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Balvinder Sopal | |
|---|---|
 Sopal in 2021 | |
| Born | 4 December 1978 Chatham, Kent, England |
| Education | University of Huddersfield |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Notable work | EastEnders (2020–present) |
Balvinder Sopal (born 4 December 1978) is an English actress, whose acting career has spanned over two decades. She rose to prominence for her portrayal as Suki Panesar in the BBC soap opera EastEnders since January 2020. Her most notable storyline includes her on-off affair with Eve Unwin. Sopal has also appeared in other British soap operas including Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Doctors and Hollyoaks.
Early life
Balvinder Sopal was born on 4 December 1978 in Chatham, Medway.[1][2] She is the eldest of four children and was brought up in Gillingham, Medway.[3]
She attended the University of Huddersfield.[3]
Career
Sopal made her professional acting debut as Bhelua in The Beautiful Violin at Oldham Coliseum Theatre in 2001.[4] She then went on to appear in stage productions such as Absent Friends, Relatively Speaking and The Tales of the Harrow.[5][6] Sopal made her onscreen debut in a 2001 episode of the BBC series Kidhaar! as Reena directed by Kate Rowland.[5] In 2008, she appeared in the BBC film White Girl as Fatima.[6]
From 2009 to 2018, Sopal made numerous appearances in four British soap operas; Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Doctors and Hollyoaks.[7][8] In December 2019, Sopal was cast in her first regular role in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Suki Panesar.[9] Her first scene aired on 27 January 2020.[9]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Kidhaar! | Reena | 1 episode |
| 2008 | White Girl | Fatima | Television film |
| 2009 | Coming Up | Sofia | Episode: "Adha Cup" |
| 2009, 2014, 2017–2018 | Emmerdale | Legal Aid Solicitor / DC Graves / DC Khan | 5 episodes |
| 2010 | Five Days | Detainee's Wife | Episode: "Day 8" |
| Waterloo Road | Doctor | 1 episode | |
| 2013, 2017 | Coronation Street | P.C. Marks | 4 episodes |
| 2018 | Call the Midwife | Mumtaz Gani | 1 episode |
| Doctors | Aafiyah Choudary | Episode: "Without and Within" | |
| Hollyoaks | Liz | 4 episodes | |
| 2020–present | EastEnders | Suki Panesar | Regular role |
| 2023 | EastEnders: The Six | Herself | 2 episodes |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Anatomy of a Crime | Dr Ali | Film |
| 2012 | Naachle London | Laxmi Khan | |
| Perfume | Mam | Short film | |
| 2014 | Honeycomb Lodge | Jas' Girlfriend |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Beautiful Violin | Bhelua |
| 2004 | Absent Friends | Evelyn |
| 2006 | Relatively Speaking | Ginny |
| 2008 | Beast Market | Various |
| 2008 | Mela | Mariam |
| 2009 | Table Manners | Annie |
| 2009 | Counted? | Various |
| 2010 | The House of Bilquis Bibi | Zainab |
| 2010 | The Tales of the Narrow Road | Mukti |
| 2011 | Behna | Masi Ji |
| 2012–2013 | The Snow Queen | Snow Queen/Goddess |
| 2013 | Our Glass House | Sufiya |
| 2014, 2016 | Stowaway | Salma/Debbie |
| 2014 | Home Sweet Home | Daadi |
| 2015 | The Deranged Marriage | Lata |
| 2015 | Storm in a Chai Cup | Reet |
| 2015 | The Edge | The Edge |
| 2016 | Sleepless | Cosima Trevison |
| 2017 | Running Wild | Mum |
| 2017 | Partition | Denise |
| 2018 | The Thing that Came to Dinner | Mrs Caldwell |
| 2018 | Delete | Sue |
| 2019 | Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile | Mo |
| 2019 | My Beautiful Laundrette | Bilquis/Moose |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Villain | EastEnders | Nominated | [10] |
| 2020 | I Talk Telly Awards | Best Soap Newcomer | EastEnders | Nominated | [11] |
| 2020 | Digital Spy Reader Awards | Best Newcomer | EastEnders | Second | [12] |
| 2021 | 26th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | EastEnders | Nominated | [13] |
| 2021 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actress | EastEnders | Nominated | [14] |
| 2021 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Villain | EastEnders | Nominated | [14] |
| 2021 | Digital Spy Reader Awards | Best Actor (Female) | EastEnders | Third | [15] |
| 2022 | Asian Media Awards | Best TV Character | EastEnders | Won | [16] |
| 2022 | Digital Spy Reader Awards | Best Soap Couple (with Heather Peace) | EastEnders | Second | [17] |
| 2023 | 28th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | EastEnders | Nominated | [18] |
| 2023 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Partnership (with Peace) | EastEnders | Nominated | [19] |
| 2023 | Digital Spy Reader Awards | Best Actor | EastEnders | Fourth | [20] |
| 2023 | Digital Spy Reader Awards | Best Soap Couple (with Peace) | EastEnders | Won | [20] |
| 2024 | RadioTimes.com Soap Awards | Best Actor | EastEnders | Won | [21] |
References
- ^ @BalvinderSopal (6 December 2020). "@DuncanLindsay Honestly - I do think people sense kindred spirits. Mine was on the 4th! ☺️ Have a beautiful day. x" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @DominicKingBBC (21 January 2021). "The Conversation" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 January 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Javin, Val (26 June 2008). "Bal faces up to a key role". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Iain Bloomfield Archived 13 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Spotlight: Balvinder Sopal". Spotlight. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Profiling: Balvinder Sopal". Dick and Lottie. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ "EastEnders casts Balvinder Sopal as Suki Kaur". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ Slade, Alison (22 December 2019). "EastEnders announces 'powerful, ruthless and Machiavellian' new character arriving in the New Year". Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ a b Edwards, Chris (22 December 2019). "Former Coronation Street star Balvinder Sopal joins EastEnders as the Panesars' mum". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ^ "Inside Soap Awards reveals full longlist for 2020's ceremony". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ Gonzalez, Elliot (8 November 2020). "I TALK TELLY AWARDS 2020 Nominees". I Talk Telly.
- ^ Robinson, Abby (25 December 2020). "EastEnders triumphs at Digital Spy Reader Awards 2020". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ Lovejoy, Hannah (25 May 2021). "Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars land National Television Award nominations". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ a b Alexander, Susannah (28 September 2021). "Inside Soap Awards announces 2021 longlist as voting opens – here's who's up for prizes". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ Draper, Joe (21 December 2021). "The Digital Spy Reader Awards 2021 full results". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Tenth Asian Media Awards Winners Announced In Manchester". Asian Media Awards. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ Rowan, Iona (27 December 2022). "EastEnders wins big at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2022". Digital Spy.
- ^ Cormack, Morgan (23 May 2023). "NTAs 2023 longlist revealed – SAS Rogue Heroes, Call the Midwife and more". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ Alexander, Susannah (19 September 2023). "Inside Soap Awards 2023 announces final shortlist for 2023 ceremony". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ a b Zammitt, Erin. "EastEnders sweeps the board at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2023". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ Daly, Helen (9 May 2024). "RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024 nominations revealed". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
External links
