Editing Meera Syal

{{short description|British writer and actress}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Meera Syal
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE|FRSL}}
| image              = Meera Syal 2017.png
| caption            = Syal at the 7th [[Asian Awards]] in 2017
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1961|6|27|df=y}}
| birth_name         = Feroza Syal
| birth_place        = [[Wolverhampton]], England
| education          = [[Queen Mary's High School]]
| alma_mater         = [[University of Manchester]]
| occupation         = Comedian, writer, playwright, singer, journalist, actress
| years_active       = 1983–present
| spouse             = {{Ubl
| {{marriage|Shekhar Bhatia|1989|2002|end=divorced}}
| {{marriage|[[Sanjeev Bhaskar]]|21 January 2005}}
}}
| children           = 2
| module             = {{Listen| embed=yes |filename = Meera syal bbc radio4 front row 30 04 2013.flac |title = Meera Syal's voice |type = speech |description = from the BBC programme ''[[Front Row (radio programme)|Front Row]]'', 30 April 2013.<ref name="BBC-b01s4g7s">{{Cite episode |title=Meera Syal |series=Front Row |series-link=Front Row (radio programme) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s4g7s |access-date=18 January 2014 |station=BBC Radio 4 |date=30 April 2013 |archive-date=19 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019103230/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s4g7s |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
}}

'''Meera Syal''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} [[FRSL]] (born '''Feroza Syal'''; 27 June 1961) is an English comedian, writer, playwright, singer, journalist and actress. She rose to prominence as one of the team that created ''[[Goodness Gracious Me (TV & radio)|Goodness Gracious Me]]'' and by portraying Sanjeev's grandmother, Ummi, in ''[[The Kumars at No. 42]]''. She has become one of the [[British Asian|UK's best-known Asian]] personalities.

She was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[1997 New Year Honours]] and in 2003 was listed in ''[[The Observer]]'' as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.<ref name="roehampton1">{{cite web |url=http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/Honorary-Degrees/2008/Meera-Syal-MBE/ |title=University of Roehampton – Honorary Degrees |publisher=Roehampton.ac.uk |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=28 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628051838/http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/Honorary-Degrees/2008/Meera-Syal-MBE/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2003/dec/07/comedy.thebestofbritishcomedy |title=The 50 funniest people in Britain (part two) &#124; Stage &#124; The Observer |publisher=Theguardian.com |date=7 December 2003 |access-date=23 August 2013 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=2 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502113323/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2003/dec/07/comedy.thebestofbritishcomedy |url-status=live }}</ref> She was appointed [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to drama and literature.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61092 |supp=y|page=N10|date=31 December 2014}}</ref><ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/391413/New_Year_Honours_List_2015.pdf 2015 New Year Honours List] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102104907/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/391413/New_Year_Honours_List_2015.pdf |date=2 January 2015 }}</ref>

In 2023, she was awarded the [[BAFTA Fellowship]].<ref name="Hall"/>

== Early life ==
Syal was born on 27 June 1961 in [[Wolverhampton]] and grew up in [[Essington]], [[Staffordshire]], a mining village a few miles to the north. Her [[Indian people|Indian]] [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] parents, Surinder Syal (father) and Surinder Kaur (mother), came to the United Kingdom from [[New Delhi]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/past-stories/meera-syal.shtml Meera Syal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203090612/http://www.bbc.co.uk/whodoyouthinkyouare/past-stories/meera-syal.shtml |date=3 February 2020 }}, ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'', BBC</ref> When she was young, the family moved to [[Bloxwich]], north of [[Walsall]].

This landscape, and the family's status as the only Asian family in the small [[Midlands]] mining village of Essington, were later to form the backdrop to her novel (later filmed) ''[[Anita and Me]]'', which Syal described in a 2003 [[BBC]] interview as semi-autobiographical.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/10/23/meera_syal_anita_and_me_interview.shtml |title=Films – interview – Meera Syal |publisher=BBC |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925051052/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2002/10/23/meera_syal_anita_and_me_interview.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> She attended [[Queen Mary's High School]] in nearby [[Walsall]] and then studied English and Drama at [[Manchester University]], graduating with a [[First-class honours|Double First]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Roz Laws |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/walsall-comedian-meera-syal-opens-222642 |title=Walsall comedian Meera Syal opens up her teenage diaries |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=10 January 2011 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217225711/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/walsall-comedian-meera-syal-opens-222642 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="independent1">{{cite news |author=Jonathan Owen |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/meera-syal-i-didnt-want-to-reach-50-and-be-full-of-regrets-7717628.html |title=Meera Syal: 'I didn't want to reach 50 and be full of regrets' – Profiles – People |newspaper=The Independent |date=6 May 2012 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=9 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109215441/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/meera-syal-i-didnt-want-to-reach-50-and-be-full-of-regrets-7717628.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Acting and writing career ==
In 2023, she was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship, its highest accolade, for her career on screen. During her studies in Manchester, Syal joined the [[Stephen Joseph Studio]], acting and later writing stage plays. On graduation, she had secured a place to study for an MA in drama and [[psychotherapy]] at the [[University of Leeds]], and then to study for a [[Postgraduate Certificate in Education|PGCE]] to teach. However, she had also co-written the one-woman play ''One of Us'' with Jackie Shapiro, in which Syal performed all fifteen parts, about a West Midlands-born ethnic Indian girl who ran away from home to become an actress. First performed at the Stephen Joseph Studio, she then performed it at the [[National Student Drama Festival]] where it won a prize to perform at the [[Edinburgh International Festival]], where it also won a prize. As a result, a director from the [[Royal Court Theatre]] contacted Syal, and asked her to perform in a play at the Royal Court on a three-year contract.<ref>Interview with Meera Syal, The Two Shot Podcast, 28 May 2018</ref>

Syal wrote the screenplay for the 1993 film ''[[Bhaji on the Beach]]'', directed by [[Gurinder Chadha]], of ''[[Bend It Like Beckham]]'' fame. In 1996 she played Miss Chauhan, a high school football coach in the film ''[[Beautiful Thing (film)|Beautiful Thing]]''. She was on the team that wrote and performed in the [[BBC]] comedy sketch show ''[[Goodness Gracious Me (TV & radio)|Goodness Gracious Me]]'' (1996–2001), originally on radio and then on television.<ref name="independent1" /> She was a scriptwriter on [[A.R. Rahman]] and [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s ''[[Bombay Dreams]]''<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Inverne |first=James |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2056088,00.html |title=Welcome to Bollywood |magazine=TIME |date=17 June 2002 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=24 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824141334/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2056088,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and she played the grandmother Sushila in the [[International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences|International Emmy]]-award-winning series ''[[The Kumars at No. 42]]'', which ran for seven series,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x95hr |title=BBC Radio 4 ''My Teenage Diary'', 11 January 2011 |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=29 April 2012 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=12 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712112706/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x95hr |url-status=live }}</ref> reviving the character in 2021 for [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''Gossip and Goddesses with Granny Kumar''.

In October 2008, she starred in the [[BBC Two]] sitcom ''[[Beautiful People (British TV series)|Beautiful People]]''. This role, as Aunty Hayley, continued in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rushton |first=Katherine |url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/new-bbc-sitcom-for-meera-syal/1324505.article |title=New BBC sitcom for Meera Syal &#124; News &#124; Broadcast |publisher=Broadcastnow.co.uk |date=6 May 2008 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=30 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235035/http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/new-bbc-sitcom-for-meera-syal/1324505.article |url-status=live }}</ref> Syal starred in the eleventh series of ''[[Holby City]]'' as consultant Tara Sodi.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/meera-syal-to-join-holby-city-382141 |title=Meera Syal to join Holby City as a moody doc – 3am & Mirror Online |publisher=Mirror.co.uk |date=13 March 2009 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=9 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509120408/http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/meera-syal-to-join-holby-city-382141 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, she guest starred in ''Minder'' and starred in the film ''Mad, Sad & Bad''.<ref>{{cite web |author=jno |url=http://www.minder.org/episodeguide/episodeguide_S11_index.htm |title=Series 11 |publisher=Minder.org |access-date=23 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234509/http://www.minder.org/episodeguide/episodeguide_S11_index.htm |archive-date=30 December 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Philip French |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/aug/02/mad-sad-and-bad-review |title=Mad, Sad & Bad &#124; Film review |work=The Observer |publisher=theguardian.com |date=August 2009 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=10 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210112215/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/aug/02/mad-sad-and-bad-review |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, she played [[Shirley Valentine]] in a one-woman show at the [[Menier Chocolate Factory]], later transferring to [[Trafalgar Studios]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Kate Kellaway |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2010/jul/11/meera-syal-shirley-valentine-menier |title=Meera Syal: Interview |work=The Observer |publisher=theguardian.com |date=10 July 2010 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=30 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234648/http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2010/jul/11/meera-syal-shirley-valentine-menier |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same year she played Nasreen Chaudhry in [[The Hungry Earth|two episodes]] of ''[[Doctor Who (series 5)|Doctor Who]]'' alongside [[Matt Smith]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/05/17/hungry-earth-interview/ |title=Doctor Who The Hungry Earth Interview Meera Syal |publisher=Sfx.co.uk |date=17 May 2010 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=21 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521043539/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/05/17/hungry-earth-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Syal's memoir is due to be published in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=W&N pre-empts writer and actress Syal's memoir |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/wn-pre-empts-writer-and-actress-syals-memoir |access-date=2023-06-11 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}}</ref>

== Other notable appearances ==
Syal is an occasional singer, having achieved a number one record with [[Gareth Gates]] and her co-stars from ''The Kumars at No. 42'' with "[[Spirit in the Sky]]", the [[Comic Relief]] single.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/10_october/06/amazing_syal_biog.shtml |title=Press Office – The Amazing Mrs Pritchard Meera Syal |publisher=BBC |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=16 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016221158/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/10_october/06/amazing_syal_biog.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> She earlier (1988) provided vocals for a [[Bhangra (music)|bhangra]] version of "Then He Kissed Me", composed by [[Biddu]] and with the [[Music of Pakistan|Pakistani pop star]] [[Nazia Hassan]], as part of the short-lived [[girl group|girl band]] Saffron.<ref name="independent1" /> In June 2003 she appeared as a guest on [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'' programme with a selection of music by [[Nitin Sawhney]], Madan Bala Sindhu, [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Pizzicato Five]], [[Sukhwinder Singh]], [[Louis Armstrong]] and others. The luxury she chose to ease her life as a castaway was a piano.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs_20030601.shtml |title=Desert Island Discs – Castaway : Meera Syal |publisher=BBC |date=1 June 2003 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=17 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517124958/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs_20030601.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

Having studied English at university and penned two novels and a variety of scripts and screenplays, Syal was chosen as one of the guests on "The Cultural Exchange" slot of ''[[Front Row (radio programme)|Front Row]]'' on 30 April 2013, when she nominated ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'' by [[Harper Lee]] as a piece of art work which she loved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p016p5mb/profiles/meera-syal |title=BBC Radio 4 – Front Row's Cultural Exchange – Meera Syal |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=23 August 2013}}</ref>

As a journalist, she writes occasionally for ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name="britishcouncil1" />

== Awards and recognition ==
Syal won the National Student Drama Award for performing in ''One of Us'' which was written by Jacqueline Shapiro while at university.<ref>{{cite news |author=Chris Jones |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2000/newsmakers/2847873.stm |title=In Depth &#124; Newsmakers &#124; Meera, Meera off the wall |work=BBC News |date=14 March 2003 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=7 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060307040147/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2000/newsmakers/2847873.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> She won the [[Betty Trask Award]] for her first book ''Anita and Me'' and the Media Personality of the Year award at the [[Commission for Racial Equality]]'s annual ''Race in the Media'' awards in 2000.<ref name="britishcouncil1">{{cite web |author=British Council |url=http://literature.britishcouncil.org/meera-syal |title=Meera Syal &#124; British Council Literature |publisher=Literature.britishcouncil.org |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708223741/http://literature.britishcouncil.org/meera-syal |archive-date=8 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She was given the [[Nazia Hassan Foundation]] award in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asiansinmedia.org/news/article.php/events/177 |title=Asians in Media magazine &#124; Meera Syal and others awarded at Nazia Hassan foundation launch |publisher=Asiansinmedia.org |date=16 October 2003 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=30 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232746/http://www.asiansinmedia.org/news/article.php/events/177 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

In 2011–12, Syal was appointed visiting professor of contemporary theatre at [[St Catherine's College, Oxford]].<ref name="independent1" /> She has an honorary degree from [[SOAS, University of London]] and from the [[University of Roehampton]].<ref name="roehampton1" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soas.ac.uk/about/fellows/meera-syal-mbe/ |title=Ms Meera Syal MBE – Honorary Doctorate of SOAS, University of London |publisher=Soas.ac.uk |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=14 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914085410/http://www.soas.ac.uk/about/fellows/meera-syal-mbe/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

She received her [[Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|CBE]] insignia from the [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince of Wales]] on 6 May 2015 at [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/12933590.meera-syal-says-cbe-is-a-huge-honour/ |title=Meera Syal says CBE is a 'huge honour' |work=The Northern Echo |date=6 May 2015 |access-date=31 December 2018 |archive-date=1 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100349/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/12933590.meera-syal-says-cbe-is-a-huge-honour/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2015-05-06/meera-syal-to-be-made-a-cbe-at-buckingham-palace-today/|publisher=ITV|title=Meera Syal to be made a CBE at Buckingham Palace today|date=6 May 2015|access-date=31 December 2015|archive-date=20 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720212200/http://www.itv.com/news/2015-05-06/meera-syal-to-be-made-a-cbe-at-buckingham-palace-today/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, Syal was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature]].<ref>Natasha Onwuemezi, [http://www.thebookseller.com/news/syal-and-mcdermid-named-new-rsl-fellows-564396 "Rankin, McDermid and Levy named new RSL fellows"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326175209/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/syal-and-mcdermid-named-new-rsl-fellows-564396 |date=26 March 2019 }}, ''[[The Bookseller]]'', 7 June 2017.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://rsliterature.org/fellows/current-fellows/ |title=Current RSL Fellows |publisher=Royal Society of Literature |access-date=11 June 2017 |archive-date=6 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206015823/https://rsliterature.org/fellows/current-fellows/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2023, she received the [[BAFTA]] Fellowship, regarded as the highest accolade of the [[British Academy Television Awards]].<ref name="Hall">{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=Rachel |date=14 May 2023 |title=Meera Syal calls for more diversity in TV industry as she wins Bafta award |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/14/meera-syal-calls-for-more-diversity-in-tv-industry-as-she-wins-bafta-award |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015045042/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/14/meera-syal-calls-for-more-diversity-in-tv-industry-as-she-wins-bafta-award |archive-date=15 October 2023 |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

== Personal life ==
Syal married journalist Shekhar Bhatia in 1989; they divorced in 2002. Their daughter, Milli Bhatia, is associate director of the [[Royal Court Theatre]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/director-milli-bhatia-south-asian-stories-young-vic-chasing-hares-b1013286.html |title=Milli Bhatia on how raving and activism influence her work and directing Chasing Hares at the Young Vic |work=The Evening Standard |date=20 July 2022 |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> In January 2005, Syal married her frequent collaborator, [[Sanjeev Bhaskar]], who plays her grandson in ''The Kumars at No. 42''; the marriage ceremony took place in [[Lichfield]] register office, Staffordshire.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4205873.stm |title=Entertainment &#124; Family wedding for Kumars stars |work=BBC News |date=25 January 2005 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=9 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609121219/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4205873.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> They have a son, born in 2005.

In 2004, Syal took part in one episode of the [[BBC]] series ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'', which investigated her family history.<ref name="wdytya MS">{{cite episode|title=Who Do You Think You Are? with Meera Syal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/wdytya_s1_celeb_gallery_09.shtml|series=Who Do You Think You Are?|series-link=Who Do You Think You Are? (British TV series)|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC Two]]|airdate=7 December 2004|access-date=23 December 2019|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818130842/https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/wdytya_s1_celeb_gallery_09.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Syal discovered that both her grandfathers were supporters of the [[Indian independence movement]]: one as a [[communist]] [[Media of India|journalist]], the other as a [[Punjab]] protester who was briefly imprisoned in the [[Golden Temple]].<ref name="wdytya MS" />

Syal's brother is investigative journalist Rajeev Syal, who covers [[Whitehall]], writing stories for ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name="Nick McGrath">{{cite news |author=Nick McGrath |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/09/meera-syal-my-family-values |title=Meera Syal: My family values &#124; Life and style |newspaper=The Guardian |date=8 October 2010 |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=30 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235209/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/09/meera-syal-my-family-values |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2009, Syal was one of a number of British entertainers who signed an open letter printed in ''[[The Times]]'' protesting against the [[persecution of Baháʼís]] in Iran.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/voices-of-support|title=Voices of support|publisher=Bahá'í World News Service|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-date=7 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207111039/http://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/yaran-special-report/voices-of-support|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2011, Syal took part in the BBC Radio 4 programme My Teenage Diary, discussing growing up as the only British Asian girl in a small English town, feeling overweight and unattractive.

== Writing credits ==
{{Div col}}

=== Screenplays ===
*''[[Bhaji on the Beach]]'' (1993)
*''[[Anita and Me (film)|Anita and Me]]'' (2002)

=== Stage ===
*''One of Us'' (1983)
*''The Oppressed Minorities Big Fun Show'' (1992)
*''Goodness Gracious Me'' (1999)
*''[[Bombay Dreams]]'' (2002)

=== Television ===
*''[[Tandoori Nights]]'' (1985)
*''Black Silk'' (1985)
*''[[The Real McCoy (TV series)|The Real McCoy]]'' (1991)
*''My Sister Wife'' (1994)
*''[[Goodness Gracious Me (TV & radio)|Goodness Gracious Me]]'' (1998)
*''[[Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee]]'' (2005)
*''Uncle Santa'' (UK ''[[Little Crackers]]'' TV series) (2010)

=== Radio ===
*''[[Goodness Gracious Me (TV & radio)|Goodness Gracious Me]]'' (1996–98)
*''Masala FM'' (1996)

=== Novels ===
*''[[Anita and Me]]'' (1996)
*''Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee'' (1999), published in German under the title ''Sari, Jeans und Chilischoten'' in 2003
*''The House of Hidden Mothers'' (2015)
{{div col end}}

== Acting credits ==
{{Div col}}

=== Stage ===
*''One of Us'' (1983)
*''[[Serious Money]]'' (1987)
*''[[Peer Gynt]]'' (1990)
*''The Oppressed Minorities Big Fun Show'' (1992)
*''[[The Vagina Monologues]]'' (2001)
*''Bombay Dreams'' (2004)
*''[[Rafta, Rafta...]]'' (2007)
*''Shirley Valentine'' (2010)
*''[[The Killing of Sister George]]'' (2011)
*''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' (2012) as Beatrice
*''[[Behind the Beautiful Forevers#Adaptations|Behind the Beautiful Forevers]]'' (2014) as Zehrunisa
*''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' (2016) as Nurse
*''[[Annie (musical)|Annie]]'' (2017) as Miss Hannigan
*''[[Noises Off]]'' (2019) as Dotty Otley

=== Radio ===
*''True Believers'' (1990)
*''The World As We Know It'' (1999)
*''[[Double Income, No Kids Yet]]'' (2001)
*''A Small Town Murder'' (2008–2020)
*''Bindi Business'' (2017)
*''Gossip and Goddesses with Granny Kumar'' (2021)
*"Mrs Sidhu Investigates"

=== Film and TV ===
*''Majdhar'' (1983)
*''[[The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (TV series)|The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4]]'' (1985)
*''[[A Little Princess (1986 miniseries)|A Little Princess]]'' (1986)
*''[[Sammy and Rosie Get Laid]]'' (1987)
*''[[The Real McCoy (TV series)|The Real McCoy]]'' (1991)
*''Gummed Labels'' (1992)
*''[[Taggart]]'' (1992)
*''[[Sean's Show]]'' (1993)
*''[[The Brain Drain]]'' (1993)
*''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'' (1994)
*''[[New Best Friend]]'' (1994)
*''Flight'' (1995)
*''Degrees of Error'' (1995)
*''[[Band of Gold (television show)|Band of Gold]]'' (1995)
*''It's Not Unusual'' (1995)
*''[[Drop The Dead Donkey]]'' (1996)
*''A Nice Arrangement'' (1996)
*''[[Beautiful Thing (film)|Beautiful Thing]]'' (1996)
*''Masala FM'' (1996)
*''Crossing The Floor'' (1996)
*''Ruby'' (1997)
*''[[Sixth Happiness]]'' (1997)
*''[[The Book Quiz]]'' (1998)
*''No Crying He Makes'' (1998)
*''Keeping Mum'' (1998)
*''[[Legal Affairs]]'' (1998)
*''The World As We Know It'' (1999)
*''[[The Strangerers]]'' (2000)
*''[[Forgive and Forget (2000 film)|Forgive and Forget]]'' (2000)
*''[[The Kumars at No. 42]]'' (2001–2006)
*''[[Anita and Me (film)|Anita and Me]]'' (2002)
*''[[Bad Girls (TV series)|Bad Girls]]'' (2004) Season 6 Episode 4
*''[[Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee]]'' (2005)
*''[[Murder Investigation Team (TV series)|Murder Investigation Team]]'' (2005)
*''The Secretary Who Stole £4 Million'' (2005)
*''[[The Amazing Mrs Pritchard]]'' (2006)
*''[[Jekyll (TV serial)|Jekyll]]'' (2007)
*''[[Kingdom (British TV series)|Kingdom]]'' (2007)
*''[[Jhoom Barabar Jhoom]]'' (2007)
*''[[When Were We Funniest?]]'' (2008)
*''[[Beautiful People (British TV series)|Beautiful People]]'' (2008–2009)
*''[[Holby City]]'' (2009)
*''[[Desert Flower (film)|Desert Flower]]'' (2009)
*''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'' (2009)
*''[[Horrible Histories (2009 TV series)|Horrible Histories]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Grandpa in My Pocket]]'' (2009)
*''[[Doctor Who (series 5)|Doctor Who]]'': "[[The Hungry Earth]]" (2010) and "[[Cold Blood (Doctor Who)|Cold Blood]]" (2010)
*''[[Tinga Tinga Tales]]'' (2010) Voice of [[Owl]]
*''[[The Jury (TV serial)|The Jury]]'' (2011)
*''[[Hunted (2012 TV series)|Hunted]]'' 2 Episodes (2012)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/ssb6s/hunted--series-1---5-ambassadors |title=Radio Times Hunted Cast List |publisher=Radiotimes.com |access-date=23 August 2013 |archive-date=30 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234502/http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/ssb6s/hunted--series-1---5-ambassadors |url-status=live }}</ref>
*''Bollywood Carmen Live'' (2013)
*''[[The Boy in the Dress (film)|The Boy in the Dress]]'' (2014)
*''[[Absolutely Anything]]'' (2015)
*''[[The Brink (TV series)|The Brink]]'' (2015)
*''[[Broadchurch]]'' (2015)
*''[[Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016 film)|Alice Through the Looking Glass]]'' (2016)
*''[[Doctor Strange (2016 film)|Doctor Strange]]'' (2016)
*''[[Riviera (TV series)|Riviera]]'' (2017)
*''[[Paddington 2]]'' (2017)
*''[[The Split (TV series)|The Split]]'' (2018, 2022)
*''To Provide All People'' (2018)
*''[[Patrick (2018 film)|Patrick]]'' (2018)
*''[[The Nutcracker and the Four Realms]]'' (2018)
*''[[Nativity Rocks!]]'' (2018)
*''[[Yesterday (2019 film)|Yesterday]]'' (2019)
*''[[Dragon Rider (film)|Dragon Rider]]'' (2020)
*''[[Kate & Koji]]'' (2020)
*''[[Spin (2021 film)|Spin]]'' (2021)
*''[[The Wheel of Time]]'' (2021)
*''[[Code 404]]'' (2021)
*''[[Back to Life (TV series)]]'' (2021)
*''[[Roar (2022 TV series)|Roar]]'' (2022)
*''[[The Sandman (TV series)|The Sandman]]'' (2022)
*''[[The Almond and the Seahorse]]'' (2022)
*''[[The Devil's Hour]]'' (2022–2024)
*''[[The Wheel of Time (TV series)|The Wheel of Time]]'' (2023)
*''[[Mrs Sidhu Investigates]]'' (2023)
*''[[The Canterville Ghost (2023 film)|The Canterville Ghost]]'' (2023)
{{div col end}}

== Academic reception ==
Her book ''Anita and Me'' has found its way onto school and university English syllabuses both in Britain and abroad. Scholarly literature on it includes:
*Rocío G. Davis, "India in Britain: Myths of Childhood in Meera Syal's Anita and Me", in Fernando Galván & [[Mercedes Bengoechea]] (ed.), ''On Writing (and) Race in Contemporary Britain'', Universidad de Alcalá 1999, 139–46.
* Ana Maria Sanchez-Arce "Invisible Cities: Being and Creativity in Meera Syal's ''Anita and Me'' and Ben Okri's ''Astonishing the Gods''", in Philip Laplace and Éric Tabuteau (eds), ''Cities on the Margin/ On the Margin of Cities: Representations of Urban Space in Contemporary British and Irish Fiction'', Besançon: Presses Universitaires Franc-Comtoises, 2003: 113–30.
*Graeme Dunphy, "Meena's Mockingbird: From [[Harper Lee]] to Meera Syal", in ''Neophilologus'' 88, 2004, 637–59.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb name|0842935}}
*[https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/meera-syal British Council: Meera Syal]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080803224411/http://www.bafta.org/learning/webcasts/meera-syal-in-conversation,374,BA.html In Conversation with Meera Syal], [[BAFTA]] webcast, March 2008

{{BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Syal, Meera}}
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