Meera Syal

Meera Syal FRSL is an English comedian, writer, playwright, singer, journalist, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the team behind Goodness Gracious Me and for her role as Ummi in The Kumars at No. 42. Born on 27 June 1961 in Wolverhampton, she grew up in Essington, Staffordshire. Syal's Indian Punjabi parents, Surinder Syal and Surinder Kaur, immigrated from New Delhi. Recognized for her contributions to drama and literature, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1997 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2015. In 2023, she received the BAFTA Fellowship.