
Meera Syal | Ambassador
Meera Syal CBE, graduated Manchester University with a double first in English & Drama. Her many acting credits include Beatrice in the RSC’s Much Ado About Nothing, Zehrunissa in David Hare’s Behind The Beautiful Forevers (National Theatre) and The Nurse in Kenneth Branagh’s production of Romeo and Juliet. She was also writer-performer in the multi award winning comedy series Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars At Number 42. Her screenplays include Bhaji On The Beach, Anita And Me and My Sister Wife. Her first novel Anita And Me won the Betty Trask Award and is on the national schools curriculum. Her other critically acclaimed novels, Life Isnt All Ha Ha Hee Hee and The House Of Hidden Mothers she adapted for television. Meera is the recipient of several national awards including 2 British Comedy Awards, 2 International EMMYS, a BAFTA nomination, the Whats On Stage Award for Best Solo Performance for Shirley in Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine, 2 AFA, 2 RIMA awards and the Women In Film And Television Award for Creative Innovation. She holds honorary doctorates from SOAS and Manchester and Birmingham Universities and was visiting Professor Of Drama at Oxford University in 2012. She was awarded the CBE for Services To Drama And Literature in 2015.