts of the Armenian genocide back to life on its 100th anniversary. Simon Abkarian stars as the play’s director, Simon, and Angela Sarafyan plays his wife, who is also one of the actors in Simon’s play. The two have excellent chemistry, and it’s a really underrated film with great performances.
1 Westworld
Sarafyan’s most popular performance to date has been her role in Westworld. The series centers around the fictional theme park known as Westworld, where inhabitants who have been able to afford a ticket can live out their fantasies. The world consists of human-like robot-hosts who allow the guests to live out any fantasy they desire without actually harming any humans at the park. Angela Sarafyan portrays Clementine Pennyfeather, who is a host in the game. She has been in the series since it began, and we are excited to see more of her.
