Amara Karan

Amara Karan

Karan during the Olympic Torch Relay in London (2008)
Born 1984 (age 3132)
Wimbledon, London, England
Years active 2007–present

Amara Karan (born 1984) is an Sri Lankan-English actress who made her film début as the love interest in Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. The film premièred at the 2007 Venice Film Festival. Her character was described in The Hollywood Reporter as "the train's attractive Indian stewardess"[1] while Time called her 'lovely'[2] and Variety called her character the "comely train stewardess Rita", stating that "newcomer Karan makes a strong impression as the sexy 'sweet lime' girl".[3] Karan's second film role was as schoolgirl Peaches in the 2007 film St Trinian's.[4]

She made her stage début in 2008 as Jessica in an RSC production of The Merchant of Venice and as Bianca in an RSC production of The Taming of the Shrew. With the latter, she made her West End debut at the Novello Theatre.

Background

Karan was born in Wimbledon, London in 1984 to Sri Lankan Tamil parents who had emigrated to Britain from Zambia two years before she was born. She was born and brought up in Wimbledon and attended Wimbledon High School.[5]

Karan went on to study at St Catherine's College, Oxford University[6] and while there began acting in amateur plays including Sunday Morning at the Centre of the World at the Burton Taylor Theatre for which she received rave reviews[7] and was also singled out for her performance in When We Are Married at the Old Fire Station theatre.[8] During her time at Oxford, Karan wrote, directed, produced, and acted in a short film, By Myself, which came in second place in the 2002 Shoestring Shorts Competition.[9]

She began her career as an investment banker (at Hawkpoint and CIBC World Markets) specialising in mergers and acquisitions,[10] before studying for an MA degree in acting at The Arts Educational Schools London.[11]

She carried the 2008 Olympic Torch during its time in London.[12]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Darjeeling Limited Rita
2007 St Trinian's Peaches
2011 The Task Toni
2012 All in Good Time Vina
2012 A Fantastic Fear of Everything Sangeet
2013 Jadoo [13] Shalini

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Bill Abha Chaudhari Season 23, Episode 46 "Match Day Violence"
2008 Agatha Christie's Poirot Princess Shaista Season 11, Episode 2 "Cat Among the Pigeons"
2011 Doctor Who Rita Season 6, Episode 11 "The God Complex"
2011-2012 Kidnap and Ransom Carrie Heath, Dominic's assistant 5 of 6 episodes
2013 Ambassadors Isabel 3 of 3 episodes, mini-series
2014 Goodness Gracious Me various roles Reunion Special
2016 Stan Lee's Lucky Man [14] DS Suri Chohan

Radio

Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Making of a Marchioness Lady Agatha Frances Hodgson Burnett for BBC Radio 4

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2008 The Taming of the Shrew Bianca Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-Upon-Avon and on tour
2008 The Merchant of Venice Jessica Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-Upon-Avon and on tour
2009 The Taming of the Shrew Bianca Royal Shakespeare Company, West End, The Novello Theatre
2012 Much Ado About Nothing Hero

References

External links

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