Nilam Farooq

Nilam Farooq (born 26 September 1989) is a German actress who has built a versatile career across television, film, commercials, and voice work. Born in West Berlin, West Germany, she grew up in the Wilmersdorf district where she attended the Goethe‑Gymnasium and earned her Abitur, showing an early fascination with performance that led her to begin acting at the age of fourteen. Her multicultural background—the daughter of a Pakistani father and a Polish mother—has endowed her with fluency in German, Polish, and English, as well as academic knowledge of Latin and Ancient Greek, enriching her ability to inhabit diverse characters. Farooq made her screen debut in 2006 with guest and supporting roles in television series and short films, and by the late 2000s she was appearing in a series of national commercials, notably for Telekom and Wix.com, which broadened her public profile. From 2013 to 2019 she became a familiar face on German television as Commissioner Olivia Fareedi in the long‑running crime series Leipzig Homicide, a role that cemented her reputation for strong, determined characters. In addition to her television work, Farooq has amassed an impressive filmography, starring in features such as My Blind Date with Life (2017), the horror film Heilstätten (2018), and Contra (2020), the latter earning her the Bavarian Film Award for Best Actress. Her performance as Betty in Heilstätten also secured the 2019 Jupiter Award for Best Actress, highlighting her capacity for compelling, emotionally resonant portrayals. Beyond on‑screen acting, she has contributed her voice to projects like the German version of Royal Pains and various radio spots, demonstrating a versatile talent that spans multiple media. Continuing to work steadily in both television and film, Nilam Farooq remains a dynamic and influential presence in contemporary German cinema and television, known for her dedication, linguistic abilities, and the depth she brings to every role.