Archie Panjabi

Birthday: 31 May 1972, Edgware, Middlesex, England, UK

Birth Name: Archana Panjabi

Height: 160 cm

Archie made her film debut in the British hit East Is East (1999). Since then, she has continued to work on international blockbuster films, from Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and The Constant Gardener (2005) to critically acclaimed films like A Mighty Heart (2007) (starring opposite Angelina Jolie) and Yasmin (2004) (written by Simon Beaufoy).Archie won Best Actress for her role in Yasmin (2004) at the Reims Festival in 2006 and was awarded the Shooting Star Award at the Berlin International Film Festival 2005. The award is given to actors who are seen as "the most exciting and emerging actors from across Europe" (European Film Promotion). Previous winners include Daniel Craig and Marion Cotillard. She was selected from hundreds of actors to represent the UK.She has a great ear for accents. From Scottish to Indian to American, all of her major film & TV roles have been in accents other than her own.Archie always knew she wanted to become an actress. It was only when Nick Berry from EastEnders (1985) replied to a letter did she find an agent and roles. Her first casting call was for EastEnders (1985), the role of Ricky Butcher's girlfriend. She was called but didn't end up getting the part. She graduated from Brunel University, England, with a degree in Management Studies (BSc). She graduated with a 2:1.Ridley Scott is a big fan of hers. Show less «

I had a dialect coach to get an American accent, and then another dialect coach to come off it a bit...Show more »

I had a dialect coach to get an American accent, and then another dialect coach to come off it a bit. There is something deep and mysterious in the voice when it isn't too high-pitched American. Show less «

When I was younger I was fat. I was never conscious of it and was content with who I was because I w...Show more »

When I was younger I was fat. I was never conscious of it and was content with who I was because I was so loved. My mother never told me to lose weight and my father doted on me, but my agent told me. I tried, but I loved Indian food too much. Show less «

I love roles where I have to transform myself.

I remember sitting in school and thinking, 'I don't know why I'm here, because I know I'm going to a...Show more »

I remember sitting in school and thinking, 'I don't know why I'm here, because I know I'm going to act and I know I'm going to America.' Show less «

I knew what I wanted to do for my entire life, from nursery to university. I've always been geared t...Show more »

I knew what I wanted to do for my entire life, from nursery to university. I've always been geared towards wanting to act. I've stuck with it, dedicated time to it. Show less «

You have this impression from England that New Yorkers can be quite aggressive, but certainly the pe...Show more »

You have this impression from England that New Yorkers can be quite aggressive, but certainly the people that I've bumped into and the friends I've made here don't seem that way. Just walking down the street and asking for directions, people seem to be very helpful and happy to help. Show less «

I'd love to say I made the smart decision of picking projects that became hits, but with 'The Good W...Show more »

I'd love to say I made the smart decision of picking projects that became hits, but with 'The Good Wife,' I read the script and something inside me said, 'I love this, I want to do this.' Show less «

I'd love to do a romantic comedy. And perhaps, if the character was right and I had a good gut insti...Show more »

I'd love to do a romantic comedy. And perhaps, if the character was right and I had a good gut instinct, a Bollywood movie. And I'd love to direct. One day. I'm learning a lot on the set of 'The Good Wife.' Show less «

The generation that migrated to the West in the 1970s or 1960s has now lived more in the West than I...Show more »

The generation that migrated to the West in the 1970s or 1960s has now lived more in the West than India, and India has changed so much. My parents fall into that category. Show less «

Coming to New York is like a big hug, everyone is so welcoming. There's something about here, everyo...Show more »

Coming to New York is like a big hug, everyone is so welcoming. There's something about here, everyone makes you feel so at home. I miss my family of course, but I don't miss London that much. I was worried, but I feel really at home. Everyone says that who comes here from London, but I didn't believe them. Show less «

I have always let the lack of Indian actors in the industry drive me, not hold me back. I remember a...Show more »

I have always let the lack of Indian actors in the industry drive me, not hold me back. I remember an agent in L.A. telling me a few years ago that an Indian actor wouldn't ever make it in Hollywood, but my ethnicity has helped me. Show less «

My mother wanted to be a teacher when she was young, and my father didn't approve of it, so she foug...Show more »

My mother wanted to be a teacher when she was young, and my father didn't approve of it, so she fought very hard to become one. And she did it. So when I said I wanted to become an actress, my mother was very supportive. She always said to me, 'There's no such thing as 'can't.' Show less «

I went to Brunel University and very much wanted to go on to do a PhD in management, but then my act...Show more »

I went to Brunel University and very much wanted to go on to do a PhD in management, but then my acting career started to take off. In those days when you switched on the box there were hardly any brown or black faces. Show less «

I went out for a film where they wanted seven brothers and one sister, so I was there for half a day...Show more »

I went out for a film where they wanted seven brothers and one sister, so I was there for half a day while they were waiting for 'Archie' to read for a boy... I've had drivers come to pick me up in England looking for a blond, blue-eyed Scottish boy. Show less «

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an actor. I never even thought about other careers. The ...Show more »

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an actor. I never even thought about other careers. The acting field is certainly not the path many Indian parents encourage their children to take, but mine were very supportive. They wanted me to have an education, but understood that this is what I wanted to do. Show less «

I like to do new things, so I always take on roles that I feel will keep me on my toes. I never want...Show more »

I like to do new things, so I always take on roles that I feel will keep me on my toes. I never want to pigeon myself, so I always like to surprise myself. I believe in versatility and so I would play anything as long as it was a challenge. Show less «

Luckily my parents were not against my ambition, they've always been very supportive. But they were ...Show more »

Luckily my parents were not against my ambition, they've always been very supportive. But they were adamant that I went to university first. Show less «

Archie Panjabi

Archie Panjabi's FILMOGRAPHY

Archie Panjabi'S roles

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