Deba Hekmat
Deba Hekmat | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 November 2001 Sardasht, Iran |
| Years active | 2018–present |
Deba Hekmat (born 14 November 2001) is an Iranian-British model, actress, and writer. She began her career in modeling before starring in the film Last Swim (2024).
Early life
Hekmat was born in Sardasht, western Iran.[1] She is Kurdish.[2] In 2004, her family fled to the United Kingdom, where they settled in Croydon, South London. When Hekmat was 12, the family moved again to Cardiff.[3] She left her sixth form college early and subsequently moved back to London.[4]
Career
Modelling
At the age of 16, while attending college and living with her father in London, Hekmat discovered the modeling agency Anti-Agency through Instagram. After submitting photos, she signed with the agency within a week.[5] In 2018, she presented[6] and appeared in videos for i-D[7] and PAQ. Her other early work includes gigs with Cosmopolitan UK[8] and walking the runway for Vivienne Westwood and Vetements.[9] She starred in the Genesis II campaign for FootDistrict in 2020.[10] In the early stages of her modeling career, she became known for her advocacy related to body image, particularly the normalization of body hair on women. In 2021, she discussed this subject in a BBC Sounds podcast episode titled Carefree Body Hair with Deba Hekmat, in which she framed body hair as something "for showing, not for shaving."[5]
In 2021, Hekmat featured in W Magazine's "Punk Fashion Goes Pop" issue,[11] led jeweler Loveness Lee's spring/summer 2021 campaign[12] and a Mulberry bag campaign,[13] and modeled the Lee x H&M collection.[14] She also had gigs with the likes of Metal Magazine.[15]
With musician Tom Austin (also known as Niko B),[16][17] Hekmat collaborated on modeling projects and campaigns for Lucozade Sport[18][19] and YOOX x Aries[20] in 2022 and 2023. Hekmat represented the star sign Cancer for the astrology-themed campaign Heaven by Marc Jacobs[21] and editorially featured on the cover of Exit's spring/summer 2022 issue.[10]
Film and writing
Hekmat entered the film industry without formal acting training, and she had not worked in television or theatre prior to her debut.[5] She made her feature film debut as Laraib in Luna Carmoon's Hoard,[22] after being cast by a casting director who contacted her directly via Instagram.[5] The film premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival.[23] Hekmat then starred in the lead role of Ziba Soofi in Sasha Nathwani's Last Swim, which premiered at the 2024 Berlinale. She received acclaim for her performance.[24]
In April 2025, Hekmat signed with Olivia Bell Management.[24]
Hekmat has contributed to publications such as The Basement[25] and conducted an interview for the monograph Mia by Aries.[26]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hoard | Laraib | |
| 2024 | Last Swim | Ziba Soofi |
Music videos
- "Angel" (2020), Lava La Rue
References
- ^ Shimada, Naomi (16 April 2021). "Carefree body hair with Deba Hekmat". BBC Sounds. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (2025-04-01). "'Last Swim' Breakout Deba Hekmat Signs With Olivia Bell Management (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
- ^ White, Amelia (6 May 2021). "Deba Hekmat". Perfect. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ Jankowska, Olivia (20 January 2021). "Checkin' in with Deba Hekmat". Patta. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d Dazed (2025-04-04). "Deba Hekmat, the star of London's answer to Harmony Korine's Kids". Dazed. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
- ^ Lischke, Henrik (1 March 2020). "The best things to buy on the High Street, modelled by today's change-makers". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Deba - i-D Explains". Anti-Agency. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Deba Hekmat by Matthew Eades for Cosmopolitan UK August 2018". Divine Beauties. 11 August 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Tapponi, Roisin (30 May 2019). "5 Arab Models Dominating the Fashion Industry". Mille. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Deba Hekmat". Models. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Punk Fashion Goes Pop". W Magazine. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Qureshi, Ameerah (28 June 2021). "Deba Hekmat stuns in Loveness Lee's SS21 jewelry campaign". HypeBae. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Can you teach an old bag new tricks?". Mulberry. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "H&M x Lee collection launches along with sustainability tips from creatives". Twyg. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Metal Nº 44 - Story 2". Metal Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "The Couple Changing Music and Modelling". Nike. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Arshad, Sunayah (18 May 2023). "Tom & Deba For Notion 92". Notion Magazine. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Adam & Eve (1 November 2022). "Lucozade Sport Launches Limited Edition Festive Football Jumper". Little Black Book. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Dixon, Andre (15 November 2022). "Lucozade Sport steps into football fashion". Verge. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Sacal, Andrea (7 March 2023). "YOOX and Aries' New Collaboration Breaks Gender Barriers". HypeBeast. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Pirovic, Jasmine (30 September 2022). "Forget Co–Star – we'll be taking our zodiac updates from Heaven by Marc Jacobs only". Russh. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Grater, Tom (25 April 2022). "Saura Lightfoot Leon, Hayley Squires & Joseph Quinn Starring In UK Debut 'Hoard'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ van de Klashorst, Marc (2 September 2023). "Venice 2023 review: Hoard (Luna Carmoon)". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ a b Ritman, Alex (2025-04-01). "'Last Swim' Breakout Deba Hekmat Signs With Olivia Bell Management (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
- ^ "Deba Hekmat, Author". The Basement. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ Piera, Mar (19 January 2023). "Mia Khalifa stars in Aries' two latest projects". HighxTar. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
External links
- Deba Hekmat at IMDb
- Deba Hekmat at Anti-Agency
- [1]