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Hari Nef Biography/Wiki: Hari Nef is an American actress, model, and writer born on October 21, 1992, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She became the first openly transgender woman signed to IMG Models in 2015 and gained her acting breakthrough with the role of Gittel in Amazon’s Emmy-winning series Transparent, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in 2016. She is also widely known for her role in the global blockbuster Barbie (2023).
Hari Nef Wiki / Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Hari Nef |
| Date of Birth | October 21, 1992 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 33 years |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White (Jewish) |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Profession | Actress, Model, Writer, Producer |
| Gender Identity | Transgender woman |
| School | Newton South High School, Newton, Massachusetts |
| College | Columbia University, New York City |
| Degree | Bachelor’s in Theatre (graduated May 2015) |
| Breakthrough Role | Gittel — Transparent (Amazon, 2015) |
| Known For | Barbie (2023), Assassination Nation (2018), Transparent (2015) |
| Father | David Nef (advertising executive) |
| Mother | Robin Clebnik (sales professional) |
| Raised By | Mother (parents divorced when she was 2) |
| Raised In | Newton, Massachusetts |
| Current Residence | New York City, New York |
| Hair Colour | Light Brown |
| Eye Colour | Hazel |
| Marital Status | Not publicly disclosed |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1–1.5 million (not officially confirmed) |
Early Life
Hari Nef was born on October 21, 1992, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a Jewish family. Her parents are David Nef, an advertising executive, and Robin Clebnik, who worked in sales. Her parents divorced when she was two years old, after which she was raised by her mother in Newton, Massachusetts.
She grew up in Newton and attended Newton South High School, where she participated in the school’s South Stage theatre program — an early exposure to performance arts that shaped her later career direction. Newton, Massachusetts, is a suburb of Boston and a community where she spent the formative years of her development as a writer and performer.
Education
Hari Nef attended Newton South High School in Newton, Massachusetts, where she was active in the South Stage theatre program. After high school, she enrolled at Columbia University in New York City and graduated in May 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre. Her time at Columbia coincided with her early entry into the New York fashion industry, as she made her runway debut during New York Fashion Week in early 2015 — the same season she graduated.
Family Background
Hari Nef’s father, David Nef, works as an advertising executive. Further details about his professional background, location, and personal life are not publicly disclosed in verified sources.
Her mother, Robin Clebnik, raised Hari in Newton, Massachusetts following the divorce of her parents. She worked in sales. In 2017, Hari Nef took her mother to the Emmy Awards ceremony as her guest a detail confirmed in public media coverage of the event.
Career
Modelling Debut (2015)
Hari Nef made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week Spring 2015, walking for two labels: Hood By Air and Eckhaus Latta. Following her runway debut, she was signed to IMG Models — becoming the first openly transgender woman signed to the agency. This milestone established her simultaneously as a fashion industry figure and a cultural landmark in transgender representation in mainstream modelling.
She subsequently walked for internationally recognised fashion houses and brands, including Gucci and H&M, cementing her profile as a working model in the global fashion industry. She also became the first openly transgender woman to appear on the cover of a major British magazine.
Acting Breakthrough — Transparent (2015–2016)
Hari Nef’s acting career was launched through her role as Gittel in the Amazon original series Transparent, created by Joey Soloway. Gittel is depicted as a Pfefferman family ancestor who lived as a cross-dresser in Berlin during the Weimar Republic and was murdered during the Holocaust. Soloway wrote the character specifically for Nef after the two met at a PFLAG party and connected through social media.
For her role in Transparent, Nef received a 2016 Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series — one of the first major acting nominations received by an openly transgender actress for an American television drama.
Film and Television Work (2018–2022)
In 2018, Hari Nef co-starred in Sam Levinson’s comedy-thriller film Assassination Nation*, appearing alongside Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, and Abra. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2018 and received wide theatrical release in September 2018. In the same year, she played the recurring character Blythe on Lifetime’s psychological thriller television series You.
Also in 2018, Nef made her New York theatre debut as a lead in Jeremy O. Harris’s play Daddy. In 2022, she starred in the comedy film 1Up, alongside Ruby Rose, Paris Berelc, Taylor Zakhar Perez, and Nicholas Coombe. She also appeared in Meet Cute (2022).
Barbie (2023)
Hari Nef appeared in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (2023) — one of the highest-grossing films in cinema history, earning approximately $1.4 billion worldwide at the box office. Her appearance in Barbie is her most commercially significant film credit to date, making her part of an ensemble that includes Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and several other prominent Hollywood actors.
Writing Career
Alongside her acting and modelling work, Hari Nef has worked as a writer covering subjects including fine art, film, sex, gender, and transgender identity. Her writing has appeared in publications and digital media. The specific publications for which she has written are not fully detailed in the primary verified sources reviewed for this filing.
Announced Future Projects
A biographical film about Candy Darling the transgender Warhol Superstar was announced with Nef attached to play the title role, written by Stephanie Kornick (Transparent). Further production details, casting announcements, and release timeline for this project are not confirmed in verified sources as of April 2026.
Complete Filmography (Selected)
| Year | Title | Role / Notes | Format |
| 2015 | Transparent | Gittel — SAG nominated ensemble | TV Series (Amazon) |
| 2018 | Assassination Nation | Co-lead; premiered at Sundance | Film |
| 2018 | You | Blythe — recurring | TV Series (Lifetime) |
| 2018 | Daddy | Lead — NY theatre debut | Stage |
| 2019 | Mapplethorpe | Supporting | Film |
| 2022 | 1Up | Co-lead | Film |
| 2022 | Meet Cute | Supporting | Film |
| 2023 | Barbie | Ensemble | Film (Global theatrical) |
Physical Appearance
Hari Nef has hazel eyes and light brown hair. Her body build is described as slim in public physical profiles. No additional formally verified physical measurement details are confirmed in mainstream media sources.
Personal Life
Hari Nef resides in New York City. Her marital status and details of any personal relationship are not publicly disclosed in verified sources. She publicly identifies as a transgender woman and has been open about her gender identity since her entry into the fashion industry in 2015.
Net Worth
Hari Nef’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed in any officially verified source. Third-party entertainment biography websites estimate her net worth at approximately $1–1.5 million, derived from acting fees, modelling contracts, brand partnerships, writing income, and theatre work. One source estimated her annual earnings from acting and modelling at approximately $94,241 per year, with individual Instagram brand partnership posts estimated to generate $1,714–$2,857 per post. These figures are third-party estimates and have not been confirmed by Hari Nef or her representatives.
Social Media Handles
Interesting Facts About Hari Nef
- She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 21, 1992, and raised in Newton, Massachusetts, by her mother after her parents divorced when she was two
- She graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre in May 2015
- She made her runway debut at New York Fashion Week Spring 2015 and was signed to IMG Models the same year
- She is the first openly transgender woman signed to IMG Models
- She is the first openly transgender woman to appear on the cover of a major British magazine
- Creator Joey Soloway wrote the character of Gittel in Transparent specifically for her after meeting her at a PFLAG party
- She received a 2016 SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series for Transparent
- Her 2018 film Assassination Nation premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
- She took her mother to the Emmy Awards in 2017
- She appeared in Barbie (2023), which grossed approximately $1.4 billion worldwide — making it her most commercially significant film credit
- She walked for Gucci and H&M during her modelling career
- She has been cast to play Candy Darling in an upcoming biopic written by Stephanie Kornick
- She lives and works in New York City
FAQ — Hari Nef
Q: Who is Hari Nef?
Hari Nef is an American actress, model, and writer. She is best known for Transparent (2015), Assassination Nation (2018), and Barbie (2023), and for being the first openly transgender woman signed to IMG Models.
Q: When was Hari Nef born?
She was born on October 21, 1992, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Q: Where did Hari Nef study?
She attended Newton South High School in Newton, Massachusetts, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Columbia University in May 2015.
Q: What is Hari Nef’s most famous role?
Her breakthrough role was Gittel in Amazon’s Transparent (2015), which earned her a SAG Award nomination. Her most commercially successful project is Barbie (2023).
Q: Is Hari Nef transgender?
Yes. Hari Nef publicly identifies as a transgender woman and has been open about her gender identity since her entry into the fashion industry in 2015.
Q: What is Hari Nef’s net worth?
Her exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Third-party sources estimate it at approximately $1–1.5 million.
Q: Where does Hari Nef live?
She lives and works in New York City.
Q: What was Hari Nef’s modelling milestone?
She was the first openly transgender woman signed to IMG Models in 2015, following her runway debut at New York Fashion Week.
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