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| Doctor Who: Varada Sethu wants to inspire young South Asian women | Doctor Who: Varada Sethu wants to inspire young South Asian women |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Varada Sethu plays Doctor Who's new companion | Varada Sethu plays Doctor Who's new companion |
| When new Doctor Who companion Varada Sethu first told her family she wanted to be an actress, there wasn't immediate support. | When new Doctor Who companion Varada Sethu first told her family she wanted to be an actress, there wasn't immediate support. |
| "They had difficulty coming to terms with it initially," she tells BBC Asian Network News. | "They had difficulty coming to terms with it initially," she tells BBC Asian Network News. |
| Varada, who will be playing Ncuti Gatwa's sidekick, Belinda Chandra in the upcoming series, feels going into acting is "sadly still not encouraged in the South Asian community". | Varada, who will be playing Ncuti Gatwa's sidekick, Belinda Chandra in the upcoming series, feels going into acting is "sadly still not encouraged in the South Asian community". |
| "There's an element of resistance we face," the 32-year-old says. | "There's an element of resistance we face," the 32-year-old says. |
| But Varada wants to change all of that, and says inspiring young girls to follow their dreams is one of her big goals. | But Varada wants to change all of that, and says inspiring young girls to follow their dreams is one of her big goals. |
| "I want to be the person that these girls can point out to and say: 'She made it and she came from a community that looks like mine'. | "I want to be the person that these girls can point out to and say: 'She made it and she came from a community that looks like mine'. |
| "So I think I've gone about this with the energy of, I can't fall flat on my face," she says. | "So I think I've gone about this with the energy of, I can't fall flat on my face," she says. |
| Ncuti Gatwa's playing the doctor for a second series | Ncuti Gatwa's playing the doctor for a second series |
| But the actress, who has had roles in Disney+ Star Wars series Andor, 2018 crime drama Hard Sun and Jurassic World Dominion, says change comes with challenges. | But the actress, who has had roles in Disney+ Star Wars series Andor, 2018 crime drama Hard Sun and Jurassic World Dominion, says change comes with challenges. |
| A report by the Creative Diversity Network found in 2022/23 the percentage of on-screen contributions by those who identify as South Asian or South Asian British was 4.9%. | A report by the Creative Diversity Network found in 2022/23 the percentage of on-screen contributions by those who identify as South Asian or South Asian British was 4.9%. |
| That's compared with the latest census data, analysed by the UK Government, that found around 8% of people from those backgrounds are in the working-age population. | That's compared with the latest census data, analysed by the UK Government, that found around 8% of people from those backgrounds are in the working-age population. |
| "It's a constant battle of failure isn't an option," says Varada. | "It's a constant battle of failure isn't an option," says Varada. |
| "Because, you know, your uncle's daughter who's six, who might wanna go into acting when she's a bit older, won't be allowed to, if I become the cautionary tale." | "Because, you know, your uncle's daughter who's six, who might wanna go into acting when she's a bit older, won't be allowed to, if I become the cautionary tale." |
| Despite that, Varada says she tries not to put too much pressure on herself while filming. | Despite that, Varada says she tries not to put too much pressure on herself while filming. |
| Rather, she tries to stay authentic to her true self instead of getting caught up in the moment. | Rather, she tries to stay authentic to her true self instead of getting caught up in the moment. |
| "Occasionally it does hit me in my face like 'oh, that's a lot, that's a big thing that's happening', she says. | "Occasionally it does hit me in my face like 'oh, that's a lot, that's a big thing that's happening', she says. |
| "But I try not to get swept up in it. You know, I try to just do the best I can." | "But I try not to get swept up in it. You know, I try to just do the best I can." |
| Varada says she has enjoyed working with Ncuti Gatwa | Varada says she has enjoyed working with Ncuti Gatwa |
| Playing the role of Belinda in Doctor Who has been an "honour", Varada says. | Playing the role of Belinda in Doctor Who has been an "honour", Varada says. |
| "Everyone's heard of Doctor Who, everyone knows of Doctor Who, even if you don't regularly watch it. | "Everyone's heard of Doctor Who, everyone knows of Doctor Who, even if you don't regularly watch it. |
| "It's so iconic and British, and it's such a part of our culture." | "It's so iconic and British, and it's such a part of our culture." |
| Praising Ncuti Gatwa for the "energy he brings to the role", she describes him as inspiring to watch work and "an absolute joy" to work with. | Praising Ncuti Gatwa for the "energy he brings to the role", she describes him as inspiring to watch work and "an absolute joy" to work with. |
| Her character Belinda travels to a number of different planets and time periods after asking the doctor for help to get home, which Varada says was the most exciting thing about the role. | |
| "This character is discovering all these different sides to herself in circumstances that, no human gets to experience in real life." | "This character is discovering all these different sides to herself in circumstances that, no human gets to experience in real life." |
| And she says some of her character's "feisty" and "independent" traits have helped her in her real life. | And she says some of her character's "feisty" and "independent" traits have helped her in her real life. |
| "As an actor you get to practice saying things that you maybe you wouldn't be as brave in saying. | "As an actor you get to practice saying things that you maybe you wouldn't be as brave in saying. |
| "And it's safer because you know what the other person is going to say, but you know, your nervous system gets used to that. | "And it's safer because you know what the other person is going to say, but you know, your nervous system gets used to that. |
| "I think with each character I play, I discover a new chapter about myself as well. | "I think with each character I play, I discover a new chapter about myself as well. |
| "And Belinda's taught me a lot about that," she says. | "And Belinda's taught me a lot about that," she says. |
| Doctor Who Season 2 is set to premiere on Saturday 12 April 2025, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, with those outside of the UK able to watch on Disney+. | Doctor Who Season 2 is set to premiere on Saturday 12 April 2025, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, with those outside of the UK able to watch on Disney+. |
| Listen to Ankur Desai's show on BBC Asian Network live from 15:00-18:00 Monday to Thursday - or listen back here. | Listen to Ankur Desai's show on BBC Asian Network live from 15:00-18:00 Monday to Thursday - or listen back here. |