Necar Zadegan: bio, age, The Rookie role, and personal life
Necar Zadegan is a German-born Iranian-American actress known for playing ADA Vivian Eckert in The Rookie and Nikki Reynard in CBS's CIA. Born on 20 June 1982 in Heidelberg, West Germany, she grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her career spans Broadway, film, and television, with major roles in 24, NCIS: New Orleans, and Mayor of Kingstown. She is one of Hollywood's most consistently working Iranian-American actresses.
Source: Getty Images
Key takeaways
- Necar Zadegan was born on 20 June 1982 in Heidelberg, West Germany, and is of Iranian descent.
- She broke through as Dalia Hassan, first lady, then president, in Season 8 of 24 (2010).
- The actress appeared in five seasons of Bravo's Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (2014–2018) as Delia Banai.
- She starred in 27 episodes of Paramount+'s Mayor of Kingstown (2021–2025).
- Necar now leads CBS's CIA as Nikki Reynard and plays ADA Vivian Eckert in The Rookie.
Profile summary
Full name | Necar Zadegan |
Date of birth | 20 June 1982 |
Age | 44 |
Place of birth | Heidelberg, West Germany |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Iranian |
Profession | Actress |
Education | BA Literature (Hons), UC Santa Barbara; semester, Sorbonne (Paris) |
Relationship status | Single |
Children | None confirmed |
Parents | Not publicly known |
Zodiac sign | Gemini |
Height | Not publicly confirmed |
Hair/eye colour | Dark brown/dark brown |
Social media |
Necar Zadegan's early life and background
Necar Zadegan was born in Heidelberg to Iranian parents and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area during childhood. She is fluent in Persian, French, English, and German. She also learnt Spanish, Arabic, and Hebrew for professional roles.
She graduated with honours from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BA in Literature. She also spent a semester studying at the Sorbonne in Paris before launching her acting career.
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Career
Breakthrough in 24
Zadegan began with guest appearances from 2005 onwards, appearing in The Bernie Mac Show, NCIS, Lost, How I Met Your Mother, and The Shield, among others.
Her career-defining moment came in 2010 as Dalia Hassan in Season 8 of 24. She played the first lady, and ultimately president, of a fictional Middle Eastern nation across 20 episodes. Critics named her a standout performer of the season.
That same year she starred in the film Elena Undone and appeared alongside Michael Sheen and Samuel L. Jackson in the thriller Unthinkable.
Broadway debut
In 2011, Zadegan made her Broadway debut alongside Robin Williams in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, written by Rajiv Joseph and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The production transferred from Los Angeles to Broadway to wide critical acclaim.
Television leading roles
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A succession of main cast roles followed:
- Emily Owens, M.D. (The CW, 2012–2013) — Dr Gina Bandhari
- Rake (Fox, 2014) — Scarlet Leon, opposite Greg Kinnear
- Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (Bravo, 2014–2018) — Delia Banai, across all five seasons
- NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, 2018–2021) — Special Agent Hannah Khoury, the senior field agent
Mayor of Kingstown (2021–2025)
From 2021 to 2025, Zadegan played Evelyn Foley, the assistant district attorney, in 27 episodes of Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+. The Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon drama starred Jeremy Renner.
The Electric State, The Rookie, and CIA
In March 2025, the American actress appeared in Netflix's The Electric State as Farah Bedi. The Russo Brothers' sci-fi action film also starred Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.
She joined ABC's The Rookie in 2025 as ADA Vivian Eckert, appearing in Seasons 7 and 8 of the long-running procedural.
In November 2025, Deadline reported her casting as Deputy Chief of Station Nikki Reynard in CBS's CIA, an FBI franchise spin-off. She replaced Michael Michele following a recasting decision.
“She’s the best boss,” Zadegan says of her character on TV Insider. She described Nikki as “smart, communicative, and powerful, caring.” But just because it sounds like she’s right for the job doesn’t mean she necessarily wants it.
Here is a breakdown of Necar Zadegan's movies and TV shows:
Film/TV show | Year | Role |
Elena Undone | 2010 | Lead |
Unthinkable | 2010 | Supporting |
The Electric State (Netflix) | 2025 | Farah Bedi |
Inheritance | 2025 | — |
24 | Dalia Hassan | 2010 |
Emily Owens, M.D. | Dr Gina Bandhari | 2012–2013 |
Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | Delia Banai | 2014–2018 |
NCIS: New Orleans | Special Agent Hannah Khoury | 2018–2021 |
Star Trek: Picard | Guest | 2020 |
Mayor of Kingstown | Evelyn Foley | 2021–2025 |
The Rookie | ADA Vivian Eckert | 2025–present |
CIA | Nikki Reynard | 2026–present |
She has also voiced characters in Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds, Diablo IV, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Is Necar Zadegan married or single?
Zadegan keeps her personal life private. She was previously engaged to Gadi Erel, though the engagement ended in the early 2010s. No marriage has been confirmed since then.
Unverified rumours link her romantically to Iranian actor Armin Amiri, with whom she co-founded the production company SuperNova8 Films. Neither has publicly confirmed a relationship. Her current status is single, and she has no confirmed children.
Latest news
Source: Getty Images
CIA Season 2 premiere
CIA returned on 5 October 2026 for its second season on CBS. Zadegan stars as Nikki Reynard, Deputy Chief of Station for the New York CIA field office. Season 1, which premiered on 23 February 2026, earned an early renewal following strong network ratings. The CBS series also stars Tom Ellis and Natalee Linez.
The Rookie Season 8
Zadegan continues her recurring role as ADA Vivian Eckert in The Rookie Season 8. The ABC procedural airs in autumn 2026.
Necar Zadegan's net worth
Her net worth has not publicly been verified or officially reported by reliable financial sources. She primarily earns from:
- Major television series (NCIS: New Orleans, Mayor of Kingstown, CIA)
- Film roles (The Electric State, Unthinkable)
- Stage productions (Broadway)
- Video game voice acting.
FAQ
- Who did Necar Zadegan play in NCIS? She played Special Agent Hannah Khoury in NCIS: New Orleans. She joined the cast in October 2018 as the senior agent in the field office. The show ended in 2021.
- What happened to Necar Zadegan? After NCIS: New Orleans ended, she starred in Mayor of Kingstown (2021–2025), joined The Rookie in 2025, and launched the lead role of Nikki Reynard in CBS's CIA in February 2026.
- What ethnicity is Necar Zadegan? She is of Iranian descent. She was born in Heidelberg, Germany, to Iranian parents, and holds American nationality. She speaks Persian, French, English, and German fluently.
- Was Necar Zadegan in Yellowstone? No. Zadegan has not appeared in Yellowstone. She starred in Mayor of Kingstown, a series created by Yellowstone actor Taylor Sheridan.
- Is Necar Zadegan married? She is not married. She was previously engaged to Gadi Erel in the early 2010s, but the relationship ended. She is currently believed to be single.
- What is Necar Zadegan's role in The Rookie? She plays ADA Vivian Eckert, appearing from Season 7 (2025) onwards on ABC.
- Does Necar Zadegan have children? There are no confirmed children. Zadegan has not publicly discussed having children.
Ever since her childhood, Necar Zadegan has continually showcased her passion for acting. As a teenager, she engaged in theatre works, after which she pursued her degree in literature. Her professional skills in acting and beauty have made her one of the young and successful actresses and models.
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