Topzle Topzle

Balvinder Sopal

Updated: Wikipedia source

Balvinder Sopal

Balvinder Sopal (born 4 December 1978) is an English actress, whose acting career has spanned over two decades. She rose to prominence for her portrayal as Suki Panesar in the BBC soap opera EastEnders since January 2020. Sopal has also appeared in other British soap operas including Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Doctors and Hollyoaks, as well as voicing Simran Kaur in the radio soap opera Silver Street from 2004 to 2010. In 2025, she was a contestant on the twenty-third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she reached the semi-final after breaking the record for most dance-off wins on the show.

Infobox

Born
(1978-12-04) 4 December 1978 (age 47)Chatham, Kent, England
Education
University of Huddersfield
Occupation
Actress
Years active
2001–present
Known for
EastEndersStrictly Come Dancing

Tables

mw- Film roles · Filmography › Film
2005
Anatomy of a Crime
Role(s)
Dr Ali
Notes
Film
2012
Naachle London
Role(s)
Laxmi Khan
Perfume
Role(s)
Mam
Notes
Short film
2014
Honeycomb Lodge
Role(s)
Jas' Girlfriend
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2005
Anatomy of a Crime
Dr Ali
Film
2012
Naachle London
Laxmi Khan
Perfume
Mam
Short film
2014
Honeycomb Lodge
Jas' Girlfriend
Television roles · Filmography › Television
2002
Kidhaar!
Role(s)
Reena
Notes
1 episode
2008
White Girl
Role(s)
Fatima
Notes
Television film
2009
Coming Up
Role(s)
Sofia
Notes
Episode: "Adha Cup"
2009, 2014, 2017–2018
Role(s)
Emmerdale
Notes
Legal Aid Solicitor / DC Graves / DC Khan
2010
Five Days
Role(s)
Detainee's Wife
Notes
Episode: "Day 8"
Waterloo Road
Role(s)
Doctor
Notes
1 episode
2013, 2017
Role(s)
Coronation Street
Notes
P.C. Marks
2018
Call the Midwife
Role(s)
Mumtaz Gani
Notes
1 episode
Doctors
Role(s)
Aafiyah Choudary
Notes
Episode: "Without and Within"
Hollyoaks
Role(s)
Liz
Notes
4 episodes
2020–present
Role(s)
EastEnders
Notes
Suki Panesar
2023
EastEnders: The Six
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
2 episodes
2025
EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
Interviewed guest
Pointless
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
Contestant
Strictly Come Dancing
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
Contestant; series 23
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2002
Kidhaar!
Reena
1 episode
2008
White Girl
Fatima
Television film
2009
Coming Up
Sofia
Episode: "Adha Cup"
2009, 2014, 2017–2018
Emmerdale
Legal Aid Solicitor / DC Graves / DC Khan
5 episodes
2010
Five Days
Detainee's Wife
Episode: "Day 8"
Waterloo Road
Doctor
1 episode
2013, 2017
Coronation Street
Marks
4 episodes
2018
Call the Midwife
Mumtaz Gani
1 episode
Doctors
Aafiyah Choudary
Episode: "Without and Within"
Hollyoaks
Liz
4 episodes
2020–present
EastEnders
Suki Panesar
Regular role
2023
EastEnders: The Six
Herself
2 episodes
2025
EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square
Herself
Interviewed guest
2025
Pointless
Herself
Contestant
2025
Strictly Come Dancing
Herself
Contestant; series 23
Stage roles · Stage
2001
The Beautiful Violin
Role(s)
Bhelua
2004
Absent Friends
Role(s)
Evelyn
2006
Relatively Speaking
Role(s)
Ginny
2008
Beast Market
Role(s)
Various
Mela
Role(s)
Mariam
2009
Table Manners
Role(s)
Annie
Counted?
Role(s)
Various
2010
The Tales of the Narrow Road
Role(s)
Mukti
2011
Behna
Role(s)
Masi Ji
2012–2013
Role(s)
The Snow Queen
Notes
Snow Queen/Goddess
2013
Our Glass House
Role(s)
Sufiya
2014, 2016
Role(s)
Stowaway
Notes
Salma/Debbie
2014
Home Sweet Home
Role(s)
Daadi
2015
The Deranged Marriage
Role(s)
Lata
Storm in a Chai Cup
Role(s)
Reet
The Edge
Role(s)
The Edge
2016
Sleepless
Role(s)
Cosima Trevison
2017
Running Wild
Role(s)
Mum
Partition
Role(s)
Denise
2018
The Thing that Came to Dinner
Role(s)
Mrs Caldwell
Delete
Role(s)
Sue
2019
Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile
Role(s)
Mo
My Beautiful Laundrette
Role(s)
Bilquis/Moose
Year
Title
Role
2001
The Beautiful Violin
Bhelua
2004
Absent Friends
Evelyn
2006
Relatively Speaking
Ginny
2008
Beast Market
Various
2008
Mela
Mariam
2009
Table Manners
Annie
2009
Counted?
Various
2010
The House of Bilquis Bibi
Zainab
2010
The Tales of the Narrow Road
Mukti
2011
Behna
Masi Ji
2012–2013
The Snow Queen
Snow Queen/Goddess
2013
Our Glass House
Sufiya
2014, 2016
Stowaway
Salma/Debbie
2014
Home Sweet Home
Daadi
2015
The Deranged Marriage
Lata
2015
Storm in a Chai Cup
Reet
2015
The Edge
The Edge
2016
Sleepless
Cosima Trevison
2017
Running Wild
Mum
2017
Partition
Denise
2018
The Thing that Came to Dinner
Mrs Caldwell
2018
Delete
Sue
2019
Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile
Mo
2019
My Beautiful Laundrette
Bilquis/Moose
Awards and nominations · Awards and nominations
2020
Inside Soap Awards
Role(s)
Best Villain
Notes
EastEnders
I Talk Telly Awards
Role(s)
Best Soap Newcomer
Notes
EastEnders
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Role(s)
Best Newcomer
Notes
EastEnders
2021
National Television Awards
Role(s)
Serial Drama Performance
Notes
EastEnders
Inside Soap Awards
Role(s)
Best Actress
Notes
EastEnders
Inside Soap Awards
Role(s)
Best Villain
Notes
EastEnders
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Role(s)
Best Actor (Female)
Notes
EastEnders
2022
Asian Media Awards
Role(s)
Best TV Character
Notes
EastEnders
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Role(s)
Best Soap Couple (with Heather Peace)
Notes
EastEnders
2023
National Television Awards
Role(s)
Serial Drama Performance
Notes
EastEnders
Inside Soap Awards
Role(s)
Best Partnership (with Peace)
Notes
EastEnders
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Role(s)
Best Actor
Notes
EastEnders
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Role(s)
Best Soap Couple (with Peace)
Notes
EastEnders
2024
RadioTimes.com Soap Awards
Role(s)
Best Actor
Notes
EastEnders
RadioTimes.com Soap Awards
Role(s)
Inspiring Storyline of the Year
Notes
EastEnders
Inside Soap Awards
Role(s)
Best Partnership (with Peace)
Notes
EastEnders
Inside Soap Awards
Role(s)
Soap Superstar
Notes
EastEnders
I Talk Telly Awards
Role(s)
Best Soap Partnership (with Peace)
Notes
EastEnders
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Role(s)
Best Actor
Notes
EastEnders
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Role(s)
Best Soap Couple (with Peace)
Notes
EastEnders
Year
Award
Category
Work
Result
Ref.
2020
Inside Soap Awards
Best Villain
EastEnders
Longlisted
2020
I Talk Telly Awards
Best Soap Newcomer
EastEnders
Nominated
2020
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Best Newcomer
EastEnders
Second
2021
National Television Awards
Serial Drama Performance
EastEnders
Longlisted
2021
Inside Soap Awards
Best Actress
EastEnders
Nominated
2021
Inside Soap Awards
Best Villain
EastEnders
Nominated
2021
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Best Actor (Female)
EastEnders
Third
2022
Asian Media Awards
Best TV Character
EastEnders
Won
2022
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Best Soap Couple (with Heather Peace)
EastEnders
Second
2023
National Television Awards
Serial Drama Performance
EastEnders
Longlisted
2023
Inside Soap Awards
Best Partnership (with Peace)
EastEnders
Shortlisted
2023
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Best Actor
EastEnders
Fourth
2023
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Best Soap Couple (with Peace)
EastEnders
Won
2024
RadioTimes.com Soap Awards
Best Actor
EastEnders
Nominated
2024
RadioTimes.com Soap Awards
Inspiring Storyline of the Year
EastEnders
Won
2024
Inside Soap Awards
Best Partnership (with Peace)
EastEnders
Shortlisted
2024
Inside Soap Awards
Soap Superstar
EastEnders
Won
2024
I Talk Telly Awards
Best Soap Partnership (with Peace)
EastEnders
Won
2024
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Best Actor
EastEnders
Won
2024
Digital Spy Reader Awards
Best Soap Couple (with Peace)
EastEnders
Second

References

  1. "@DuncanLindsay Honestly - I do think people sense kindred spirits. Mine was on the 4th! ☺️ Have a beautiful day. x"
    https://x.com/BalvinderSopal/status/1335561756433854467
  2. "The Conversation"
    https://x.com/DominicKingBBC/status/1352390341509300224
  3. YorkshireLive
    https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/whats-on/bal-faces-up-key-role-5036611.amp
  4. Iain Bloomfield Archived 13 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
    http://www.brad.ac.uk/theatre/find-out-about-us/whos-who/Iain_Bloomfield/
  5. Spotlight
    https://www.spotlight.com/7819-9088-6740
  6. Dick and Lottie
    http://www.dickandlottie.com/profiling-balvinder-sopal/
  7. BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/05_may/14/silver_street_characters.shtml
  8. BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/silverstreet/characters/simran_kaur.shtml
  9. BBC One
    https://web.archive.org/web/20251214201834/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09xhxxd
  10. Radio Times
    https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-12-22/eastenders-casts-balvinder-sopal-as-suki-panesar/amp/
  11. "EastEnders announces 'powerful, ruthless and Machiavellian' new character arriving in the New Year"
    https://www.whattowatch.com/news/eastenders-announces-powerful-ruthless-and-machiavellian-new-character-arriving-in-the-new-year-605011/
  12. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a30304983/eastenders-balvinder-sopal-suki-panesar/
  13. BBC Media Centre
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/strictly-come-dancing-balvinder-sopal
  14. Manchester Evening News
    https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/strictly-come-dancings-balvindar-sopal-32521824.amp
  15. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgzklgjn71o.amp
  16. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a34014122/inside-soap-awards-2020-full-longlist-nominees/
  17. I Talk Telly
    https://www.italktelly.com/post/i-talk-telly-awards-2020-nominees
  18. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a34859013/reader-awards-soaps-winners-2020/
  19. Digital Spy
    https://web.archive.org/web/20210628154722/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a36526916/ntas-soap-nominations-coronation-street-emmerdale-eastenders-hollyoaks/
  20. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a37769663/inside-soap-awards-2021-nominees-longlist-how-to-vote/
  21. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a38516385/reader-awards-results-2021/
  22. "Tenth Asian Media Awards Winners Announced In Manchester"
    https://www.asianmediaawards.com/tenth-asian-media-awards-winners-announced-in-manchester/
  23. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a42219438/reader-awards-soap-winners-2022/
  24. Radio Times
    https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/national-television-awards-2023-longlist/
  25. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a45188414/inside-soap-awards-2023-final-shortlist/
  26. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a46114823/eastenders-digital-spy-reader-awards-2023/
  27. Radio Times
    https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/radiotimes-com-soap-awards-2024-nominations-revealed-exclusive-newsupdate/
  28. Radio Times
    https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-balvinder-sopal-win-reaction-exclusive-newsupdate/
  29. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a62337993/inside-soap-awards-2024-shortlist/
  30. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a62449800/coronation-street-inside-soap-awards-2024/
  31. I Talk Telly
    https://www.italktelly.com/post/winners-revealed-for-the-10th-annual-i-talk-telly-awards
  32. Digital Spy
    https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a63042125/digital-spy-reader-awards-2024-soaps/
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.