Varada Sethu (born Varada Sethumadhavan, 12 May 1992) is a British actor, best known for playing Detective Sergeant Mishal Ali in BBC television series Hard Sun (2018), Cinta Kaz in the Disney+ Star Wars series Andor (2022–present) and Belinda Chandra in the BBC-Disney+ co-production Doctor Who (2025–present). In 2010, Sethu won the Miss Newcastle beauty pageant competition.
Varada Sethu | |
|---|---|
 Sethu in 2022 | |
| Born | Varada Sethumadhavan 12 May 1992 Kerala, India |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Dame Allan's Schools, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Known for | Hard Sun (2018) Strike Back (2019–2020) Star Wars: Andor (2022–present) Doctor Who (2025–) |
Early life
editSethu and her twin sister, Abhaya, were born in Kerala, India,[1] and are of Malayali descent.[2][1] Sethu's parents are both doctors. Having moved to the North East of England at a young age, she grew up in Benton, Tyne and Wear,[3] near Newcastle upon Tyne. Sethu attended Dame Allan’s Schools and was a member of the National Youth Theatre.[3] During her final year of sixth form, Sethu won the 2010 Miss Newcastle competition.[1] She went on to study veterinary medicine at University of Bristol, later switching to physiology.[1] Sethu has been performing both Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam from a young age.[1] Sethu continued her acting education at the Identity School of Acting in London.[4][5]
Career
editIn 2010, Sethu made her debut appearance on screen in the short film Impressions as Samena.[6] In 2011, Sethu landed the role of Kiran in the feature film Sket,[3] then as Meghana Scariah in English: An Autumn in London in 2012. In 2015 she made an appearance in the 2000 TV series Doctors as PC Kylie Green.
Her career continued in 2016 appearing as Peaseblossom in a 2016 TV movie version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.[4] Also in 2016, Sethu acted alongside Michael Caine and Daniel Radcliffe in Now You See Me 2 and as an Indian nurse in New Blood.
In 2017, Sethu starred as Aisha in 2 episodes of Doctor Foster.
In 2018, Sethu starred as DS Mishal Ali for six episodes in the BBC apocalyptic TV crime Series Hard Sun.[7]
In 2019, Sethu performed as a series regular in season seven of Strike Back: Revolution as Lance Corporal Manisha Chetri of the British Army.[8][9]
She played rebel Cinta Kaz in the 2022 first season of Andor.[2]
Sethu is set to portray the companion Belinda Chandra in Doctor Who alongside Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday in Series 15 in 2025.[10][11] Prior to this, she played Mundy Flynn in the Series 14 episode "Boom".[12]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Impressions (short film) [6] | Sameena |
| 2011 | Sket[3] | Kiran |
| 2012 | English: An Autumn in London | Meghana Scariah |
| 2016 | A Midsummer Night's Dream[13] | Peaseblossom |
| Now You See Me 2[13] | Tressler Assistant | |
| 2018 | Special Delivery (Short film) | Parminder |
| 2020 | Bad News (short film) | Mindi |
| 2022 | Jurassic World Dominion | Shira |
| I Came By | Naserine 'Naz' Raheem |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Doctors | PC Kylie Green | 1 episode |
| 2016 | New Blood | Indian Nurse | 3 episodes[13] |
| 2017 | Doctor Foster | Aisha | 2 episodes[7][13] |
| 2018 | Hard Sun | DS Mishal Ali | 6 episodes[7] |
| 2019 | Strike Back: Revolution | Lance Corporal Manisha Chetri, British Army | 10 episodes[9] |
| Hanna | CIA Analyst McArthur | 2 episodes | |
| 2020 | Strike Back: Vendetta | Lance Corporal Manisha Chetri, British Army | 9 episodes |
| 2023–present | Annika | DS Harper Weston | 4 episodes |
| 2022–present | Andor | Cinta Kaz | 8 episodes; starring role |
| 2024 | Doctor Who | Mundy Flynn | Series 14: "Boom" (guest cast) |
| 2025 | Belinda Chandra[11] | Series 15 (main cast) |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Latest News". ukmalayalee.com. 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ a b Speicher, Jeffrey (30 October 2022). "Vel and Cinta's Relationship Shows Nothing Comes Before the Rebellion". Collider. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Geordie actress Aimee Kelly in line for film award". chroniclelive.co.uk. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Portfolio: Varada Sethu". identityschoolofacting.com. 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021.
- ^ N, Aswin V. (22 November 2022). "Kerala-born British actor Varada Sethu on playing a rebel in 'Star Wars' show 'Andor'". The Hindu.
- ^ a b "Impressions (Short Film)". dailymotion.com. 2010.
- ^ a b c "Meet the cast of BBC1s hard Sun". radiotimes.com. 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ "Strike Back's Varada Sethu: 'It Really Is A Season Unlike Any Other'". nerdophiles.com. 28 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Strike Back: 10 Best Characters Killed Off Prematurely In The Show". Screen Rant. 24 April 2020.
- ^ "Doctor Who - First Look at Ncuti Gatwa with Varada Sethu and Millie Gibson ahead of season two". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ a b James Hibbs (27 July 2024). "Doctor Who reveals who Varada Sethu will be playing". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Stephen Kelly (15 May 2024). "Steven Moffat has written another Doctor Who classic". inew.co.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d "From Miss Newcastle to TV star and the other North East female stars making it big". chroniclelive.co.uk. 2018.