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WHO'S MEERA?

Who is Meera Syal? Actress who played Goldie in The Split and star of Holby City and The Kumars

The comedian and actress has been on screen many times

MULTI-talented Meera Syal starred in BBC One's 2018 drama, The Split, about a family of high-flying divorce lawyers.

But this isn't the first thing the comedian has starred in, here's everything you need to know about the actress.

 Meera is a multi-talented woman
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Meera is a multi-talented womanCredit: Rex Features

Who is Meera Syal?

Meera Syal is a British comedian, writer, playwright, singer, journalist, producer and actress.

She was born on June 27, 1961, in Wolverhampton.

She first rose to prominence as one of the team that created Goodness Gracious Me.

Then she became one of the UK's best-known Indian personalities portraying her real life husband Sanjeev's grandmother, Ummi, in The Kumars at No. 42.

She also starred in the eleventh series of Holby City as consultant Tara Sodi.

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What awards has Meera Syal won?

Meera was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1997 New Year Honours.

Impressively, in 2003 Meera was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.

She also has an honorary degree from SOAS, University of London and from the University of Roehampton.

Meera Syal was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to drama and literature.

 

What is Meera Syal's family life like?

Meera Syal has two children.

In January 2005 she married her frequent collaborator, Sanjeev Bhaskar, who plays her grandson in The Kumars at No. 42 and they had a son together, born in 2005.

Syal has a daughter from her previous marriage to journalist Shekhar Bhatia, which lasted from 1989 to 2002.

Her brother is investigative journalist Rajeev Syal.

Jennifer Saunders interview on comedy-series The Kumars at No. 42, with Meera Syal and Indira Joshi
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