Sunetra Sarker
{{Short description|British actress, TV presenter (born 1973)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| caption = Sarker as her character Zoe Hanna in Casualty.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1973|06|25}}
| birth_place = Liverpool, England
| othername =
| occupation = Actress
| yearsactive = 1988–present
| alma_mater = Brunel University London
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Nick Corfield|2003|2012|end=divorced}}
- {{marriage|Scott Carey|2018}}
}}
| children = 1
| relatives = Nares Chandra Sen-Gupta (great-grandfather)
}}
Sunetra Sarker (born 25 June 1973){{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/strictly-come-dancing-star-sunetra-8116585|title=Strictly Come Dancing star Sunetra Sarker dedicated 'Sambanetra' to Liverpool mums|author=Tina Miles|date=15 November 2014|work=Liverpool Echo}} is an English actress and presenter, known for her roles as Nisha Batra in Brookside, Anji Mittel in No Angels, Zoe Hanna in Casualty, and Kaneez Paracha in Ackley Bridge. In 2014, she took part in the twelfth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Brendan Cole. Since 2019, she has been a regular participant on Celebrity Gogglebox, partnering with Georgia Taylor, and became a panellist on the lunch time chat show Loose Women in 2021.
Early life
Sarker was born in Liverpool into an Indian family.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1Kg9HdCTnNHqQZWDKgGh8Ym/sunetra-sarker|title=Series 12, Strictly Come Dancing - Sunetra Sarker - BBC One|publisher=bbc.co.uk|access-date=13 November 2016}} Her father is a retired doctor,{{cite news|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/im-happy-casualty-success-3498099|title=I'm happy to be a Casualty of success|work=liverpoolecho|date=31 December 2007 |access-date=29 September 2014|last1=Shennan |first1=Paddy }} and her mother Bisakha taught Indian classical dance,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m8dq|title=BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing|work=BBC|access-date=29 September 2014}} for which she was awarded an MBE in December 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/new-years-honours-list-recognition-6455995|title=New Year's honours list recognition for Merseysiders - Liverpool Echo|author=Catherine Jones|date=31 December 2013|work=liverpoolecho}} Sarker has a degree in Information Systems for Business in Europe from Brunel University London.{{cite web|url=http://www.sightsavers.net/about_us/media_centre/celebrities/11297.html|title=Sunetra Sarker|publisher=sightsavers.net|access-date=29 September 2014}} Her great-grandfather was the lawyer, novelist and political activist Nares Chandra Sen-Gupta.{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/news/sunetra-sarker-astonishing-links-gandhi-451980/ |title=Sunetra Sarker: It was 'astonishing' finding my family's links to Gandhi |website=Whatsontv.co.uk |access-date=2017-02-27}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08gdgkw/who-do-you-think-you-are-series-13-9-sunetra-sarker |title=BBC iPlayer - Who Do You Think You Are? - Series 13: 9. Sunetra Sarker |website=BBC |date=2017-02-22 |access-date=2017-02-27}} She is of Bengali origin.{{Cite web|url=http://m.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/wdytya-episode-summary-sunetra-sarker|title=WDYTYA? episode summary: Sunetra Sarker|work=Who Do You Think You Are?|date=20 February 2017|access-date=9 April 2020}}
Career
Sarker has played a wide variety of roles in her career. Her initial success came when she was cast as recurring character Nisha Batra in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside from 1988 to 1991, before returning as a regular from 2000 until 2003.{{Cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/interviews/a44483/mobile-star-sunetra-sarker.html#~oF7UOxyq3Pr6Uv|title='Mobile' star Sunetra Sarker|work=Digital Spy|access-date=29 September 2014}} Sarker also starred in the regional soap opera London Bridge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/tv/former-casualty-star-sunetra-sarker-joins-the-cast-of-cold-feet/?format=amp|title=Former Casualty star Sunetra Sarker joins the cast of Cold Feet|work=Entertainment Daily|date=10 October 2019|last=Fear|first=Helen|access-date=9 April 2020}} This was followed by her portrayal of Anji Mittel in No Angels from 2004 to 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/My+little+angel%3B+Dawn+Collinson+talks+to+actress+Sunetra+Sarker+about...-a0142679176|title=My little angel; Dawn Collinson talks to actress Sunetra Sarker about the joys of motherhood.|publisher=thefreelibrary.com|access-date=29 September 2014}}
Sarker's next notable role was portraying the part of Clare Burns in the BBC drama The Chase,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/chase/other_characters.shtml|title=BBC - Drama - The Chase - Other characters|publisher=bbc.co.uk|access-date=29 September 2014}} until the show was pulled after its second series. In 2007, Sarker was a contestant on the celebrity cooking series Celebrity MasterChef.{{Cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/542052/Strictly-Come-Dancing-Sunetra-Sarker/amp|work=Daily Express|title=Five things you didn't know about Strictly Come Dancing beauty Sunetra Sarker|date=30 November 2014|access-date=9 April 2020}} Subsequently, Sarker played the role of Dr Zoe Hanna in the BBC medical drama Casualty from December 2007 until May 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s18/casualty/interviews/a152327/sunetra-sarker-zoe-hanna-casualty.html|title=Sunetra Sarker (Zoe Hanna, 'Casualty')|work=Digital Spy|access-date=29 September 2014}} After her departure was announced, Sarker made a promise to co-star Jamie Davis that 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/casualty/casualty-news/sunetra-sarker-zoe-max-reunited-512293/|title=Sunetra Sarker on Zoe and Max's happy ending: Jamie Davis asked me to come back!|date=13 January 2018}} She later reprised the role for another guest stint, with her return set to air in 2024.{{cite news |last1=Kitson |first1=Calli |title=Zoe Hanna returns to Casualty as Sunetra Sarker reprises role |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/09/08/zoe-hanna-returns-casualty-sunetra-sarker-19470154/ |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=Metro |date=8 September 2023}}
In 2017, she played DCI Jane Burr in the second series of ITV's Safe House.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-announces-brand-new-season-original-event-drama-safe-house|title=ITV announces brand new season of original event drama Safe House|publisher=itv.com|access-date=13 November 2016}} From 2017 to 2022, Sarker starred in the Channel 4 drama series Ackley Bridge as Kaneez Paracha, for which she received the award for Best TV Character at the Asian Media Awards.{{Cite news|url=https://theforgeentertainment.co.uk/sunetra-sarker-wins-best-tv-character-asian-media-awards-performance-ackley-bridge/|title=Sunetra Sarker wins Best TV Character at the Asian Media Awards for her performance in Ackley Bridge|work=The Forge}} On 23 July 2021, it was confirmed that Sarker would become a panellist on Loose Women.{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a37112343/loose-women-new-panellists-sunetra-sarker-katie-piper/|title=Loose Women announce two new panellists joining the show|last=Warner|first=Sam|work=Digital Spy|date=23 July 2021}}
=''Strictly Come Dancing''=
{{Main|Strictly Come Dancing (series 12)}}
In autumn 2014, Sarker competed in the twelfth series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with New Zealand professional dancer Brendan Cole.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28980260|title=Strictly Come Dancing: Full celebrity line-up confirmed|work=BBC News|access-date=5 October 2014}} In the first week, the couple danced a Tango to "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" by Robert Palmer and scored 24.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/posts/Strictly-Week-One-Leaderboard|title=BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Strictly Week One: Leaderboard|date=27 September 2014 |publisher=BBC|access-date=5 October 2014}} In the second week, they danced a Cha-cha-cha to "Million Dollar Bill" by Whitney Houston and scored 26.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1Kg9HdCTnNHqQZWDKgGh8Ym/sunetra-sarker|title=BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing, Series 12 - Sunetra Sarker|work=BBC}} In the third week, the couple danced the American Smooth to "The Way You Look Tonight" from the film Swing Time and scored 40, including a 9 from head judge Len Goodman.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/posts/Leaderboard-Week-Three|title=BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Week Three|date=11 October 2014 |publisher=BBC|access-date=19 October 2014}} Because of Sunetra's filming schedule, the routine had to be learned in a single day.{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/how-strictly-come-dancings-sunetra-7956874|title=How Strictly Come Dancing's Sunetra Sarker splits her time between Cardiff and the dancefloor|author=Cathy Owen|work=Wales Online|date=18 October 2014 }}
In the fourth week, the couple danced the Salsa to "Turn the Beat Around" by Vicki Sue Robinson and scored 27.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/posts/Leaderboard-Week-Four|title=BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Week Four|date=18 October 2014 |publisher=BBC|access-date=19 October 2014}} In the fifth week, the couple danced the Viennese Waltz to "Anyone Who Had a Heart" by Cilla Black and scored 30.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/posts/Leaderboard-Week-Five|title=BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Week Five|date=25 October 2014 }} In week six, opening the show, they danced a Jive to "Tainted Love" by Gloria Jones and scored 27.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/posts/Leaderboard-Halloween-Week|title=BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Halloween Week|date=November 2014 }} In week seven, they danced a Foxtrot to "All of Me" by John Legend and scored 31.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/posts/2014-Leaderboard-Week-Seven|title=BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Week Seven|date=8 November 2014 }} In week eight, at Blackpool, they danced a Samba to "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" by the Scissor Sisters and scored 30.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/posts/Leaderboard-Blackpool|title=BBC – Blogs – Strictly Come Dancing – Leaderboard: Blackpool|date=15 November 2014 }} The couple were voted into the dance-off against Judy Murray and Anton du Beke, but were unanimously saved by the judges. In week nine, they danced a Waltz, to "Last Request" by Paolo Nutini, and again scored 30, placing them in one from last place. The couple was voted into the dance-off with Steve Backshall and Ola Jordan, but were saved by three votes to one from the judges. In week ten, they danced a Rhumba to "The Girl from Ipanema" by Michael Bolton. They were again voted into the dance-off, against Mark Wright and Karen Hauer, but were unanimously voted out by the judges.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/c84fph/strictly-come-dancing--series-12---11-strictly-come-dancing-the-results-part-two |title=Strictly Come Dancing | Series 12 – 11. Strictly Come Dancing: The Results: Part Two |work=Radio Times |date=8 January 2015 |access-date=29 January 2015}}
Personal life
On 23 February 2017, Sarker and her ancestors were the subject of an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? shown on BBC One in which she traced them to Bengal. She learned about her family's involvement in the struggle for independence in India and one of her ancestors' connection to Gandhi. Travelling next to Bangladesh, she visited her great-grandmother's ancestral village where she discovered the story of how her family were caught up in the Bangladeshi war of independence from Pakistan in 1971.{{cite web|title=Sunetra Sarker |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08gdgkw|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=1 December 2021}}
Sarker married Nick Corfield in 2003 and they have a son, Noah, born in 2001.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2018111264473/strictly-star-sunetra-sarker-marries-partner-scott-carey/?viewas=amp |title=Casualty star Sunetra Sarker marries long-term partner Scott Carey - see wedding snap |date=12 November 2018 |work=Hello! |access-date=9 April 2020}} Sarker and Corfield divorced in 2012. In November 2018, Sarker married Scott Carey, whom she has known since 1991.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Old Man and the Silence | (unknown) | Short film |
| 2016 | Penny from Heaven | Jane | Short film. Also executive producer |
| rowspan="2"|2017 | Kin | Becky | Short film |
| You, Me and Him | Carol | ||
| 2023 | Grey Matter | Psychiatrist |
=Television=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–1991, 2000–2003 | Brookside | Nisha Batra | Regular role. 155 episodes |
| 1991 | Bread | Nurse | Series 7; episode 5 |
| 1993 | Cracker | Receptionist | Series 1; episode 1: "The Mad Woman in the Attic: Part 1" |
| 1997 | Flight | Virinder | Television film |
| rowspan="4"|1999 | Wing and a Prayer | Sameena Kamal | Series 2; episode 3 |
| London Bridge | Jyoti Solanki | Series 4; episode 23 | |
| Cold Feet | Clare | Series 2; episode 5 | |
| Starting Out | Karen | Episodes 2, 4 & 5 | |
| 2000 | Playing the Field | Dr. Meera | Series 3; episode 5, & series 4; episode 7 |
| rowspan="3"|2003 | Doctors | Donna Sykes | Series 5; episode 38: "All the Lonely People" |
| Emmerdale | Priti Chowdry | 4 episodes | |
| Eyes Down | Karen | Series 1; episodes 1 & 6: "Holiday Rota" & "The Clairvoyant" | |
| rowspan="3"|2004 | If... | (unknown) | Series 1; episode 2: "If... Things Don't Get Better" |
| Holby City | Nanda Veer | Series 6; episode 36: "Well Meet Again" | |
| The Smoking Room | Monique | Series 1: episodes 1 & 8; "Doo Di Dum Di Da" & "Happy Birthday" | |
| 2004–2006 | No Angels | Anji Mittel | Main role. Series 1–3; 26 episodes |
| 2005–2008 | Ideal | Sangita | Main role. Series 1, 2 & 4; 9 episodes |
| 2006 | New Street Law | Nita Shibani | Series 1; episode 1 |
| 2006–2007 | The Chase | Clare Burnes | Main role. Series 1 & 2; 20 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2007 | Mobile | DI Lorraine Conil | Mini-series; episodes 1–3 |
| Celebrity MasterChef | Herself - Contestant | Series 2; episode 9 | |
| 2007–2016, 2018, 2024 | Casualty | Dr. Zoe Hanna | Main role. 11 series; 339 episodes. Also director on 2 episodes & producer on 2 more |
| 2012 | Doctor Who | Indira | Series 7; episode 2: "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" |
| rowspan="2"|2014 | Puppy Love | Lilli Kusiak | Episodes 4 & 6 |
| Strictly Come Dancing | Herself - Contestant | Series 12; episodes 1–21 | |
| rowspan="4"|2017 | Death in Paradise | Hetma Patel | Series 6; episodes 5 & 6: "A Man Overboard: Parts 1 & 2" |
| Broadchurch | Sahana Harrison | Series 3; episodes 1, 5 & 6 | |
| Safe House | DCI Jane Burr | Series 2; episodes 1–4 | |
| Who Do You Think You Are? | Herself | Series 13; episode 9 | |
| 2017–2022 | Ackley Bridge | Kaneez Paracha | Main role. Series 1–5; 45 episodes. Also associate producer on 20 episodes |
| 2018 | Informer | Sadia Shar | Main role. Episodes 1–6 |
| rowspan="2"|2019 | Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star | Herself - Brandon's Model | Series 1; episode 4: "Red Carpet" |
| Celebrity Gogglebox | Herself | Main cast; with Georgia Taylor. Series 1; episodes 2, 4 & 6 | |
| 2020 | Cold Feet | Deborah | Series 9; episodes 2–5 |
| 2021 | The Bay | Stella Bradwell | Series 2; episodes 1–6 |
| 2021–present | Loose Women | Herself | Regular panellist |
| rowspan="3"|2022 | Cockney and Scouse | Ella Walker | Episodes 6–10 |
| Desperate Measures | Varisha | Episodes 1–4 | |
| Sherwood | Sheriff of Nottingham | Series 1; episode 1 | |
| rowspan="3"|2023 | Eurovision Welcomes the World | Herself - Co-presenter | Television Special; with Rylan{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000r0dw|title=Eurovision Welcomes the World|website=bbc.co.uk|accessdate=2 May 2023}} |
| The Lovers | Nisha Anand | Episode 2 | |
| Breeders | Meena | Series 4; episodes 2, 8 & 10 | |
| rowspan="2"|2024 | G'wed | Amal | Series 1; episode 2: "Cutthroat Mo" |
| The Responder | Gail | Series 2; episode 4 | |
| 2024–present | Professor T. | DCI Maiya Goswami | Series 3; episodes 4–6, & series 4; episodes 1–6{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1weekweek-13-2024-sat-23-mar-fri-29-mar/professor-t|title=Professor T|website=itv.com/presscentre|accessdate=15 March 2024}} |
| rowspan="4"|2025 | Playing Nice | Anika Chowdhury | Mini-series; episodes 2–4 |
| Countdown | Herself - Dictionary Corner | Series 89 & 91; 10 episodes | |
| Silent Witness | Fiona Mason | Series 28; episode 8: "Vanishing Point: Part 2" | |
| The Game | Alice Miller | Mini-series; episodes 1–4 |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarker, Sunetra}}
Category:Actresses from Liverpool
Category:Alumni of Brunel University London
Category:21st-century British actresses
Category:English film actresses
Category:English soap opera actresses
Category:English television actresses