Hannah Simone

Hannah Simone, born on August 3, 1980, is a versatile Canadian actress, television presenter, and former VJ and fashion model. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Cece Parekh on the popular Fox sitcom New Girl.

Originally from London, Simone has a diverse heritage, with her father hailing from India and her mother possessing German, Italian, and Greek Cypriot roots. Her early childhood was spent in Calgary, Alberta, but diverse experiences awaited her as she moved across three continents between the ages of 7 and 10, attending various schools along the way. By age 13, she was residing in Cyprus, where she began her career in modeling, appearing on the cover of a local fashion magazine. At 16, she relocated to New Delhi, India, where she attended the American Embassy School before returning to Canada at 17. She initially settled in White Rock, British Columbia, before eventually making her way to Vancouver.

Simone earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of British Columbia, followed by a second BA in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson University in 2004. She spent two years as a researcher for a book by Lloyd Axworthy, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, and briefly volunteered with the United Nations in the UK. While studying at Ryerson, Simone also served as a radio host at CKLN-FM, the campus radio station.