Ambika Mod
{{Short description|British actress, comedian, and writer (born 1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ambika Mod
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Ambika Bhakti Mod
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2 October 1995}}
| birth_place = Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England
| alma_mater = St Mary's College, Durham (BA)
| occupation = Actress, comedian, writer
| years_active = 2019–present
| website =
}}
Ambika Bhakti Mod ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʌ|m|b|ɪ|k|ə|_|ˈ|b|ʌ|k|t|i|_|ˈ|m|əʊ|d}}; born 2 October 1995){{Cite web |title=Ambika Mod: Character of Shruti in BBC's This Is Going To Hurt is important |url=https://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/19916577.ambika-mod-character-shruti-bbcs-going-hurt-important/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Barry And District News |date=11 February 2022 |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall From One Day Take The BFF Test Test | date=8 February 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_s0p-_7DZQ |access-date=2024-02-09 |language=en}} is a British actress, comedian, and writer. She is best known for her roles in the BBC drama series This Is Going to Hurt (2022) and the Netflix miniseries One Day (2024).
Early life and education
Mod grew up in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.funnywomenawards.com/awards/lists/20sl-copy/|title=Stage Awards Semi-Finalists 2020|website=Women Funny Awards|accessdate=11 February 2022}} She is the daughter of Indian immigrants; her mother arrived in the UK as a child, and her father in his 20s.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/this-is-going-to-hurts-ambika-mod-i-have-really-bad-anxiety-l8vwd2vmz|title=This Is Going to Hurt's Ambika Mod: 'I have really bad anxiety'|journal=The Sunday Times|first=Jane|last=Mulkerrins|date=5 March 2022|access-date=9 March 2022}} Mod attended Dame Alice Owen's School.{{Cite journal|url=http://www.oldowens.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/15Dec2015-Newsletter-18.pdf|title=Old Owenian performs at the Fringe!|journal=Old Owenians Newsletter|date=15 December 2015|accessdate=11 February 2022|page=8}} She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Studies from St Mary's College, Durham.{{Cite journal|url=https://issuu.com/dstfirstnight/docs/fn2__1_/s/11856908|title=Catching up with Ambika Mod|journal=DST First Night|date=2021|accessdate=11 February 2022}}
Early in her career, Mod worked as a personal assistant at Condé Nast as her day job while doing comedy at night.{{Cite journal |last=Healy |first=Rachael |date=22 February 2022 |title=This Is Going to Hurt's Ambika Mod: 'Whenever I did a caesarean I was buzzing!' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/feb/22/ambika-mod-this-is-going-to-hurt-shruti-adam-kay-bbc |journal=The Guardian |accessdate=9 March 2022}} She studied acting at Theatrix Performing Arts of St Albans, based at the Abbey Theatre, St Albans. At Durham, she did sketch comedy through the university's Revue,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hercampus.com/school/durham/durham-revues-ambika-mod/|title=The Durham Revue's Ambika Mod!|website=Her Campus|first=Natalie|last=Wall|date=4 March 2016|accessdate=11 February 2022}} performing with Tom Harper at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and serving as the troupe's president in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/latest-news/2022/02/durham-revue-comedyfest/|title=Durham Revue team up with Cambridge Footlights for 'ComedyFest!|website=Durham University|date=10 February 2022|accessdate=11 February 2022}} She formed a duo, Megan from HR, with Andrew Shires.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Keira |date=25 August 2019 |title=Ambika Mod: Within this main narrative we weave in and out of tight, witty sketches which range from observational to a bit more absurd |url=https://thefountain.scot/features/2019/08/ambika-mod-within-this-main-narrative-we-weave-in-and-out-of-tight-witty-sketches-which-range-from-observational-to-a-bit-more-absurd/ |accessdate=11 February 2022 |website=The Fountain |archive-date=11 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211084822/https://thefountain.scot/features/2019/08/ambika-mod-within-this-main-narrative-we-weave-in-and-out-of-tight-witty-sketches-which-range-from-observational-to-a-bit-more-absurd/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite journal |last=Iftikhar |first=Asyia |date=9 February 2022 |title=Ambika Mod Is "Pretty Confident" She Could Do A C-Section IRL |url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/ambika-mod-interview-comedy-timing-bbc-this-is-going-to-hurt |journal=Bustle |accessdate=11 February 2022}} She performs regularly at improvised comedy theatre The Free Association in London.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2019 |title=Harold Night |url=https://thefreeassociation.co.uk/fashowslist/haroldapril-lpwzx-jhaxs-66jmr-rztw8-85nr7 |accessdate=31 March 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Career
Following a series of short films, Fair Bnb, Granddaughter, The Sacrifice (aka Leila Margot) and Pet Name,{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=Obsessed with Ambika Mod in One Day? Here's all her other projects you need to watch |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a46727446/ambika-mod-tv-shows-movies/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-GB}} Mod appeared as Shruti Acharya, a struggling junior doctor alongside Ben Whishaw in Adam Kay's This Is Going to Hurt (2022), a medical drama based on his memoir of the same name.{{cite web |last1=Morris |first1=Lauren |date=16 February 2022 |title=Meet the cast of BBC One's This Is Going to Hurt |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/this-is-going-to-hurt-cast/ |access-date=5 March 2022 |website=Radio Times}} The series earned critical acclaim;{{Cite magazine |date=2022-06-03 |title=This Is Going to Hurt Is the Best Medical Drama in Years |url=https://time.com/6183891/this-is-going-to-hurt-review/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |magazine=TIME |language=en}} The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg praised Mod as the highlight among the "regular female characters" and added that she made "Shruti's earnest fragility into the show's true heart". However, he also acknowledged that her character is used more as a vehicle for Kay's actions.{{Cite web |last=Fienberg |first=Daniel |date=2022-06-01 |title=Ben Whishaw in AMC+'s 'This Is Going to Hurt': TV Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/this-is-going-to-hurt-1235154204/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} For her performance, Mod was chosen for the 2022 BAFTA Breakthrough cohort and received the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actress.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=2023 Awards |url=http://www.broadcastingpressguild.org/2023-awards/}}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title=Meet the 2022 UK Breakthroughs |url=https://www.bafta.org/stories/meet-the-2022-uk-breakthroughs |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=Bafta |language=en}} Through the programme for the former, Mod met Emma Thompson who became her mentor.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Ambika Mod On Starring In 'Dream Come True' 'One Day' |url=https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a46668437/ambika-mod-one-day/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=ELLE |language=en-GB}}
In 2024, Mod played Emma Morley in Netflix's One Day, based on David Nicholls' novel of the same name.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-01 |title=Meet the 'One Day' Netflix cast, from Ambika Mod to White Lotus star Leo Woodall |url=https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/one-day-netflix-cast-plot-trailer |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Glamour UK |language=en-GB}} It tells the story of two young people (Mod and Leo Woodall) who meet annually for 14 years following a one-night stand; she initially declined the part due to the intense nature of her role in This Is Going to Hurt forming doubts about her ability to play a romantic lead.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-09 |title=One Day's Ambika Mod on why she initially turned down playing Emma |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a46693857/one-day-ambika-mod-turned-down-playing-emma/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-GB}} Reflecting on her original decision, she said, "I think part of the reason why I just didn't see myself playing that part was because insidiously and implicitly, that's a message that I’ve been fed my entire life—that people who look like me aren't romantic leads, that people who look like me aren't the people who the male romantic lead will fall in love with".{{Cite web |date=2024-02-16 |title=Ambika Mod Didn't See Herself as a Romantic Lead. Then 'One Day' Happened. |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a46675327/ambika-mod-one-day-interview/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=ELLE |language=en-US}} Her performance received critical acclaim and the role proved to be a major breakthrough in her career.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-09 |title='One Day' is one of this year's defining cultural moments |url=https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/one-day-netflix-review |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Glamour UK |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Sabrina |title=Wondering why One Day actress playing Emma has you sobbing? Here's why |date=11 February 2024 |url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/02/11/may-recognise-netflixs-one-day-star-ambika-mod-a-prior-role-20260525/ |access-date=2024-02-18}} One Day was the most-watched Netflix series globally during the week of its release.{{Cite web |last=Seitz |first=Loree |date=2024-02-20 |title=One Day, Love is Blind Season 6 Lure Netflix TV Viewers |url=https://www.thewrap.com/one-day-love-is-blind-netflix-tv-viewership/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}} Writing for The Guardian, Chitra Ramaswamy commended Mod as a "revelation", and added that, "It is hard to believe this is her first lead role".{{Cite news |last=Ramaswamy |first=Chitra |date=2024-02-06 |title=One Day review – a flawless romcom you'll fall for, hard |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/06/one-day-review-a-flawless-romcom-youll-fall-for-hard-ambika-mod-leo-woodall |access-date=2024-02-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Whilst discussing her character's alteration in ethnicity from the novel and the film adaptation, she expressed her hope that it would "open people's minds a little bit", and said she was "aware how significant it will be to a lot of people, especially young women of colour, young South Asian women in particular".{{Cite news |date=2024-02-08 |title=One Day: I rarely saw people like me in lead roles, says Ambika Mod |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68175306 |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
In 2025, Mod had a small role in Black Bag, the Disney+ thriller series The Stolen Girl and in Sacrifice, an action adventure comedy directed and co-written by Romain Gavras.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-05 |title=One Day star Ambika Mod lands next movie role |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a62818297/one-day-ambika-mod-movie-sacrifice/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=Obsessed with Ambika Mod in One Day? Here's all her other projects you need to watch |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a46727446/ambika-mod-tv-shows-movies/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-GB}}
Media image
In 2024, she was selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 - Europe - Entertainment list, for her advocacy for industry representation as well as her performances in This Is Going to Hurt and One Day.{{Cite web |title=Ambika Mod |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/ambika-mod/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=Forbes |language=en}} The Sunday Times named Mod as one of the 25 most inspiring people aged 30 and under in the UK and Ireland.{{Cite web |last=Swerling |first=Hannah |date=2024-04-27 |title=The 25 most inspiring people aged 30 and under in the UK and Ireland 2024 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/young-power-list-2024-revealed-sunday-times-2h5hmx632 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=The Sunday Times |language=en}} In late 2024, Mod was on Time Magazine's annual list of 100 emerging leaders shaping the future. Mindy Kaling wrote: "it feels like there’s nothing to make you sit up, lean forward, and say, 'Wow, I’ve never seen that before.' But that’s exactly how I felt when I saw Ambika Mod in [...] One Day."{{Cite magazine |last=Kaling |first=Mindy |date=2024-10-02 |title=2024 TIME100 Next: Ambika Mod |url=https://time.com/7023618/ambika-mod/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |magazine=TIME |language=en}} Mod was named one of Harper's Bazaar UK 2024 Women of the Year, and was named their Breakthrough of the Year.{{Cite magazine |date=2024-11-07 |title=Getting ready with Ambika Mod for the Bazaar Women of the Year Awards |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/style-files/a62828649/getting-ready-with-ambika-mod-for-the-bazaar-women-of-the-year-awards/# |access-date=2025-01-24 |magazine=Harper's BAZAAR |language=en-GB}}{{Cite magazine |date=2024-11-01 |title=Women of the Year 2024: Ambika Mod is our Breakthrough winner |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/a62760812/ambika-mod-cover-shoot-interview/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |magazine=Harper's BAZAAR |language=en-GB}} In November 2024, Mod was received one of British GQ's Man of the Year awards.{{Cite web |title=Men of the Year 2024 |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/tags/men-of-the-year |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=British GQ |language=en-GB}}
In February 2025, Mod was selected for Elle's 40 For 40: Women In Film And Television List, a "power list of the women who'll shape the coming decades in film and television." Author Hanna Flint wrote: "Ambika is a rising star in television, [...] she’s reshaping what it means to be a leading lady."{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=40 For 40: The Women In Film And Television Power List |url=https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a63820751/40-for-40-women-in-film-and-television-power-list/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Elle |language=en-GB}}
Acting credits
{{Pending films key}}
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! class="unsortable"| Ref. |
|---|
| 2025
| Angela Childs | |
| {{TBA}}
| {{Pending film|Sacrifice}} | Katie | Post-production |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! class="unsortable" | Ref. |
|---|
| 2019
| Sarah / Average Young Person | Series 4, Episode 6 | |
| 2020
| The B@it | Samantha | Episode: "Ending other people's relationships" | |
| 2021
| Trying | Usher | Series 2, Episode 8: "I'm Scared" | |
| rowspan="3" | 2022
| Shruti Acharya | Main role. Miniseries; Episodes 1-7 |
| Martin Fishback
| Samah | Television special | align="center" | {{Cite web |title=BBC Two - Martin Fishback |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0014bxd |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} |
| I Hate Suzie
| Una Finch | Series 2, Episodes 1&3 |
| 2024
| One Day | Emma Morley | Main role. Miniseries; Episodes 1-14 |
| 2025
| Selma Desai | Main role. Miniseries; Episodes 1-5 |
=Theatre=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Venue ! class="unsortable" | Ref. |
|---|
| 2015
| Cirque du Silly | Self |
| 2019
| Children of the Quorn | Self | Edinburgh Fringe Festival |
| rowspan="2" | 2024
| 3 | Self | Edinburgh Fringe Festival |
| White Rabbit Red Rabbit
| Self | align="center" | {{Cite web |title=White Rabbit Red Rabbit |url=https://sohoplace.org/shows/white-rabbit-red-rabbit |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=@sohoplace |language=en}} |
| 2025
| Porn Play | Ani |
=Audio=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! class="unsortable" | Ref. |
|---|
| 2022
| Captain Chopra |
| 2024
| Audible |
=Other television appearances=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! class="unsortable" | Ref. |
|---|
| 2024
| Comic Relief: Funny for Money | Self | Red Nose Day fundraising telethon |
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|ambikamod}}
- {{Instagram|ambikamod}}
- {{IMDb name|10225996}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mod, Ambika}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century English comedians
Category:Actors from Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Category:Actresses from Hertfordshire
Category:Alumni of St Mary's College, Durham
Category:British sketch comedians
Category:English people of Indian descent
Category:English women comedians
Category:Actors educated at Dame Alice Owen's School
Category:People from Potters Bar
Category:21st-century English actresses