Lena Kaur
Encyclopedia
Lena Kaur is a London-based British actress, perhaps best known for her role as Leila Roy
in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks
.
in Huddersfield
, West Yorkshire
and is of Asian descent. She attended Almondbury High School
and then New College which helped her achieve her dream of being an actress. She studied acting at Rose Bruford College
, Sidcup
, Kent
, graduating in 2007.
Later that year she was part of the original cast of BBC Three
comedy sketch show Scallywagga
, in which she played multiple characters. After successfully being cast as Leila Roy, she joined the cast of Hollyoaks
in summer 2008. In August 2008, Lena Kaur praised Hollyoaks producer Bryan Kirkwood
for not stereotyping Asians
on the programme. Speaking to Take 5 magazine, she stated, "The storylines for me and Stephen
(Ravi
) aren't being dictated by the colour of our skin. We're both British Asians in real life as well as in the show. We are both totally westernised. We've been brought up in Britain, so the storylines will reflect people like Stephen and me." Kaur announced her decision to leave to pursue new challenges in late 2009, and made her last appearance as Leila in January 2010.
In 2011 she appeared as Dr. Alicia Patel in Torchwood
's fourth series; Torchwood: Miracle Day airing on BBC One
and US premium television network Starz.
Leila Roy
Leila Roy is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Lena Kaur. The character made her first appearance in June 2008. In November 2009, it was announced that Kaur had quit the role and would leave in January 2010.-Backstory:Leila was born in 1989 to...
in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
.
Career
Lena Kaur grew up in AlmondburyAlmondbury
Almondbury is a district 2 miles south east of Huddersfield town centre in West Yorkshire, England. The population of Almondbury in 2001 was 7,368Almondbury appears in the Domesday Book as "Almondeberie"...
in Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
and is of Asian descent. She attended Almondbury High School
Almondbury High School and Language College
Almondbury High School and Language College is a mixed, comprehensive, 11–16 school with 828 students on the roll. It is situated a large local authority council estate within the village of Almondbury, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Opened in 1963 as Almondbury County Secondary School, it has more...
and then New College which helped her achieve her dream of being an actress. She studied acting at Rose Bruford College
Rose Bruford College
Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance is a British drama school, offering university-level and professional vocational training for theatre and performance and the BA and MA degrees, based in Sidcup, Southeast London.-History:Founded in 1950, Rose Bruford "pioneered the first acting degree...
, Sidcup
Sidcup
Sidcup is a district in South East London in the London Borough of Bexley and small parts of the district in the London Borough of Greenwich.Located south east of Charing Cross, Sidcup is bordered by the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bromley and Kent County Council, and whilst now part of...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, graduating in 2007.
Later that year she was part of the original cast of BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
comedy sketch show Scallywagga
Scallywagga
Scallywagga is a British comedy sketch show, written by Stuart Kenworthy, who has worked on Green Wing and Smack the Pony. The executive producer of series one was Kenton Allen, and the producer was Jon Montague. The pilot episode aired on 21 March 2007 when the show was known as Spacehopper...
, in which she played multiple characters. After successfully being cast as Leila Roy, she joined the cast of Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
in summer 2008. In August 2008, Lena Kaur praised Hollyoaks producer Bryan Kirkwood
Bryan Kirkwood (producer)
Bryan Kirkwood is a Scottish-born British television producer. He was the producer of teen Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2006 until 2009 and has been the executive producer of the BBC soap EastEnders since 2010.- Personal life :...
for not stereotyping Asians
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
on the programme. Speaking to Take 5 magazine, she stated, "The storylines for me and Stephen
Stephen Uppal
Stephen Uppal is an English actor of Asian descent from Ormesby in Middlesbrough. He is known for playing Ravi Roy in the long-running British soap Hollyoaks, the 2009 film Freight, and also for playing characters in The History Boys at Wyndham's Theatre.Uppal gained a qualification in English at...
(Ravi
Ravi Roy
Ravi Roy is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Stephen Uppal. He first appeared in an episode airing on 20 May 2008, introduced by series producer Bryan Kirkwood. Since then he has been central to a bisexuality storyline and living with an aneurysm...
) aren't being dictated by the colour of our skin. We're both British Asians in real life as well as in the show. We are both totally westernised. We've been brought up in Britain, so the storylines will reflect people like Stephen and me." Kaur announced her decision to leave to pursue new challenges in late 2009, and made her last appearance as Leila in January 2010.
In 2011 she appeared as Dr. Alicia Patel in Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
's fourth series; Torchwood: Miracle Day airing on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
and US premium television network Starz.
Selected filmography
| Year(s) | Title | Role | | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Torchwood: Miracle Day | Dr. Alicia Patel | BBC One BBC One BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution... /Starz |
| 2010 | Speechless | Various | Kudos Film & TV |
| 2008–2010 | Hollyoaks Hollyoaks Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill... |
Leila Roy | Character Page |
| 2007–2008 | Scallywagga Scallywagga Scallywagga is a British comedy sketch show, written by Stuart Kenworthy, who has worked on Green Wing and Smack the Pony. The executive producer of series one was Kenton Allen, and the producer was Jon Montague. The pilot episode aired on 21 March 2007 when the show was known as Spacehopper... |
Ange/Various | Scallywaga at BBC.co.uk |
External links
- Leila Roy on the *Hollyoaks website