Meryl Fernandes
Meryl Glynis Fernandes (born 1983)[1] is an English actress and presenter. She played Afia Masood, a love interest for Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel) in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, originally making a guest appearance between 29 December 2009[2] and 5 January 2010.[3] She returned to the role of Afia, on 18 November 2010, this time as a regular character.[4] She departed EastEnders on 7 June 2012.[5][6]
Meryl Fernandes | |
---|---|
Fernandes in 2012 | |
Born | Meryl Glynis Fernandes 1983 (age 36–37) Tower Hamlets, London[1] |
Nationality | British |
Occupation | Actress and presenter |
Years active | 1993–present |
Notable work | See below |
Television | EastEnders |
Parent(s) | Harold Fernandes (father) Ghislaine Fernandes (mother) |
Personal life
Born in 1983 to Harold and Ghislaine Fernandes, Meryl was brought up in London and went to Trinity Catholic High School, Woodford Green.[7] Her parents, of Goan Indian ancestry, were originally from Nairobi.[7] Fernandes trained at Millennium Performing Arts in 2000. She is skilled in several types of dance and has kissed Tom Hardy in a play.[8]
Career
Other than appearing in EastEnders, Fernandes has appeared Doctor Who, Demons, Minder alongside fellow EastEnders actor, Shane Richie,[9] It's Now or Never, Clone and Dis/Connected.[8] She has also appeared in the highly criticised YouTube series, Living With the Infidels playing 'Jot'.[8][10] In stage she has appeared in The Lion of Punjab in 2006 and A Small Town Anywhere directed in 2007.[8] In musicals she has appeared in Oliver! as a 'Workhouse Girl', in 1996 and sung in Il mondo della luna at the Royal Academy of Music in 2003.[8] She has also appeared in a film, Ashes where she appeared as the lead role, Amisha, in 2012.[8]
Filmography
- Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | EastEnders | Schoolgirl | 1 episode |
1995 | A Small Addition | ||
2006 | It's Now or Never | Flower Girl | |
2007 | Dis/Connected | Sara | |
2007 | Doctor Who | Head Girl | |
2008 | Demons | Amber Selway | |
2008 | Clone | Jasmine | |
2008 | Minder | Roxy | |
2009–2012 | EastEnders | Afia Masood | 110 episodes |
2016 | World of Weird | Presenter | |
2018 | Ackley Bridge | Maryam Quereshi | 2 episodes |
- Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Living with the Infidels | Jot | Main Role |
2010 | Ashes | Amisha |
- Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Oliver! | Workhouse Girl | Musical |
2003 | Sleeping Beauty | Sleeping Beauty | Stage |
2003 | Il Mondo Della Luna | Moon Dancer | Opera |
2005 | The Far Pavilions | Anjuli | Musical |
2006 | The Lion of Punjab | Jindan | Stage |
2007 | Who Asked You? | Deborah Smith | |
2007 | A Small Town Anywhere | The Samaritan | |
2007 | A Matter of Life and Death | Clerk/Nurse | |
2007 | The Man of Mode | Harriet |
References
- "England & Wales births 1837–2006 Transcription". Find My Past. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- Green, Kris (29 December 2009). "Amira's father Qadim arrives in Walford". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- Green, Kris (5 January 2010). "Lauren's furious to see Peter kissing Zsa Zsa". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- Kilkelly, Daniel (18 November 2010). "Billy discovers Shirley's secret". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- Kilkelly, Daniel (23 May 2012). "'EastEnders': Afia Masood to leave Walford". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- "Kat's back in the nick of time for Jean!". What's on TV. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- "The Goan Voice". 11 April 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- "MERYL FERNANDES Spotlight Actresses 2010/2011". Spotlight. 2010–2011. Archived from the original on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- "Afia Khan played by Meryl Fernandes". EastEnders. BBC. February 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- Manzoor, Sarfraz (20 August 2009). "Living with the Infidels: Can a sitcom about terrorists ever be funny?". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 11 June 2011.