Meera Syal (1963-), Writer and actress

Sitter in 3 portraits
Widely known through co-writing and appearing in the television series Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No 42, Syal frequently appears on television. Syal has appeared in the films Sammy and Rosie Get Laid (1987), Beautiful Thing (1996) and her screenplays include Bhaji on the Beach (1993). Her semi-autobiographical first novel Anita and Me (1996) was filmed in 2002, and she adapted her second novel, Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee (1999) for a three-part television series. Syal co-wrote Bombay Dreams (2002), the Andrew Lloyd Webber Bollywood-themed musical. In 2010 she appeared in the title role of Shirley Valentine on stage in London.