Googoosh is the greatest superstar in Iranian pop culture. To compare her to Madonna would not capture the integrity and unique nature of her work, but would come close to giving an American a conception of her popularity and iconic status. As both a music and movie star, Googoosh has held the love of millions in her native Iran and all over the world.

Googoosh is beloved for her grace and style, and respected for her passion for the craft of music- and movie-making. She has been a professional singer since the age of three, and her rise to fame in the '70s was driven by both her forward-thinking talent and her enviable style--hip and elegant. As Madonna did in the U.S in the '80s, Googoosh inspired fashion and hair trends for a generation of women in Iran.

Googoosh as a Movie Star

In addition to her musical career, Googoosh has also starred in many movies. In particular, Hamsafar, Maah Asal, and Mamal Amrikaie are three of her most popular movies, and all feature Behrouz Vossoughi, an actor with whom Googoosh has incredible on-screen chemistry. Iranian and non-Iranian directors have often sought her for her acting talents.

The Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979 was a harsh shock to the pop culture world in which Googoosh had risen to prominence. Googoosh was not allowed to perform, and her material was banned; yet she did not leave Iran for many years. More than a decade and a half later, she relocated to Canada, and has begun performing again, to the delight of millions of fans. Her records and films are available around the world today.