Amita Emmanuelle Dhiri (born 1965 in Brighton, England) is a British actress.

Personal life Dhiri was born to a French mother, Antonia and Ugandan-Indian accountant father, Vinod Dhiri.Mum was so strict .. When I started in acting she was convinced it was the first step to porn! Daily Mirror, 20 June 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2019 She has two younger brothers and speaks fluent French and Hindi.

She married Bradley Carroll in 1994 and has two daughters.

Career Dhiri has said that she was very shy when she was little and that this led her into acting. Her first experience of acting came about when a friend of hers who was at film school had a friend who was doing a film for their degree, and asked Dhiri to be in it.

Before going to drama school, Dhiri sang in a touring cabaret group for about 18 months, doing Tina Turner and Janet Jackson impressions

Television

In 1996, she played the role of Djamila "Milly" Nassim in the acclaimed BBC Two drama series This Life, three years after leaving drama college. Milly was a sensible legal high-flyer who had been in a relationship with Egg (played by Andrew Lincoln), since university.Television: Interview - Amita Dhiri: Life Affirming James Rampton, The Independent, 3 April 1999. Retrieved 30 June 2019 One of her notable scenes was in the last episode, when her character punched her colleague Rachel in the jaw.

She has subsequently had many other appearances on British television, including roles in Absolute Power, The Last Train, Dalziel and Pascoe, Holby City wherein she undertook the role of the raging former partner of General Surgical Consultant Daniel Clifford (played by Peter Wingfield), Silent Witness, Being AprilBeing April BBC, 17 June 2002. Retrieved 11 July 2019 and McCallum. In 2003, she had a recurring role as Rachel Crawchek in Judge John Deed.

In early 2007, she reunited with original cast members of This Life in a reunion special called This Life +10.This Life + 10 - interviews with the cast BBC Press Office, 28 December 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2019. Then on 14 June 2007, Dhiri joined the long-running British police drama The Bill as DC Grace Dasari. In preparation for the role, she spent time with Kennington police in South London, and had a lesson in driving a police patrol car. She remained in the show until its final episode, broadcast on 31 August 2010. In 2013, she played Mrs Rattigan in Sky TV's Talking to the Dead.TV Review: Drama Matters: Talking to the Dead, Sky Living Ellen E. Jones, The Independent, 16 October 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2019

She played Deputy Commissioner Vanita in Ragdoll in 2021, and Mrs Khanna in season 3 of Bridgerton in 2024.

Film

She appeared in the film 24 Hours in London, released in 2000.24 Hours in London bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2019

Credits Television Year Title Role Notes Production company 1996 Casualty Julia Kaash Episode: "Vital Signs" BBC Television 1996–97 This Life Milly Naseem 32 episodes BBC Television 1998 McCallum Delia Vine 2 episodes STV Productions 1998 Jandra Nixon 6 episodes Granada Television 1998 Macbeth - Shakespeare Shorts First Witch BBC Television 1999 Dalziel And Pascoe Shaz Kendall Episode: "A Sweeter Lazarus" BBC Television 2000 Helen Galloway ITV 2002 Yumna Malik Episode: "Deception on His Mind" BBC Television 2002 Holby City Jenny Stephens Episode: "Time to Kill" BBC Television 2002 Happiness Neela BBC Television 2002 Grease Monkeys Mina BBC Television 2002 Being April NikshitaBeing April BBC, 17 June 2002. Retrieved 19 July 2019 6 episodes BBC Television 2002 2nd Generation Rina Channel 4 2003–05 Judge John Deed Rachel Crawcheck Episodes: "Judicial Review", "Conspiracy", "Economic Imperative" and "In Defence of Others" BBC Television 2004 Silent Witness Diana Baker Episode: "Body 21" BBC Television 2006 Holby City Camilla Two episodes: "The Bitterest Pill"; "It's Been a Long Day" BBC Television 2007 This Life + 10 Milly Naseem BBC Television 2007–10 Grace Dasari 95 episodes Talkback Thames 2013 Talking to the Dead Mrs Rattigan Sky TV 2021 Ragdoll Deputy Commissioner Vanita AMC Networks 2024 Bridgerton Mrs Khanna 2 episodes Shondaland

Stage Year Title Role Notes 2000 The Crucible Elizabeth Leicester Haymarket Theatre 2001 Feelgood Aasha Hampstead/Garrick Theatre 2002 After the Gods Sandi Hampstead Theatre 2005 Whose Life Is It Anyway Helen Hill Comedy Theatre 2012 Pack Nasreen Finborough Theatre - Papatango Festival

Radio Year Title Role Notes 1997 Devices And Desires Caroline Amphlette BBC Radio 2013 When Greed Becomes Hunger SunitaThe Pen - DJ Britton - When Greed Becomes Hunger www.bbc.co.uk Retrieved 19 July 2019. BBC Radio 4 Drama 2013 The Aeneid AnnaThe Aenid www.bbc.co.uk Media Centre. Retrieved 19 July 2019 BBC Radio 4 Drama 2013 Skios Annuka VosSkios www.bbc.co.uk Media Centre. Retrieved 19 July 2019 BBC Radio 4 Drama 2013 Invasion - Dangerous Visions JennaInvasion - Dangerous Visions www.bbc.co.uk Media Centre. Retrieved 19 July 2019 BBC Radio 4 Drama

Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 Indian Tales Lead Student film written and directed by Asif Kapadia, Oscar winning director of Amy (2015)Indian Tales British Film Institute. Retrieved 19 July 2019. 1998 24 Hours in London Helen Lucas 2006 Acts of God DI Mansfield

Voiceover Year Title Role Notes 1999 The Canterbury Tales/The Squire’s Tale Canacee Animated film 2001 Dream Sarah 2002 John Adams: A Portrait and a Concert of American Music Narrator

References

External links