Paige Sandhu Explained

Paige Sandhu
Occupation:Actress
Alma Mater:Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Television:Emmerdale
Awards:Full list
Agent:Williamson & Holmes[1]

Paige Sandhu is an English actress. She began her career with appearances in Doctors and Endeavour, before being cast as Meena Jutla in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale (2020–2022). For her portrayal, she received critical acclaim, won Best Villain at the Inside Soap Awards two years in a row and won Best Leading Performer at the 2022 British Soap Awards.

Early life

Sandhu was born in the United Kingdom to an Indian father and English mother.[2] [3] [4] After attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Sandhu suffered from social anxiety, fear of judgement and fears about her future career. She moved back in with her parents and "became quite reclusive".[5] She felt unsafe around people she did not know which led her to not leave the house much, as well as developing insomnia and various food intolerances.

Career

Sandhu made her debut in television appearances in the BBC soap opera Doctors and the ITV drama series Endeavour.[6]

In September 2020, it was announced that Sandhu had been cast in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as Meena Jutla, the sister of established character Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker).[7] In June 2021, it was confirmed that Meena would become a serial killer on the soap.[8] Sandhu received critical acclaim for her performances as Meena,[9] [10] and in 2021, she won the award for Best Villain at the Inside Soap Awards, and was nominated for Best Newcomer.[11] In 2022, she was nominated for an award in the Soap Actor category at the TRIC Awards. Sandhu has confirmed that after the conclusion of Meena's serial killer arc, she will be leaving the soap.[12] Her final scenes aired on 18 April 2022 when her character was sentenced to life in prison.[13] In 2023, Sandhu was announced to be starring in the upcoming film Lioness.[14] She will portray Princess Sophia, who was one of the key leaders of the suffragette movement in the UK.[15]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
Doctors2 episodes
2016EndeavourCashier (uncredited)Episode: "Arcadia"
2020–2022 EmmerdaleMeena JutlaRegular role[16]
LionessPrincess SophiaFilm[17]

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyAwardResult
2021Inside Soap AwardsBest Newcomer[18]
2021Inside Soap AwardsBest Villain
2021Asian Media AwardsBest TV Character[19]
2022The British Soap AwardsBest Leading Performer[20]
2022The British Soap AwardsVillain of the Year
2022TRIC AwardsBest Soap Actor[21]
202227th National Television AwardsSerial Drama Performance[22]
2022Inside Soap AwardsBest Actress[23]
2022Inside Soap AwardsBest Villain[24] [25]
2022Asian Media AwardsBest TV Character[26]
2022TV Choice AwardsBest Soap Actress[27]
2022Digital Spy Reader AwardsBest Soap Actor (Female)[28]
2022TVTimes AwardsFavourite Soap Star[29] [30]

Notes and References

  1. News: Richards . Evelyn . Who plays Meena Jutla in Emmerdale and what else has actress Paige been in? . 23 November 2021 . . (DMG Media) . 7 October 2020 . 23 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211123233211/https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/07/who-plays-meena-jutla-in-emmerdale-13387198/amp/ . live .
  2. Web site: Emmerdale's Paige Sandhu lives in a unique and eclectic home as she exits soap . 21 February 2022 . 17 March 2023 . 5 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230305010030/https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/emmerdales-paige-sandhus-private-life-26292794 . live .
  3. News: Shackleton . Liz . Aditi Rao Hydari & Paige Sandhu Feature 'Lioness' Set As First Official UK-India Co-Production . 23 May 2023 . . 23 May 2023.
  4. News: Lulupa . Jill . Who is Paige Sandhu? The actress behind Emmerdale's serial killer Meena . 15 April 2022 . . (Reach plc) . 15 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220415155837/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/who-paige-sandhu-actress-behind-23684893.amp . live .
  5. News: Emmerdale Meena star Paige Sandhu explains why she keeps long term love private. Metro. 23 March 2022. Kitson. Calli. 24 March 2022. 23 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220323095639/https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/23/emmerdale-star-paige-sandhu-on-why-she-keeps-long-term-love-private-16325927/amp/. live.
  6. News: O'Sullivan . Kyle . Emmerdale Meena actress' real-life love, secret she kept from dad and future death . 23 November 2021 . . (Reach plc) . 20 October 2020 . 23 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211123233219/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/emmerdale-meena-actress-real-life-25255707.amp . live .
  7. News: Davies . Megan . Emmerdale announces three new characters in big autumn shake-up . 23 November 2021 . . . 7 September 2020 . 18 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200918040022/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a33943443/emmerdale-new-characters-meena-mackenzie-ben/ . live .
  8. News: Sansome . Jessica . Murder shock in Emmerdale as Meena takes first victim . 23 November 2021 . . . 28 June 2021 . 3 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703135957/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/murder-shock-emmerdale-meena-takes-20902287 . live .
  9. News: Brown . David . 8 plotlines that will turn Emmerdale's Meena into a top soap serial killer . 7 July 2021 . . (DMG Media) . 28 June 2021 . 9 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190040/https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/28/plots-that-will-turn-emmerdales-meena-into-a-top-soap-serial-killer-14827518/amp/ . live .
  10. News: Lindsay . Duncan . Emmerdale's Meena Jutla may be the most unique and entertaining soap villain ever . 29 October 2021 . . (DMG Media) . 21 October 2021 . 29 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211029120838/https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=%2F39694909%2FAMP%2FAMP-MetroUKCH&adk=349635430&sz=300x250&output=html&impl=ifr&ifi=5&msz=600x-1&psz=600x-1&fws=4&scp=ampRCSpotId%3Dsp_VWxmZkOI&adf=2922811639&nhd=0&adx=267&ady=7416&oid=2&ptt=13&gdfp_req=1&sfv=1-0-37&u_sd=1&artc=81&ati=8&ard=indexexchange&is_amp=3&amp_v=2110152252002&d_imp=1&c=3943007507&ga_cid=amp-3lsplrFDs9cQLMzEVc4H3A&ga_hid=7507&dt=1635509317724&biw=1134&bih=42317&u_aw=1600&u_ah=1000&u_cd=24&u_w=1600&u_h=1000&u_tz=0&u_his=50&vis=1&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&bc=7&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2021%2F10%2F21%2Femmerdales-meena-the-most-unique-and-entertaining-soap-villain-ever-15463906%2F&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2021%2F10%2F21%2Femmerdales-meena-the-most-unique-and-entertaining-soap-villain-ever-15463906%2Famp%2F&bdt=4398&dtd=95&__amp_source_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk . live .
  11. News: Shackleton . Niamh . Emmerdale's Meena actress crowned Best Villain at Inside Soap Awards . 23 November 2021 . . 23 November 2021 . 23 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211123095608/https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/soaps/emmerdales-meena-actress-crowned-best-25523531.amp . live .
  12. News: Allday . Jasmine . Emmerdale Meena actress will 'miss everything' about her as she confirms exit from ITV soap . 5 January 2022 . . (Reach plc) . 5 January 2022 . 5 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220105170407/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/emmerdale-meena-actress-miss-everything-25864300 . live .
  13. News: Denby . Laura . Paige Sandhu vows to keep playing evil after Emmerdale's Meena . 17 April 2022 . . (DMG Media) . 17 April 2022 . 17 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220417213455/https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/17/emmerdale-star-paige-sandhu-vows-to-keep-playing-evil-after-meena-16466167/amp/ . live .
  14. News: Aditya Rao Hydari, Paige Sandhu to star in Indo-British production 'Lioness' . 23 May 2023 . . 23 May 2023.
  15. News: Ramachandran . Naman . 'Emmerdale' Actor Paige Sandhu, 'Jubilee' Star Aditi Rao Hydari to Lead U.K.-India Co-Production 'Lioness' . 23 May 2023 . . 23 May 2023 . 23 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230523085516/https://variety.com/2023/film/asia/emmerdale-paige-sandhu-jubilee-aditi-rao-hydari-uk-india-coproduction-lioness-1235622367/ . live .
  16. News: Kilkelly . Daniel . Dainty . Sophie . Emmerdale newcomer Paige Sandhu warns newcomer Meena will have enemies . 15 June 2021 . . . 24 September 2020 . 25 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925233052/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a34140150/emmerdale-spoilers-paige-sandhu-meena-enemies/ . live .
  17. News: Aditya Rao Hydari, Paige Sandhu to star in Indo-British production 'Lioness' . 23 May 2023 . Devdiscourse . 23 May 2023.
  18. News: Alexander . Susannah . Inside Soap Awards announces 2021 longlist as voting opens – here's who's up for prizes . 28 September 2021 . . (Hearst Magazines UK) . 28 September 2021 . 2 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211002110028/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a37769663/inside-soap-awards-2021-nominees-longlist-how-to-vote/ . live .
  19. News: Kumari . Priyanca . EastEnders star Jaz Deol wins award for Kheerat Panesar role . 23 November 2021 . . (Hearst Magazines UK) . 30 October 2021 . 5 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211105085755/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a38113873/eastenders-jaz-deol-award-kheerat-panesar/ . live .
  20. News: British Soap Awards 2022! . 22 April 2022 . . 21 April 2022 . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421155401/https://www.itv.com/emmerdale/articles/british-soap-awards-2022 . live .
  21. Web site: Public poll . . 18 March 2022 . 17 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220317103018/https://tric.org.uk/public-poll/ . live .
  22. Web site: Earp. Catherine. National Television Awards: Full winners list. Digital Spy. 13 October 2022. 13 October 2022. 5 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105153645/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a41614835/national-television-awards-ntas-full-winners-list/. live.
  23. News: Harp . Justin . Inside Soap Awards announces nominations and new category for 2022 event . 19 July 2022 . . (Hearst Communications) . 18 July 2022 . 18 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220718234501/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a40642854/inside-soap-awards-2022-nominees-icon/ . live .
  24. News: Mwitumwa . Monde . Emmerdale stars glam up for Inside Soap Awards 2022 as Mark Charnock and Paige Sandhu win gongs . 17 October 2022 . . (Reach plc) . 17 October 2022 . 17 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221017202538/https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/gallery/emmerdale-stars-glam-up-inside-25287282.amp . live .
  25. News: Harp . Justin . Inside Soap Awards announce final shortlist for 2022 ceremony . 10 October 2022 . . (Hearst Communications) . 10 October 2022 . 10 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221010231030/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a41577086/inside-soap-awards-2022-shortlist-nominees/ . live .
  26. Web site: Asian Media Awards 2022 Finalists . 20 September 2022 . Asian Media Awards . 26 September 2022 . 26 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220926135725/https://www.asianmediaawards.com/asian-media-awards-2022-finalists/ . live .
  27. News: Rodger . James . TV Choice Awards nominations list announced in full . 22 September 2022 . . (Reach plc) . 9 August 2022 . 22 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922152808/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/tv-choice-awards-nominations-list-24711481.amp . live .
  28. Web site: Rowan. Iona. EastEnders wins big at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2022. Digital Spy. 27 December 2022. 17 March 2023. 3 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230103071913/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a42219438/reader-awards-soap-winners-2022/. live.
  29. News: TV Times Awards 2022 — voting is now open! . 29 September 2022 . . (Future plc) . 30 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220930200621/https://www.whattowatch.com/features/tv-times-awards-2022-all-you-need-to-know . live .
  30. News: Crick . Claire . EastEnders sweeps the board at the TV Times Awards 2022 . 17 March 2023 . . (Future plc) . 9 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221209204918/https://www.whattowatch.com/news/eastenders-sweeps-the-board-at-the-tv-times-awards-2022 . live .