Taj Atwal
Born
Norwich, Norfolk, England
Alma materGuildford School of Acting
OccupationActress
Years active2012–present

Taj Atwal[1] is a British actress from Norwich, who has appeared in Stella, In the Club, Line of Duty, TV drama The Syndicate and comedy Hullraisers.

Biography

Atwal was born in Norwich to an Indian family.[2][3][4] After her mother lost her job at the Rowntree's factory in Norwich and was offered a job in York, Atwal moved there with her mother when aged about seven.[4] Living in Haxby, Atwal participated in stage productions at Easingwold School.[4] She had to leave her home aged 16, and lived with volunteers from the homeless charity SASH (Safe and Sound Homes) for two years, and attended York College from 2004 to 2007, obtaining distinctions in both a National Award in Dance and a National Diploma qualification in Performing Arts (Acting). For her graduate production, she played Anitra in Peer Gynt. Having gained funding through Dance and Drama Awards, she then became a student at Guildford School of Acting.[5][6][7][8]

In 2013 she played Amani Sarin, a teacher who suffers alopecia due to stress and then lies that she has cancer, in an episode of the anthology series Moving On.[9] Later roles include Jasminder in Stella,[10] Jasmin in In the Club,[10] and PC Tatleen Sohota in the fifth series of Line of Duty (2019).[11] She chose to join the cast of The Syndicate rather than continue in Line of Duty.[12]

Her stage roles include Meenah in East Is East (2014–2015), and Rita in a 2018 production of Rita, Sue and Bob Too.[13] Atwal is an ambassador for Children's Air Ambulance.[10] In 2020 she became a patron of Theatre@41 in York.[6]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2014 Puja Nughts Priya Shah Short film
2015 A.K.A Nadia Fayza
2018 Death on the Tyne[14] Tracy Television film
2020 Muse Kay Short film
2021 The Protégé Seema
2022 Do This for Me Beca Short film
Memory Linda Amistead
What's Love Got to Do with It? Sumaira
Christmas Carole Bobbie Television film

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2012 In with the Flynns Megan Episode: "The Tandyman"
Miranda Emma Episode: "It Was Panning"
2012-2016 Stella Jasminder Choudary Recurring role [10]
2013 Love Matters Uzma Episode: "Kitten Chic"
Moving On Amani Sarin Episode: "The Value" [9]
2014-2016 In the Club Jasmin Sidhwa Series regular [10]
2015-2016 Thunderbirds Are Go Madeline Lemaire 3 episodes, voice role [15]
2016 The Break Episode: "Breaking the Code" [16]
2017 No Offence Tulip Panesar 1 episode [17]
2018 This World Nusba Episode: "Murdered for Love? Samia Shahid"
2019 Pitching In Reshma Series regular
Line of Duty Tatleen Recurring role [11]
Cold Call Hana Series regular [18]
The Diary of My Broken Vagina Laura [19]
2020 Van der Valk Aamina/Zafira Jabara Episode: "Only in Amsterdam" [20]
Truth Seekers Elara Recurring role [10]
2021 The Syndicate Roxy Varma Series regular [10]
2022, 2023 Hullraisers Rana Series regular
2022 The Control Room Leigh Mini-series
Trying Maya Recurring role

Theatre

Dates Title Role Venue Ref.
2014–2015 East is East Meenah Trafalgar Studios and tour [21][22]
2016 Educating Rita Rita Hull Truck Theatre [23]
2018 Rita, Sue and Bob Too Rita Royal Court Theatre [13]
2021 Maryland Fury Royal Court Theatre [24]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Title Result Ref.
2023 British Academy Television Awards Best Female Comedy Performance Hullraisers Nominated [25]

References

  1. ^ "British actress Taj Atwal is all about living a complete life". Vogue Singapore. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  2. ^ British actress Taj Atwal about living a complete life. Vogue Singapore.
  3. ^ Fulton, Rick (30 April 2016). "Actress Hermione Norris on her refreshing new show In the Club with all-female cast". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 April 2021. Taj Atwal, 28
  4. ^ a b c Hutchinson, Charles (9 November 2017). "York actress Taj Atwal back on the Theatre Royal stage that shaped her career". The Press. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  5. ^ Dodd, George (27 August 2019). "Line of Duty actress Taj Atwal returns to York to research play with SASH". The Press. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b Walton, Simon (11 August 2020). "Line of Duty star Taj Atwal to become patron of York's Theatre@41". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  7. ^ Jefferson-Brown, Nadia (26 August 2014). "College inspired TV star Taj Atwal to reach for the top". The Press. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. ^ Bell, Jennifer (23 July 2008). "Recognising achievements". The Press. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Jimmy McGovern's Moving On". BBC. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Poole, Cameron (9 April 2021). "Taj Atwal". 1883 Magazine. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  11. ^ a b Ramsden, Sam (28 March 2021). "Taj Atwal Struggled with the Line Of Duty Acronyms, Too". bustle.com. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  12. ^ Molina-Whyte, Lidia (23 March 2021). "Line of Duty star explains decision to leave show for The Syndicate". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  13. ^ a b Billington, Michael (12 January 2018). "Rita, Sue and Bob Too review – Dunbar's comedy bleaker than ever in #MeToo era". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  14. ^ Duke, Simon (15 December 2018). "Death on the Tyne to be must-watch TV this Christmas and it's set on Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry". chroniclelive.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  15. ^ Percival, Ash (7 April 2019). "Line Of Duty Cast: Who Are The Characters In Series 5? Plus Here's Where You've Seen The Actors Before". huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  16. ^ "The Break". BBC. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  17. ^ "No Offence(18/01/2017) (2017)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Acorn TV: Cold Call". Acorn TV. 21 November 2019.
  19. ^ "Channel 4 announces six new Blaps". Channel 4. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  20. ^ Bley Griffiths, Eleanor. "Meet the cast of ITV's Van Der Valk". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  21. ^ Shilling, Jane (17 October 2014). "Strong drama in need of bigger monster". The Daily Telegraph. London. p. 36.
  22. ^ Wallwork, Melanie (27 January 2015). "Review: East is East, Opera House, Manchester". The Bolton News. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  23. ^ Ahad, Nick (17 June 2016). "Stella star gets acting education in Hull". The Yorkshire Post.
  24. ^ "Maryland by Lucy Kirkwood". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Bafta TV awards 2023: the full list of winners". The Guardian. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.

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