Meera Syal
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1961-06-27
    • Born Place: Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, UK

Meera Syal

Meera Syal CBE FRSL is a highly influential British comedian, writer, playwright, singer, and actress, renowned for her pivotal role in bringing British South Asian perspectives into mainstream culture. Born Feroza Syal on June 27, 1961, in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, she grew up in a small mining village, an experience that formed the semi-autobiographical basis for her acclaimed debut novel, Anita and Me (1996), which won a Betty Trask Award. Syal is best known for her groundbreaking work in comedy, particularly as a writer and performer in the hit BBC sketch show Goodness Gracious Me (1996–2001), and for her portrayal of the sharp-witted, interfering grandmother Sushila "Ummi" Kumar in the International Emmy-winning chat show parody The Kumars at No. 42 (2001–2006), alongside her now-husband, Sanjeev Bhaskar. She also wrote the screenplay for the 1993 film Bhaji on the Beach and wrote the book for Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Bombay Dreams (2002). Her acting career is extensive, spanning film, TV, and theatre, including major roles in the RSC's Much Ado About Nothing and starring in the West End revival of Annie as Miss Hannigan. In recognition of her significant contributions to drama and literature, Syal was appointed an MBE in 1997, a CBE in 2015, and was presented with the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship in 2023.

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