Sunetra Sarker(born 25 June 1973)[1]is an English actress and presenter, known for her roles asNisha BatrainBrookside,Anji Mittel inNo Angels,Zoe HannainCasualtyandKaneez ParachainAckley Bridge.In 2014, she took part in thetwelfth seriesofStrictly Come Dancing,partnered withBrendan Cole.Since 2019, she has been a regular participant onCelebrity Gogglebox,partnering withGeorgia Taylor,and became a panellist on the lunch time chat showLoose Womenin 2021.
Sunetra Sarker | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 June 1973 Liverpool,England |
| Alma mater | Brunel University London |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouses | Nick Corfield
(m.2003;div.2013)Scott Carey (m.2018) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Nares Sen-Gupta(great-grandfather) |
Early life
editSarker was born in Liverpool into anIndianfamily.[2]Her father is a retired doctor,[3]and her mother Bisakha taughtIndian classical dance,[4]for which she was awarded anMBEin December 2013.[5]Sarker has a degree in Information Systems for Business in Europe fromBrunel University London.[6]Her great-grandfather was the lawyer, novelist and political activistNares Sen-Gupta.[7][8]She is of Bengali origin.[9]
Career
editSarker has played a wide variety of roles in her career. Her initial success came when she was cast as recurring characterNisha Batrain theChannel 4soap operaBrooksidefrom 1988 to 1991, before returning as a regular from 2000 until 2003.[10]Sarker also starred in the regional soap operaLondon Bridge.[11]This was followed by her portrayal of Anji Mittel inNo Angelsfrom 2004 to 2006.[12]
Sarker's next notable role was portraying the part of Clare Burns in theBBCdramaThe Chase,[13]until the show was pulled after its second series. In 2007, Sarker was a contestant on the celebrity cooking seriesCelebrity MasterChef.[14]Subsequently, Sarker played the role ofDr Zoe Hannain the BBC medical dramaCasualtyfrom December 2007 until May 2016.[15]After her departure was announced, Sarker made a promise to co-starJamie Davisthat she would return for one episode when he decided to leave the programme, a promise she honoured in 2018, appearing in an episode broadcast on 13 January.[16]She later reprised the role for another guest stint, with her return set to air in 2024.[17]
In 2017, she played DCI Jane Burr in the second series ofITV'sSafe House.[18]From 2017 to 2022, Sarker starred in theChannel 4drama seriesAckley BridgeasKaneez Paracha,for which she received the award for Best TV Character at the Asian Media Awards.[19]On 23 July 2021, it was confirmed that Sarker would become a panellist onLoose Women.[20]
Strictly Come Dancing
editIn autumn 2014, Sarker competed in thetwelfth seriesof the BBC'sStrictly Come Dancing,partnered with New Zealand professional dancerBrendan Cole.[21]In the first week, the couple danced aTangoto "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)"byRobert Palmerand scored 24.[22]In the second week they danced aCha-cha-chato "Million Dollar Bill"byWhitney Houstonand scored 26.[23]In the third week the couple danced theAmerican Smoothto "The Way You Look Tonight"from the filmSwing Timeand scored 40, including a 9 from head judgeLen Goodman.[24]Because of Sunetra's filming schedule, the routine had to be learned in a single day.[25]
In the fourth week, the couple danced theSalsato "Turn the Beat Around"byVicki Sue Robinsonand scored 27.[26]In the fifth week the couple danced theViennese Waltzto "Anyone Who Had a Heart"byCilla Blackand scored 30.[27]In week six, opening the show, they danced aJiveto "Tainted Love"byGloria Jonesand scored 27.[28]In week seven they danced aFoxtrotto "All of Me"byJohn Legendand scored 31.[29]In week eight, atBlackpool,they danced aSambato "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"by theScissor Sistersand scored 30.[30]The couple were voted into the dance-off againstJudy MurrayandAnton du Beke,but were unanimously saved by the judges. In week nine they danced aWaltz,to "Last Request"byPaolo Nutini,and again scored 30, placing them in one from last place. The couple was voted into the dance-off withSteve BackshallandOla Jordan,but were saved by three votes to one from the judges. In week ten, they danced aRhumbato "The Girl from Ipanema"byMichael Bolton.They were again voted into the dance-off, againstMark WrightandKaren Hauer,but were unanimously voted out by the judges.[31]
Personal life
editOn 23 February 2017, Sarker and her ancestors were the subject of an episode ofWho Do You Think You Are?shown onBBC Onein which she traced them toBengal.[9]She learned about her family's involvement in the struggle for independence inIndiaand one of her ancestors' connection toGandhi.[9]Travelling next toBangladesh,she visited her great-grandmother's ancestral village where she discovered the story of how her family were caught up in the Bangladeshiwar of independencefromPakistanin 1971.[32]
Sarker married Nick Corfield in 2003 and they have a son, Noah, born in 2001.[33]Sarker and Corfield divorced in 2009.[33]In November 2018 Sarker married Scott Carey, whom she has known since 1991.[33]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–1991, 2000–2003 | Brookside | Nisha Batra | Regular role |
| 1996 | London Bridge | Jyoti Solanki | Recurring role |
| 1999 | Cold Feet | Clare | |
| 2000 | Playing the Field | Dr Meera | |
| 2003 | Doctors | Donna Sykes | |
| Emmerdale | Priti Chowdry | 4 episodes | |
| Eyes Down | Karen | 2 episodes | |
| 2004 | The Smoking Room | Monique | |
| Holby City | Nanda Veer | 1 episode | |
| 2004–2006 | No Angels | Anji Mittel | Main role |
| 2005–2008 | Ideal | Sangita | Main role |
| 2006 | New Street Law | Nita Shibani | |
| 2006–2007 | The Chase | Clare Burns | Main role |
| 2007 | Mobile | DI Lorraine Conil | |
| Celebrity MasterChef | Contestant | ||
| 2007–2016, 2018, 2024 | Casualty | Dr. Zoe Hanna | Main role |
| 2012 | Doctor Who | Indira | 1 episode ( "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship") |
| 2014 | Puppy Love | Lilli Kusiak | 2 episodes |
| Strictly Come Dancing | Contestant | Series 12 | |
| 2017 | Death In Paradise | Hetma Patel | 2 episodes ( "A Man Overboard" Part 1 & 2) |
| Broadchurch | Sahana Harrison | Series 3 | |
| Safe House | DCI Jane Burr | Series 2 | |
| Kin | Becky | Short film | |
| You, Me, Him | Carol | Film | |
| 2017–2022 | Ackley Bridge | Kaneez Paracha | Main role |
| 2018 | Informer | Sadia Shar | Main role; 6 episodes |
| 2019 | Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star | Herself | Guest star |
| 2019 | Celebrity Gogglebox | Herself | Main cast; withGeorgia Taylor |
| 2020 | Cold Feet | Deborah | 3 episodes[11] |
| 2021 | The Bay | Stella | 6 episodes |
| 2021–present | Loose Women | Regular panellist | Panellist |
| 2021 | Hornby: A Model World | Narrator | Series 1 |
| 2023 | Eurovision Welcomes the World | Co-presenter | WithRylan[34] |
| Breeders | Meena | 3 episodes | |
| 2024– | G'wed | Amal | 1 episode ( "Cutthroat Mo" ) |
| 2024– | Professor T | DCI Maiya Goswami | Recurring role[35] |
| 2025 | Playing Nice | Anika Chowdhury | 3 episodes |
| 2025 | Countdown | Herself | 5 episodes |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | TV QuickAwards | Best New Actor/Actress | Brookside | Nominated | [36] |
| 2013 | 18th National Television Awards | Drama Performance: Female | Casualty | Nominated | [37] |
| 2014 | 19th National Television Awards | Drama Performance | Casualty | Nominated | [38] |
| 2016 | Inside SoapAwards | Best Drama Star | Casualty | Nominated | [39] |
| 2019 | Asian Media Awards | Best TV Character | Ackley Bridge | Won | [40] |
References
edit- ^Tina Miles (15 November 2014)."Strictly Come Dancing star Sunetra Sarker dedicated 'Sambanetra' to Liverpool mums".Liverpool Echo.
- ^"Series 12, Strictly Come Dancing - Sunetra Sarker - BBC One".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved13 November2016.
- ^Shennan, Paddy (31 December 2007)."I'm happy to be a Casualty of success".liverpoolecho.Retrieved29 September2014.
- ^"BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing".BBC.Retrieved29 September2014.
- ^Catherine Jones (31 December 2013)."New Year's honours list recognition for Merseysiders - Liverpool Echo".liverpoolecho.
- ^"Sunetra Sarker".sightsavers.net.Retrieved29 September2014.
- ^"Sunetra Sarker: It was 'astonishing' finding my family's links to Gandhi".Whatsontv.co.uk.Retrieved27 February2017.
- ^"BBC iPlayer - Who Do You Think You Are? - Series 13: 9. Sunetra Sarker".BBC.22 February 2017.Retrieved27 February2017.
- ^abc"WDYTYA? episode summary: Sunetra Sarker".Who Do You Think You Are?.20 February 2017.Retrieved9 April2020.
- ^"'Mobile' star Sunetra Sarker ".Digital Spy.Retrieved29 September2014.
- ^abFear, Helen (10 October 2019)."Former Casualty star Sunetra Sarker joins the cast of Cold Feet".Entertainment Daily.Retrieved9 April2020.
- ^"My little angel; Dawn Collinson talks to actress Sunetra Sarker about the joys of motherhood".thefreelibrary.com.Retrieved29 September2014.
- ^"BBC - Drama - The Chase - Other characters".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved29 September2014.
- ^"Five things you didn't know about Strictly Come Dancing beauty Sunetra Sarker".Daily Express.30 November 2014.Retrieved9 April2020.
- ^"Sunetra Sarker (Zoe Hanna, 'Casualty')".Digital Spy.Retrieved29 September2014.
- ^"Sunetra Sarker on Zoe and Max's happy ending: Jamie Davis asked me to come back!".13 January 2018.
- ^Kitson, Calli (8 September 2023)."Zoe Hanna returns to Casualty as Sunetra Sarker reprises role".Metro.Retrieved8 September2023.
- ^"ITV announces brand new season of original event drama Safe House".itv.com.Retrieved13 November2016.
- ^"Sunetra Sarker wins Best TV Character at the Asian Media Awards for her performance in Ackley Bridge".The Forge.
- ^Warner, Sam (23 July 2021)."Loose Women announce two new panellists joining the show".Digital Spy.
- ^"Strictly Come Dancing: Full celebrity line-up confirmed".BBC News.Retrieved5 October2014.
- ^"BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Strictly Week One: Leaderboard".BBC. 27 September 2014.Retrieved5 October2014.
- ^"BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing, Series 12 - Sunetra Sarker".BBC.
- ^"BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Week Three".BBC. 11 October 2014.Retrieved19 October2014.
- ^Cathy Owen (18 October 2014)."How Strictly Come Dancing's Sunetra Sarker splits her time between Cardiff and the dancefloor".Wales Online.
- ^"BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Week Four".BBC. 18 October 2014.Retrieved19 October2014.
- ^"BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Week Five".25 October 2014.
- ^"BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Halloween Week".November 2014.
- ^"BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Week Seven".8 November 2014.
- ^"BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Blackpool".15 November 2014.
- ^"Strictly Come Dancing | Series 12 – 11. Strictly Come Dancing: The Results: Part Two".Radio Times.8 January 2015.Retrieved29 January2015.
- ^"Sunetra Sarker".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved1 December2021.
- ^abc"Casualty star Sunetra Sarker marries long-term partner Scott Carey - see wedding snap".Hello!.12 November 2018.Retrieved9 April2020.
- ^"Eurovision Welcomes the World".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved2 May2023.
- ^"Professor T".itv.com/presscentre.Retrieved15 March2024.
- ^"Welcome to the TVQuick Awards 2001!".TV Quick.H Bauer Publishing.Archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2001.Retrieved19 July2010.
- ^Fletcher, Alex (22 September 2012)."National Television Awards 2013: Longlist nominations in full - vote".Digital Spy.Retrieved2 October2012.
- ^Fletcher, Alex (17 September 2013)."National Television Awards 2014 voting opens: The full longlist".Digital Spy.
- ^Sandwell, Ian (21 June 2016)."Inside SoapAwards 2016 longlist revealed ".Digital Spy.Retrieved23 June2016.
- ^"Asian Media Awards 2019 Winners".Asian Media Awards.25 October 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 13 January 2021.Retrieved11 January2021.