---
name: "Meera Syal"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/meera-syal"
fi1m_id: "meera-syal"
imdb_id: "nm0842934"
tmdb_id: 6975
wikidata_id: "Q261981"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 June 1961"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-22T02:29:17.819959+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Meera Syal

## Identity

Meera Syal

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/meera-syal
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** meera-syal
- **IMDb ID:** nm0842934
- **TMDB ID:** 6975
- **Wikidata ID:** Q261981
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meera_Syal, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q261981, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842934/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6975

Actor. Born 27 June 1961 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 June 1961, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1990–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Lissa Evans](https://film.one/person/lissa-evans.md), [Sanjeev Bhaskar](https://film.one/person/sanjeev-bhaskar.md)
- **BAFTA Film Awards:** 1 BAFTA (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 77 (2), 2000s 78 (2), 2010s 63 (4), 2020s 72 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 68 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 8, Drama 3, Adventure 2, Fantasy 2, Romance 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,129m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meera_Syal, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q261981, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842934/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6975

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Kumars at No. 42*](https://film.one/tv/the-kumars-at-no-42.md) (77)
- **Disney+:** [*Phony*](https://film.one/tv/phony.md) (65)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Absolutely Anything*](https://film.one/film/absolutely-anything.md) (34)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Meera Syal is a British actress, writer and comedian. She was born Feroza Syal on 27 June 1961 in Wolverhampton, England, and studied English and Drama at the University of Manchester.

She rose to prominence as part of the team that created the BBC sketch show *Goodness Gracious Me* (1996–2001) and for portraying Sanjeev's grandmother in *The Kumars at No. 42*. In film she played Miss Chauhan in *Beautiful Thing* (1996) and has appeared in *Yesterday* (2019), *Paddington 2* (2017) and *Doctor Strange* (2016). She wrote the screenplay for *Bhaji on the Beach* (1993).

Syal was appointed MBE in 1997 and CBE in 2015 for services to drama and literature. She received the BAFTA Fellowship in 2023. She has been married to actor and comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar since 2005.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, justwatch.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Phony* (2026), Fi1m 65, as Sharla — [page](https://film.one/tv/phony.md)
- *We Are Lady Parts* (2021), Fi1m 80, as Sister Squire — [page](https://film.one/tv/we-are-lady-parts.md)
- *Yesterday* (2019), Fi1m 60, as Sheila Malik — [page](https://film.one/film/yesterday.md)
- *Paddington 2* (2017), Fi1m 91, as Prosecutor — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md)
- *Doctor Strange* (2016), Fi1m 66, as Dr. Patel — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange.md)
- *Absolutely Anything* (2015), Fi1m 34, as Fiona — [page](https://film.one/film/absolutely-anything.md)
- *Doctor Who* (2005), Fi1m 78, as Nasreen Chaudhry — [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *The Kumars at No. 42* (2001), Fi1m 77, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-kumars-at-no-42.md)
- *Beautiful Thing* (1996), Fi1m 80, as Miss Chauhan — [page](https://film.one/film/beautiful-thing.md)
- *Drop the Dead Donkey* (1990), Fi1m 74, as Barmaid — [page](https://film.one/tv/drop-the-dead-donkey.md)

## Complete filmography (137)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Lysistrata* (2026), as Lysistrata (voice)
- *The Revenge Club* (2025), series, as Rita Eggleston
- *Tinsel Town* (2025), as Cassandra
- *National Theatre at Home: A Tupperware of Ashes* (2025), as Queenie
- *Samosa & Sons* (2023), as Rai Bahadur
- *The Canterville Ghost* (2023), as Lucretia Otis (voice)
- *Mrs Sidhu Investigates* (2023), series, as Mrs. Sidhu
- *The Smeds and the Smoos* (2023), as Aunt Smed (voice)
- *The Almond and the Seahorse* (2022), as Dr. Falmer
- *The Devil's Hour* (2022), series, as Dr Ruby Bennett
- *The Sandman* (2022), series, as Ric the Vic
- *Roar* (2022), series, as Anu
- *The Wheel of Time* (2021), series, as Verin Mathwin
- *Beena and Amrit* (2021), series, as Amrit
- *Spin* (2021), as Asha
- *Diana's Decades* (2021), series, as Narrator
- *We Are Lady Parts* (2021), series, as Sister Squire — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/we-are-lady-parts.md)
- *Dragon Rider* (2020), as Subisha Gulab (voice)
- *Comedians: Home Alone* (2020), series, as Reena
- *Code 404* (2020), series, as Elizabeth Churchland
- *Kate & Koji* (2020), series, as Dr Ayesha Radwan
- *Yesterday* (2019), as Sheila Malik — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/yesterday.md)
- *Back to Life* (2019), series, as Gaia
- *Nativity Rocks!* (2018), as Nina
- *The Nutcracker and the Four Realms* (2018), as Cook
- *Patrick* (2018), as Miss Phillips
- *To Provide All People* (2018), as District Nurse
- *The Homestay* (2018), as Meera
- *The Split* (2018), series, as Goldie
- *Paddington 2* (2017), as Prosecutor — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md)
- *Brexit Shorts: Just a T-shirt* (2017), as Priri · Writer
- *Riviera* (2017), series, as Sonya Roche
- *Walliams & Friend* (2016), series, as Various
- *Doctor Strange* (2016), as Dr. Patel — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-strange.md)
- *A Midsummer Night's Dream - Live at Shakespeare's Globe* (2016), as Presenter
- *Branagh Theatre Live: Romeo and Juliet* (2016), as Nurse
- *Alice Through the Looking Glass* (2016), as Nobody (voice)
- *Better Than the Original: The Joy of the Cover Version* (2015), series, as Narrator
- *Better Than the Original: The Joy of the Cover Version* (2015), as Narrator
- *The Brink* (2015), series, as Naeema
- *Amar Akbar & Tony* (2015), as Honey
- *National Theatre Live: Behind the Beautiful Forevers* (2015), as Zehrunisa Husain
- *Absolutely Anything* (2015), as Fiona — Fi1m 34, [page](https://film.one/film/absolutely-anything.md)
- *The Boy in the Dress* (2014), as Jaspreet
- *Original Comedy Shorts* (2014), series, Writer
- *The Musketeers* (2014), series, as Theresa
- *Psychobitches* (2013), series, as Hera
- *Family Tree* (2013), series, as Chitra
- *The Job Lot* (2013), series, as Jamina McNulty
- *Love Matters* (2013), series, as Kuldip
- *Broadchurch* (2013), series, as Judge Sonia Sharma — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/broadchurch.md)
- *Hunted* (2012), series, as Fatima Zahir
- *Much Ado About Nothing* (2012), as Beatrice
- *All in Good Time* (2012), as Lopa
- *Silk* (2011), series, as Aisha Wiseman — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/silk.md)
- *Little Crackers* (2010), series, Writer
- *Tinga Tinga Tales* (2010), series, as Owl (voice)
- *You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger* (2010), as Dia's Mother
- *Desert Flower* (2009), as Pushpa Patel
- *Mad Sad & Bad* (2009), as Rashmi
- *Horrible Histories* (2009), series, as Storyteller
- *Grandpa in My Pocket* (2009), series, as Mrs Pointy Pencil
- *Minder* (2009), series, as Jess Robinson
- *Beautiful People* (2008), series, as Aunty Hayley
- *Phineas and Ferb* (2007), series, as Baljeet's Mom (voice) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/phineas-and-ferb.md)
- *Jekyll* (2007), series, as Miranda
- *Jhoom Barabar Jhoom* (2007), as Satvinder’s mother
- *Kingdom* (2007), series, as Head Teacher
- *The Amazing Mrs Pritchard* (2006), series, as Liz Shannon
- *Scoop* (2006), as Joe's Co-Passenger
- *The Children's Party at the Palace* (2006), as Mary (The BFG)
- *Uncle Max* (2006), series, as Snooty Neighbour
- *The Secretary Who Stole £4 Million* (2005), as Joyti De-Laurey
- *Monkey Trousers* (2005), series, Actor
- *Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee* (2005), series, as Sunita
- *Doctor Who* (2005), series, as Nasreen Chaudhry — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who-2005.md)
- *King of Bollywood* (2004), as Mrs Jones
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Baroness Samira Khan
- *Murder Investigation Team* (2003), series, as DCI Anita Wishart
- *Anita and Me* (2002), as Auntie Shaila · Writer, Producer
- *Bitches & Beauty Queens: The Making of Miss India* (2002), as Narrator
- *All About Me* (2002), series, as Rupinder
- *The Jury* (2002), series, as Headteacher
- *The Kumars at No. 42* (2001), series, Actor — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-kumars-at-no-42.md)
- *Treasure* (2001), series, as Voices
- *Linda Green* (2001), series, as Sukie
- *Bedtime* (2001), series, as Ruby
- *Double Income, No Kids Yet* (2001), series, as Katie
- *In Deep* (2001), series, as Marta Drusic
- *Aladdin: The ITV Pantomime* (2000), as High Priestess
- *Fat Friends* (2000), series, as Aysha Kapoor
- *Forgive and Forget* (2000), as Judith Adams
- *The Strangerers* (2000), series, as Volunteer
- *Bad Girls* (1999), series, as Janan Hamad
- *Holby City* (1999), series, as Tara Sodi
- *The Mrs Bradley Mysteries* (1998), series, as Madame Marlene
- *Girls' Night* (1998), as Carmen
- *Goodness Gracious Me* (1998), series, as Creator
- *Flight* (1997), as Tasleema
- *Sixth Happiness* (1997), as Breathing Generator
- *Holding On* (1997), series, as Zita
- *Wavelength* (1997), series, as Mrs Kumar
- *Keeping Mum* (1997), series, as Tina Beare
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Clara Myerscough — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *Crossing the Floor* (1996), as Reporter
- *Beautiful Thing* (1996), as Miss Chauhan — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/beautiful-thing.md)
- *Degrees of Error* (1995), series, as Dr. Jean Lowell
- *Band of Gold* (1995), series, as Anne Denver — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/band-of-gold.md)
- *It's Not Unusual* (1995), as Shushila
- *A Nice Arrangement* (1994), as Sita · Story
- *Jo Brand Through the Cakehole* (1994), series, as Various
- *O Mary This London* (1994), as Ranting woman
- *Memsahib Rita* (1994), as Unumma
- *Bhaji on the Beach* (1993), Writer
- *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992), series, as Suzy — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/absolutely-fabulous.md)
- *Gummed Labels* (1992), as Mira
- *Sean's Show* (1992), series, as Trudy
- *My Sister-Wife* (1992), as Farah Khan · Writer
- *Soldier Soldier* (1991), series, as Sangita Sharma
- *The Real McCoy* (1991), series, Actor
- *Kinsey* (1991), series, as Val
- *Drop the Dead Donkey* (1990), series, as Barmaid — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/drop-the-dead-donkey.md)
- *Interviewers From Hell* (1989), Actor
- *Sammy and Rosie Get Laid* (1987), as Rani
- *A Little Princess* (1987), series, as Anna
- *To Have and to Hold* (1986), series, as Janine
- *Handsworth Songs* (1986), as Voice Over
- *Boon* (1986), series, as Council Supervisor
- *Black Silk* (1985), series, as Mumtaz Khan
- *The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾* (1985), series, as Mrs. Singh
- *Tandoori Nights* (1985), series, Writer
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Farah Khan, Ranting Woman, Reporter
- *Majdhar* (1984), as Rehana
- *The Bill* (1984), series, as Linda Morgan, Woman in Street, Solicitor, Miss Choudry
- *Natural World* (1983), series, as Narrator
- *Taggart* (1983), series, as Sharon Lal
- *Phony*, series, as Sharla — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/phony.md)

## Gallery

- ![Meera Syal](https://film.one/media/person/86881/gallery-1e0d2d322cc8.png) Meera Syal — The Asian Awards, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Meera_Syal_2017.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Meera Syal](https://film.one/media/person/86881/gallery-f95c60b56da4.jpg) Meera Syal — Image via TMDB
- ![Meera Syal](https://film.one/media/person/86881/gallery-3037b715a055.jpg) Meera Syal — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 2023: BAFTA Fellowship (won)

### Other awards — 5 won

- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire 2026: Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (won)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature 2016: Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (won)
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire 2015: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (won)
- Member of the Order of the British Empire 1997: Member of the Order of the British Empire (won)
- Betty Trask Award 1996: Betty Trask Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/meera-syal