Iman Vellani

Iman Vellani (/ɪˈmɑːn vəˈlɑːni/[2] born August 12, 2002) is a Pakistani-born Canadian actress.[3][4] She is known for starring as Kamala Khan in the Disney+ miniseries Ms. Marvel (2022).[5][6][7]

Iman Vellani
Born (2002-08-12) August 12, 2002[1]
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
NationalityCanadian
EducationUnionville High School
OccupationActress
Years active2019–present

Early life

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Vellani moved to Canada when she was a year old,[8][9][10] and was raised in the Sevener branch of Shia Islam.[11] She graduated from Unionville High School in Markham, Ontario.[12][13][14] Vellani was selected as a member of the TIFF Next Wave Committee at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.[15][16] Before being cast in Ms. Marvel at the end of her last year of high school, Vellani had planned to attend the Ontario College of Art & Design University with a focus on integrated media.[17]

Career

In September 2020, it was revealed Vellani was cast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero Kamala Khan for Marvel Studios and Disney+'s streaming television miniseries Ms. Marvel.[18] Vellani's aunt had forwarded her a casting call for the role, which led to her submitting a self-tape before being asked to audition in Los Angeles[17] – and eventually having two screen tests: an in-person one in February that year, as well as a virtual one over Zoom in June.[19] Kamala Khan co-creator Sana Amanat, who served as an executive producer on the series, said Vellani revealed in her Zoom screen test that she, like Khan, is an Avengers fangirl. Amanat said, "She showed me every corner of her room, and it was covered with Avengers. Then she said, 'Oh, wait; I'm not done', opened up her closet, and there was more Marvel everywhere".[20]

In June 2022, Vellani appeared in A Fan's Guide to Ms. Marvel, a documentary short about the production of the series. Featuring interviews with the filmmaking team and her, it was released on Disney+ before the premiere of Ms. Marvel.[21][22] On June 8, 2022, Ms. Marvel premiered on Disney+, marking Vellani's onscreen debut.[23][24][25] Both the series and her portrayal of the title character received widespread praise.[26][27][28] Kathryn Porter of Paste wrote that Vellani "shines" in the role and that there was "no way to explain how great she is in this other than to say that she embodies the true spirit of Kamala Khan".[29] Mohammad Zaheer of BBC Culture called her "an adorable bundle of charisma" in a role "tailor-made for her",[30] while Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter said that Vellani's full of "youthful verve and irresistible moxie" in her role.[31] The miniseries concluded on July 13, 2022, consisting of six episodes.[32][33] In July, Vellani appeared in Disney Wish's CGI–immersive interactive experience, Avengers: Quantum Encounter, reprising her role as Khan.[34][35] The following month, she appeared in Assembled: The Making of Ms. Marvel, a documentary special focused on the process of conceptualising and creating the series, featuring on-set interviews with Vellani, cast members, and creatives.[36] The special was released on Disney+, as the tenth installment of the anthology docuseries Marvel Studios: Assembled.[37]

Vellani is set to reprise her role as Kamala Khan in the 2023 film The Marvels, a sequel to the 2019 film Captain Marvel, which is also intended to serve as a continuation of Ms. Marvel.[38][39][40] She will also voice an animated version of the character for Disney+'s series adaption of the fifth episode of the animated series, What If...?.[41]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 The Marvels Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel Post-production [39]

Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 A Fan's Guide to Ms. Marvel Herself / Kamala Khan Documentary short [21]
Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel Miniseries [42]
Marvel Studios: Assembled Herself / Kamala Khan Docu-series; special: "The Making of Ms. Marvel" [36]
2024 Marvel Zombies Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel (voice) In-production [41]

Theme park attractions
Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2022 Avengers: Quantum Encounter Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel Disney Wish [34]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2022 Saturn Awards Best Performance by a Younger Actor (Streaming) Ms. Marvel Won [43][44]
2023 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Superhero Series Nominated [45]

References
  1. Vellani, Iman (May 20, 2021). "I don't wanna b alone :(". 0:15. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022 – via Vimeo.
  2. "Iman Vellani | Ms. Marvel | Disney+". Marvel Entertainment. March 16, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022 – via YouTube.
  3. "Iman Vellani on embracing Pakistani roots". The Express Tribune. June 9, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  4. Ranger, Michael (September 30, 2020). "Markham teen cast as Disney's Ms. Marvel". CityNews. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  5. Moeslein, Anna (June 22, 2022). "Nobody Could Have Played Ms. Marvel but Iman Vellani". Glamour. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  6. Thorne, Will (September 30, 2020). "'Ms. Marvel' Disney Plus Series Casts Iman Vellani in Title Role". Variety. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  7. Smail, Gretchen (July 6, 2022). "Iman Vellani On 'Ms. Marvel,' MCU Fandom, & Befriending Maitreiyi Ramakrishnan". Bustle. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  8. Itzkoff, Dave (June 6, 2022). "'Ms. Marvel' Introduces a New Hero (and a New Actress)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  9. Nolan, Emma (October 1, 2020). "Who is Iman Vellani? 'Ms. Marvel' Casts First Muslim Superhero Kamala Khan". Newsweek. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020.
  10. Khan, Coco (June 6, 2022). "'This show is so monumental!' Iman Vellani on playing Marvel's first Muslim superhero". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  11. Welch, Monique (June 23, 2022). "Houston fans see themselves in 'Ms. Marvel' actress Iman Vellani, Marvel's first Muslim superhero". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022. Alim Adatia with the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern USA said that although Iman Vellani is from the Ismaili faith, he admired how the series depicted an ethnically diverse Muslim community.
  12. Goh, Clement (June 7, 2022). "How Ms. Marvel channelled her hometown of Markham, Ont. in a coming-of-age superhero story". CBC News. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  13. Jirak, Jamie (June 2, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Star Iman Vellani Went to the Same High School as Obi-Wan Kenobi's Hayden Christensen". Comicbook.com. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  14. Unionville High School [@UHSupdates] (October 1, 2020). "Congrats to Unionville High School alumni, Iman Vellani!! We are celebrating with you!!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 6, 2022 – via Twitter.
  15. Simmons, Taylor (September 3, 2019). "How these GTA teens helped shape the lineup at this year's TIFF". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020.
  16. "Meet the 2019–2020 TIFF Next Wave Committee". Toronto International Film Festival. August 15, 2019. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  17. Sun, Rebecca (June 1, 2022). "'Ms. Marvel' Star Iman Vellani on Playing Kamala Khan: "She Felt So Much Like Me"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  18. Kroll, Justin (September 30, 2020). "Newcomer Iman Vellani To Play Title Role In Marvel's 'Ms. Marvel' Series For Disney Plus". Deadline. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  19. Wittmer, Carrie (June 7, 2022). "The Dawn Of Iman Vellani". Elite Daily. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  20. Travis, Ben (April 11, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Star Iman Vellani Is As Much Of A Fangirl As Kamala Khan – Exclusive Image". Empire. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  21. "Disney+ Debuts Marvel Studios' "A Fan's Guide To Ms. Marvel"". DMED. June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. Paige, Rachel (June 1, 2022). "Discover Kamala Khan's Journey with 'A Fan Guide to Ms. Marvel' on Disney+". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  23. Vary, Adam B. (March 15, 2022). "'Ms. Marvel' Trailer Introduces Marvel Studios' First Muslim Superhero in Disney Plus Series". Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  24. Roberts, Kayleigh (May 16, 2022). "Here's When Every Episode of 'Ms. Marvel' Comes Out". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  25. "Ms. Marvel: How Iman Vellani became Marvel's first Muslim superhero". Esquire Middle East. May 18, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  26. Jackson, Destiny (June 7, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Review". Empire. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  27. Framke, Caroline (June 7, 2022). "'Ms. Marvel' Brings 'Into the Spider-Verse' Energy to Charming, Refreshing New Heroine: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  28. Fraser, Emma (June 7, 2022). "Ms. Marvel: Series Premiere Review". IGN. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  29. Porter, Kathryn (June 6, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Is the Boost the MCU Needs, but Not the Kamala Story Hardcore Fans Might Want". Paste. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  30. Zaheer, Mohammad (June 8, 2022). "Why Marvel has struck gold with Muslim superhero Ms Marvel". BBC Culture. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  31. Han, Angie (June 7, 2022). "Disney+'s 'Ms. Marvel': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  32. Parker, Ryan (July 13, 2022). "'Ms. Marvel': What That Post-Credits Visitor Means". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  33. Salih, Swara (July 13, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Lights the Way to a (Mostly) Satisfying Conclusion". Gizmodo. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  34. Paige, Rachel (June 16, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Boards the Disney Wish and Joins 'Avengers: Quantum Encounter'". Marvel. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  35. Barnhardt, Adam (June 29, 2022). "Ms. Marvel Meets Captain Marvel in Avengers: Quantum Encounter Footage". Comicbook.com. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  36. "Next on Disney+: August 2022". DMED Media. July 19, 2022. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022. Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Ms. Marvel - Premiere – This installment of ASSEMBLED takes us on the journey of – ... with immersive footage from the making of the series, along with insightful interviews on set from the cast and crew of Ms. Marvel as we watch Iman Vellani and her character, Kamala Khan, become the fan-favorite superhero right before our eyes.
  37. Paige, Rachel (August 3, 2022). "Marvel Studios' Assembled: The Making of Ms. Marvel Now Streaming on Disney+". Marvel. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  38. Jackson, Angelique (June 8, 2022). "'Ms. Marvel' Star Iman Vellani Shares Superhero Advice from Brie Larson, Previews Her Role in 'The Marvels'". Variety. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  39. Miller, Liz Shannon (December 11, 2020). "'Captain Marvel 2' Reveals New Release Date, Roles for Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau". Collider. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  40. Schedeen, Jesse (December 11, 2020). "Captain Marvel 2: Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau Confirmed to Appear in MCU Sequel". IGN. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  41. Nebens, Richard (August 6, 2022). "Marvel Confirms 18 MCU Characters Returning In Disney+ Zombies Show". The Direct. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  42. Truitt, Brian (May 19, 2022). "Exclusive sneak peek: Muslim teen 'Ms. Marvel' brings new perspective in Disney+ series". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  43. Tinoco, Armando (August 12, 2022). "Saturn Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Nightmare Alley', 'Spider-Man', 'Better Call Saul' Top List". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  44. The Saturn Awards [@SaturnAwards] (October 25, 2022). "Congrats to #SaturnAwards Best Performance by a Younger Actor (Streaming) – #ImanVellani – @MsMarvel" (Tweet). Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Twitter.
  45. Davis, Clayton (February 22, 2023). "'The Batman,' 'RRR' and 'The Boys' Lead Critics Choice Super Awards Nominees for Film and Television". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
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