Varada Sethu
Varada Sethu | |
---|---|
Born | Varada Sethumadhavan 12 May 1992 Kerala, India |
Nationality | British |
Education | University of Bristol |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2010–present |
Varada Sethu (born Varada Sethumadhavan, 12 May 1992) is a British actress, best known for playing DS Mishal Ali in the BBC apocalyptic TV Series Hard Sun (2018) and Cinta Kaz in the Disney+ dystopian sci-fi thriller Andor (2022–present).
Early life[edit]
Sethu and her twin sister, Abhaya, were born in Kerala, India,[1] and are of Malayali descent.[2][1] Sethu's parents are both doctors. Having moved to the North East of England at a young age, she grew up in Benton, Tyne and Wear,[3] near Newcastle upon Tyne. Sethu attended Dame Allan’s Schools and was a member of the National Youth Theatre.[3] During her final year of sixth form, Sethu won the 2010 Miss Newcastle competition.[1] She went on to study veterinary medicine at University of Bristol, later switching to physiology.[1] Sethu has been performing both Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam from a young age.[1] Sethu continued her acting education at the Identity School of Acting in London.[4][5]
Career[edit]
In 2010, Sethu made her debut appearance on screen in the short film Impressions as Samena.[6] In 2011, Sethu landed the role of Kiran in the feature film Sket,[3] then as Meghana Scariah in English: An Autumn in London in 2012. In 2015 she made an appearance in the 2000 TV series Doctors as PC Kylie Green.
Her career continued in 2016 appearing as Peaseblossom in a 2016 TV movie version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.[4] Also in 2016, Sethu acted alongside Michael Caine and Daniel Radcliffe in Now You See Me 2 and as an Indian nurse in New Blood.
In 2017, Sethu starred as Aisha in 2 episodes of Doctor Foster.[7] Sethu also starred as DS Mishal Ali for 6 episodes in the British crime drama series Hard Sun in 2018.[7]
In 2018, she starred as DS Mishal Ali in the BBC apocalyptic TV Series Hard Sun.[3]
In 2019, Sethu performed as a series regular in season seven of Strike Back: Revolution as Lance Corporal Manisha Chetri of the British Army.[8][9]
She played rebel Cinta Kaz in the 2022 series Andor.[2]
In 2024, rumours began circulating that Sethu would be replacing Millie Gibson as a companion to Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor in Series 15 of Doctor Who. These rumours were confirmed on 20 January by Variety.[10] However, in April 2024, these reports were dispelled by the BBC, confirming that Gibson would be present for the whole season, with Sethu joining the cast as an additional companion.[11]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2010 | Impressions (short film) [6] | Sameena |
2011 | Sket[3] | Kiran |
2012 | English: An Autumn in London | Meghana Scariah |
2016 | A Midsummer Night's Dream[12] | Peaseblossom |
2016 | Now You See Me 2[12] | Tressler Assistant |
2018 | Special Delivery (Short film) | Parminder |
2020 | Bad News (short film) | Mindi |
2022 | Jurassic World Dominion | Shira |
2022 | I Came By | Naserine 'Naz' Raheem |
Television[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Doctors | PC Kylie Green | 1 episode |
2016 | New Blood | Indian Nurse | 3 episodes[12] |
2017 | Doctor Foster | Aisha | 2 episodes[7][12] |
2018 | Hard Sun | DS Mishal Ali | 6 episodes[7] |
2019 | Strike Back: Revolution | Lance Corporal Manisha Chetri, British Army | 10 episodes[9] |
2019 | Hanna | CIA Analyst McArthur | 2 episodes |
2020 | Strike Back: Vendetta | Lance Corporal Manisha Chetri, British Army | 9 episodes |
2022 | Andor | Cinta Kaz | 8 episodes |
2022 | Annika | DS Harper Weston | 4 episodes |
2025 | Doctor Who | TBA | Series 15 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Latest News". ukmalayalee.com. 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ a b Speicher, Jeffrey (30 October 2022). "Vel and Cinta's Relationship Shows Nothing Comes Before the Rebellion". Collider. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Geordie actress Aimee Kelly in line for film award". chroniclelive.co.uk. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Portfolio: Varada Sethu". identityschoolofacting.com. 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021.
- ^ N, Aswin V. (22 November 2022). "Kerala-born British actor Varada Sethu on playing a rebel in 'Star Wars' show 'Andor'". The Hindu.
- ^ a b "Impressions (Short Film)". dailymotion.com. 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Meet the cast of BBC1s hard Sun". radiotimes.com. 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ "Strike Back's Varada Sethu: 'It Really Is A Season Unlike Any Other'". nerdophiles.com. 28 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Strike Back: 10 Best Characters Killed Off Prematurely In The Show". Screen Rant. 24 April 2020.
- ^ "'Doctor Who' Star Millie Gibson to Be Replaced by Varada Sethu After One Season". Variety. 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Doctor Who - First Look at Ncuti Gatwa with Varada Sethu and Millie Gibson ahead of season two". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d "From Miss Newcastle to TV star and the other North East female stars making it big". chroniclelive.co.uk. 2018.
External links[edit]
- Living people
- 1992 births
- 21st-century English actresses
- Actresses from Newcastle upon Tyne
- Alumni of the Identity School of Acting
- British actresses of Asian descent
- English film actresses
- English television actresses
- Indian emigrants to England
- English people of Indian descent
- British people of Malayali descent
- People educated at Dame Allan's School
- Alumni of the University of Bristol
- National Youth Theatre members