Most Famous Noras in the World

The name Nora shows up all over entertainment and culture, from award-winning filmmakers to charting musicians and global TV stars. You’ll find it attached to people who have shaped romantic comedies, fronted blockbuster franchises, led beloved telenovelas, and spun dance tracks at the world’s biggest festivals. It’s a short name with a long track record.

Below is a friendly, fact-packed tour of notable celebrities named Nora. Each entry highlights concrete achievements, signature projects, and recognitions so you can quickly place each person and explore their work with confidence.

Nora Ephron

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Nora Ephron was an American journalist, essayist, screenwriter, and director known for writing and directing landmark romantic comedies. Her screenplays include ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ and ‘Silkwood’, and she wrote and directed ‘Sleepless in Seattle’, ‘You’ve Got Mail’, and ‘Julie & Julia’. She earned multiple Academy Award nominations for screenwriting and began her career as a reporter and columnist before moving into film.

Ephron also published bestselling essay collections such as ‘Crazy Salad’ and ‘I Feel Bad About My Neck’, and wrote the play ‘Lucky Guy’. Her career spanned magazines, books, theater, and film, and she mentored numerous writers and filmmakers through her collaborations and productions.

Nora Aunor

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Nora Aunor is a Filipino actress and singer widely recognized for influential roles across film, television, and music. She rose to prominence through the variety program ‘Superstar’ and starred in critically acclaimed films including ‘Himala’ and ‘Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos’. Her performances earned her a large collection of national acting prizes across multiple award-giving bodies.

Aunor has been honored as a National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts in the Philippines, reflecting her impact on national culture. Beyond film, she has recorded albums and performed in concerts, maintaining a significant career that spans decades.

Nora Fatehi

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Nora Fatehi is a Canadian-Moroccan dancer, actress, and performer active primarily in Indian cinema. She gained wide recognition for high-profile dance numbers such as ‘Dilbar’ and ‘O Saki Saki’, and appeared in films including ‘Street Dancer 3D’ and ‘Bhuj: The Pride of India’. Her videos have amassed large view counts on digital platforms, making her one of the most visible dance performers associated with Bollywood music releases.

On television, Fatehi has served as a judge and guest across dance-focused reality programs, and she frequently appears in music collaborations with leading singers and composers. She works in multiple languages within the Indian market and regularly tours internationally for stage shows.

Nora Dunn

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Nora Dunn is an American actress and comedian who became widely known as a cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live’. Her film appearances include ‘Three Kings’ and ‘Pineapple Express’, and she has guest-starred on numerous television series across comedy and drama. Her sketch characters and impressions established her as a recognizable face in American comedy.

Dunn has also worked extensively in theater and independent film, building a versatile portfolio over several decades. She continues to appear on television, including roles on medical and legal dramas, and contributes to comedy programming through acting and writing.

Nora Arnezeder

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Nora Arnezeder is a French actress and singer who works across European and American productions. She appeared in ‘Army of the Dead’ and ‘The Words’, and has credits in series such as ‘Mozart in the Jungle’. Her early breakthrough in France included roles that combined acting with musical performance.

Arnezeder has performed in French-language cinema and English-language projects, moving between film and television. She has also taken on period pieces and action-oriented roles, demonstrating range across genres and international markets.

Nora Tschirner

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Nora Tschirner is a German actress and former television presenter best known for starring in hit German comedies and detective dramas. She led the box-office success ‘Keinohrhasen’ and has appeared as an investigator in ‘Tatort’, Germany’s long-running crime series. She also worked as a VJ before focusing fully on acting.

Tschirner has voice-acted in animated features, including the German dub of ‘Tangled’, and appeared in ‘Kokowääh’. Her filmography spans mainstream comedies, crime television, and voice roles that have kept her visible to broad German-speaking audiences.

Nora Zehetner

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Nora Zehetner is an American actress who first drew attention for the neo-noir film ‘Brick’. She later joined the casts of television series such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Heroes’, expanding her presence on network and cable TV. Her early career also included independent films and festival favorites.

Zehetner has continued to work across television and film, with guest roles on acclaimed series and parts in genre projects. Her credits demonstrate steady participation in both mainstream and indie productions over many years.

Nora Miao

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Nora Miao is a Hong Kong actress known for co-starring with Bruce Lee in classic martial arts films. She appeared in ‘The Big Boss’, ‘Fist of Fury’, and ‘The Way of the Dragon’, becoming one of the most recognized actresses in Hong Kong cinema of that era. Her roles linked her career to some of the most referenced titles in the genre.

Beyond those films, Miao worked in television and additional features produced in Hong Kong and Taiwan. She has remained a frequent subject of retrospectives on martial arts cinema and the Golden Age of Hong Kong film.

Nora Navas

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Nora Navas is a Spanish actress acclaimed for her work in both cinema and television. She won Spain’s national film award for her leading performance in ‘Pa negre’, which elevated her profile across the Spanish industry. She has also appeared in ‘Pain and Glory’, collaborating with prominent directors.

Navas has balanced film roles with television appearances, including projects linked to the education-themed series ‘Merlí: Sapere Aude’. She continues to take on roles that range from intimate dramas to ensemble features.

Nora Salinas

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Nora Salinas is a Mexican actress best known for telenovelas with wide international distribution. She has starred in shows such as ‘Rosalinda’, ‘Carita de Ángel’, and ‘Fuego en la sangre’, reaching audiences throughout Latin America, the United States, and beyond. Her characters have included both leads and notable antagonists.

Salinas has also participated in theater and modeling, adding stage credits to her television career. She frequently appears on entertainment programs and award ceremonies connected to Spanish-language television.

Nora Hamzawi

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Nora Hamzawi is a French comedian, actress, and writer recognized for stand-up and sharp media commentary. She has performed one-woman shows that toured nationwide and contributed regular segments to the talk program ‘Quotidien’. Her film acting includes roles such as in ‘Non-Fiction’.

Hamzawi authored columns and published humorous essays, and she has created radio segments for France Inter’s ‘La Bande originale’. Her career blends live performance, screen roles, and media writing in the French entertainment landscape.

Nora Orlandi

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Nora Orlandi is an Italian composer, pianist, and singer notable as one of the earliest women to compose scores for Italian genre cinema. She provided music for thrillers and westerns, including titles associated with giallo such as ‘The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh’. Her career also included work as a vocalist and vocal arranger.

Orlandi’s compositions have been reissued and sampled, contributing to renewed interest in Italian soundtrack music. Her legacy is frequently referenced in discussions of women composers in film history.

Nora Roberts

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Nora Roberts is an American author whose novels have sold widely in romance and romantic suspense. Writing also as J. D. Robb, she created the long-running ‘In Death’ series centered on futuristic crime investigations. Several of her books were adapted as television movies, including ‘Montana Sky’ and ‘Carolina Moon’.

Roberts maintains a high publication pace, with titles regularly reaching bestseller lists. Her work has received multiple industry honors, and she remains a fixture at the forefront of commercial fiction.

Share your favorite Nora—or a great project we should add—in the comments!