As Euphoria comes to a close with its third and final season, the HBO series has done what it has always done best, introduced the world to new faces worth watching. One of those faces belongs to Jewell Farshad, the Iranian-American actress playing Penelope at the Silver Slipper, sharing scenes alongside Zendaya, Rosalía, and Anna Van Patten.
The show that helped launch the careers of Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi has a history of turning supporting roles into cultural moments. Jewell’s turn as Penelope, a glamorous, sharp, and impossible-to-read presence, looks like another one of those moments.
This Isn’t Her First Time in the Euphoria Universe
Sharp-eyed fans may already recognize Jewell from Season 2, Episode 2, where she appeared as a cameo version of herself, playing an influencer. It was a brief appearance, but it planted a seed. Creator, writer, and director Sam Levinson noticed, and brought her back for Season 3 with a fully realized character and a real story to tell.
In a recent Instagram post, Jewell thanked Levinson for allowing her to “bring Penelope to life,” describing the experience as one of the most creatively fulfilling of her career.
Behind the Scenes With Rosalía
One of the more charming details to emerge from the production is what happened between Jewell and Rosalía between takes. The two exchanged language lessons on set, Jewell teaching Rosalía words in Farsi while Rosalía returned the favor with Spanish. Those moments didn’t stay offscreen for long.
“She taught me Spanish while I taught her Farsi,” Jewell said. “It became a really special bonding experience for us and added something authentic to the scene.”
Some of that natural chemistry found its way into their characters’ interactions, with improvised dialogue evolving organically from what started as a cultural exchange.
Photo Courtesy: HBO (Jewell Farshad in “Euphoria.”)
From Tehran to Tinseltown
Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Jewell left the country at 18 to pursue a career in modeling and acting in an environment where she felt she could safely and freely follow her ambitions. It was a decision that required the kind of courage most people never have to test, arriving in a new country, building from nothing, navigating one of the world’s most competitive industries without a roadmap.
Nearly a decade later, she has built a career that spans acting, fashion, and digital media, with appearances at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, runway credits at Miami Swim Week and LA Swim Week, and a growing platform, over a million followers across her English and Farsi social media accounts, that she uses with clear intention.
Representation That Means Something
As the only Iranian actress in Euphoria Season 3, Jewell’s presence on the show is a rare moment of visibility for Middle Eastern women in mainstream American television. It’s something she takes seriously.
“Just because I’m Middle Eastern doesn’t mean I only want to play one type of role,” she said. “I want to play the leading lady alongside my peers. I think audiences are ready for change. We’re ready to see more Middle Eastern women on television in roles that are layered, glamorous, intelligent, and powerful.”
She has also spoken about the ongoing fight for freedom and equality in Iran, and how that reality shapes the work she chooses to do.
“Iranian women have spent decades fighting for the freedom to make their own choices, from how they dress to how they live their lives,” she said. “For me, it’s important to continue that work through representation in film and television. I want people to see modern Persian women as beautiful, ambitious, intelligent women who define themselves on their own terms.”
With Euphoria now behind her, Jewell Farshad is just getting started. Follow her on Instagram at @jewellfarshad.
