After work in several minor films and TV series including directing two, Akhavan achieved recognition and praise for The Miseducation of Cameron Post, which she directed and wrote. She's bisexual, and has been vocal in advocating for more LGBT+ works about queer women, saying she had uphill battles to get some of her work made. Some works she's done (like The Slope or The Bisexual) are semi-autobiographical as well.
Selected filmography:
- The Slope (2010-12) as Desiree (lead role-she also directed and wrote it)
- Appropriate Behavior (2014) as Shirin (lead role; also director and writer-she made her film debut as a director with this)
- Girls (2015) as Chandra (3 episodes)
- Flowers (2016-18) as Carol (5 episodes)
- The Bisexual (2018) as Leila (lead role; also director and writer)
- The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018; director and writer)
- Hacks (2021; writer, 2 episodes)
- I Love That For You (2022; director, 2 episodes)
- Tiny Beautiful Things (2023; director, 4 episodes)
