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Born in Vancouver, Canada, but raised in, Toronto, Yasmin Virani began her
acting career on foreign soil. After successfully completing three A
Levels, in Yorkshire, England; she also garnered a Bronze and Gold
Medal from the London Academy of Dramatic Art. Passion and
dedication led to more recognition. Yasmin won third place at the
Harrogate Drama Festival for her depiction of the breathtaking
beauty, Cleopatra, from the infamous tragedy, Anthony and
Cleopatra. She also picked up an award for her portrayal as,
Katherine, from another Shakespearean classic, Taming of the
Shrew. It was only a matter of time before Yasmin made her way
to community theatre. We saw her picture one summer’s eve, in a
local Montreal newspaper, as the wacky and zany, Ellen, in
Christopher Durang’s, The Actors’ Nightmare. Next, she
starred as the extremely witty, Amanda, in
Noel Coward’s, Private Lives, in Vancouver. On to bigger and
better projects, Yasmin practically sold out Buddies in Bad Times
Theatre, in Toronto, where she directed and starred in a satire of
Samuel Beckett’s existential comedy, Waiting For Godot,
entitled, Faiting Wor Godot.
With all that theatre experience under Yasmin’s belt, "Hollywood
of the North," came knocking. She was cast as Gupta, in the CBC
Indo-Canadian drama, Jinnah on Crime. That gig lead to
another big project, Da Vinci’s Inquest, where she worked
with none other than fellow Canadian alumnae, Nicholas Campbell.
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In 2007, Yasmin participated in the 24 Hour Playwriting
Competition at the prestigious Toronto Theatre Fringe Festival,
only to be followed by her much awaited literary debut,
Narcissism or Brilliance? in 2008. She also hosted a screening
of the documentary film, Rewriting The Script, and recently
teamed up with social activist, Irshad Manji, to present Manji’s
latest controversial film, Faith Without Fear.
Currently, Yasmin is on tour with her semi–autobiographical,
one woman show, ANAND (bliss, peace, happiness). The play
debuted to an eclectic audience at the Roundhouse Community Centre
in Vancouver, British Columbia, and received rave reviews.
Next year, Yasmin will begin production on her first Bollywood
film which is slated to be released in 2012.
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