Nazneen Contractor has carved out a career in the acting industry that spans film and television. She has become a rising star that audiences can’t take their eyes off. Dive in to learn more about the talent, drive, and stories behind this dynamic performer.
Key Takeaways
- Born on August 26 in Mumbai, India, Contractor spent parts of her childhood in Nigeria before settling in Toronto, where she trained as a classical ballerina and attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts.
- By age 16, Contractor realized her passion for acting, later earning a full scholarship to the University of Toronto to pursue her craft professionally.
- She starred as Farah Nazan on NBC’s Heroes Reborn, a former soldier with the power of invisibility, sharing scenes with Ryan Guzman, and appeared on FOX’s 24 as Kayla Hassan, a pivotal character in season 8.
- Contractor has become a go-to face for Christmas films, including A Candlelit Christmas (Lifetime), The Christmas Ring (Hallmark), and Holidazed, often portraying strong, relatable women navigating family and love.
- Contractor is married to Carlo Rota, her General Hospital co-star who plays Jenz Sidwell. The couple married on April 1, 2010, and have two children together.
- On GH co-star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny) State of Mind podcast, Contractor shared insights about acting, taking on dual roles in films like The Perfect Pairing, and her perspectives on mental health.
Oh Canada
Nazneen Contractor was born on August 26, 1982, in Mumbai, India. She moved to Nigeria at the age of seven and later settled in Toronto, Canada, where she spent the majority of her childhood and young adulthood. Contractor trained as a classical ballerina while excelling in academics. She attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts, where she studied both dance and theater. By the age of 16, she realized her passion was acting, and later earned a full scholarship to the University of Toronto to pursue her career.
Hero Complex
In the 2015 NBC series Heroes Reborn, Contractor portrayed Farah Nazan, a former soldier with the ability to become invisible. Her character served as a protector to Malina (Danika Yarosh), played a pivotal role in the storyline, and shared scenes with Ryan Guzman. The actress also starred on 24, playing Kayla Hasaan in season 8.
Christmas Angel
Nazneen starred in a number of Christmas-themed movies. A Candlelit Christmas, also known as Scentsational Christmas, is a Lifetime original movie. Contractor plays Ellie Reddy, a chemist who returns home for Christmas to assist her father with his candle-making business. She also starred in Hallmark’s The Christmas Ring and Holidazed. She also starred in Roku Channel’s Children Ruin Everything for three seasons as Dawn.
Love & Marriage
Nazneen’s husband, Carlo Rota, is also her co-star on GH, playing Jenz Sidwell. The pair were married on April 1, 2010, and are the parents of a son and a daughter. Nazneen has admitted to being a thrill-seeker.
State of Mind
Contractor was a guest on GH co-star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny) State of Mind podcast. discussed her acting career, including working on films like The Perfect Pairing and playing dual roles as Joy and Christina, which she called a “bucket list” item. She also spoke in-depth about mental health. On screen, Contractor’s Justine and Bernard’s Sonny seem to be headed for romance. Contractor has weighed in on a Justine and Sonny romance.
