Necar Zadegan, born on 20 June 1982 in Heidelberg, West Germany, is an Iranian-American actress who has built a prolific career across television, film, and Broadway. She is currently known for her roles as ADA Vivian Eckert in ABC's The Rookie and Deputy Chief of Station Nikki Reynard in CBS's CIA. With a career spanning over two decades, Zadegan has appeared in major productions including 24, NCIS: New Orleans, and Mayor of Kingstown, establishing herself as one of Hollywood's most consistently working Iranian-American actresses.
Early Life and Education
Zadegan was born to Iranian parents in Heidelberg, West Germany, and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area during her childhood. She is fluent in Persian, French, English, and German, and has also learned Spanish, Arabic, and Hebrew for professional roles. She graduated with honours from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a BA in Literature, and spent a semester studying at the Sorbonne in Paris before launching her acting career.
Career Breakthrough and Broadway Debut
Zadegan began her television career with guest appearances from 2005 onwards, appearing in shows such as The Bernie Mac Show, NCIS, Lost, How I Met Your Mother, and The Shield. Her career-defining moment came in 2010 when she played Dalia Hassan in Season 8 of 24. She portrayed the first lady, and ultimately president, of a fictional Middle Eastern nation across 20 episodes, with critics naming 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. 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.
Leading Television Roles
Following her Broadway success, Zadegan secured a succession of main cast roles. She played Dr Gina Bandhari in Emily Owens, M.D. (The CW, 2012–2013), Scarlet Leon in Rake (Fox, 2014), and Delia Banai in Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (Bravo, 2014–2018), appearing across all five seasons. From 2018 to 2021, she portrayed Special Agent Hannah Khoury in NCIS: New Orleans, serving as the senior field agent.
Between 2021 and 2025, Zadegan played Evelyn Foley, the assistant district attorney, in 27 episodes of Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+. The series, created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, starred Jeremy Renner.
Recent Projects: The Electric State, The Rookie, and CIA
In March 2025, Zadegan appeared in Netflix's The Electric State as Farah Bedi, a sci-fi action film directed by the Russo Brothers and starring 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 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. Speaking to TV Insider, Zadegan described her character: “She’s the best boss,” adding that Nikki is “smart, communicative, and powerful, caring.” She noted that although Nikki seems right for the job, it doesn't mean she necessarily wants it.
Filmography and Voice Work
Zadegan's film and television credits include Elena Undone (2010), Unthinkable (2010), The Electric State (2025), and Inheritance (2025). Her television roles span 24 (2010), Emily Owens, M.D. (2012–2013), Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (2014–2018), NCIS: New Orleans (2018–2021), Star Trek: Picard (2020), Mayor of Kingstown (2021–2025), The Rookie (2025–present), and CIA (2026–present). She has also voiced characters in Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds, Diablo IV, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Personal Life and Latest Updates
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, but neither has publicly confirmed a relationship. Her current status is single, and she has no confirmed children.
CIA returned on 5 October 2026 for its second season on CBS, with Zadegan starring as Nikki Reynard. Season 1, which premiered on 23 February 2026, earned an early renewal following strong network ratings. The series also stars Tom Ellis and Natalee Linez. Zadegan continues her recurring role as ADA Vivian Eckert in The Rookie Season 8, which airs in autumn 2026.
Her net worth has not been publicly verified or officially reported by reliable financial sources. She primarily earns from major television series including NCIS: New Orleans, Mayor of Kingstown, and CIA, as well as film roles such as The Electric State and Unthinkable, stage productions on Broadway, and video game voice acting.
