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Balvinder Sopal Biography – Balvinder Sopal Wiki
Balvinder Sopal has made a name for herself as an award-winning actress, most notably for her role as the notorious Suki Panesar (now Unwin) on the popular British soap opera, EastEnders, where she has been captivating audiences since 2019. Prior to her success on EastEnders, Sopal built a diverse acting portfolio with appearances on well-loved television series such as Call The Midwife, Doctors, and Waterloo Road.
Raised in Gillingham, Kent, as the eldest of four, Sopal’s passion for acting was evident from an early age, often engaging in imaginative play with her siblings. With her parents’ support, she pursued her dreams by studying Theatre Studies with Media at the University of Huddersfield, which paved the way for a dynamic career in stage, television, and voice acting.
Her theatre career began in 2001 with a debut performance in The Beautiful Violin at Oldham Coliseum, followed by roles in productions like Absent Friends and The Tales of the Harrow. On the screen, she has been featured in projects such as Kidhaar!, Waterloo Road, Call the Midwife, Coming Up, and Five Days, as well as providing the voice for Simran Kaur in BBC Asian Network’s radio drama Silver Street. Since taking on the role of Suki Panesar in EastEnders in 2020, Sopal has been lauded for her portrayal of intricate narratives that delve into themes of family, identity, and love.
Sopal’s character, Suki, is at the heart of several groundbreaking and challenging storylines, including those addressing family conflict, an abusive marriage, and a prominent LGBTQ+ narrative with Eve Unwin. She also played a pivotal role in the 2023 “The Six” whodunnit storyline, filming multiple endings to preserve the suspense for the Christmas Day reveal. Her compelling performances have earned her accolades such as a RadioTimes.com Soap Award, a Digital Spy Readers Award, an Asian Media Award, and an Inside Soap Award.
Asian Media Awards
As Suki Panesar, Sopal plays a significant role in introducing the soap’s first Sikh family to Albert Square, making their debut in January 2020. Her character has since become an integral part of the Walford community, with the Panesar family and their business empire becoming deeply embedded in the fabric of the show.
Balvinder won the Best TV Character award at the 2022 Asian Media awards. Speaking on stage, Balvinder said: “Eastenders is brilliant. It is collaborative process and we have worked with the producers and writers to make sure we push stories so that we are not telling the same old story that we are oppressed by our culture and religion and our identity is a powerful thing.”
Balvinder Sopal Age
She was born on 4 December 1978 in Chatham, Kent, England.
Balvinder Sopal Husband
Is Balvinder Sopal married? She is unmarried in real life. On EastEnders, Balvinder dealt with abuse at the hands of her evil husband Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry). She also confidently came out as a lesbian and went public with her romance with Eve Unwin.
Balvinder Sopal Family
Balvinder Sopal is the eldest of four children. She often shares glimpses of her family life on social media, including photos with her sister Manjeet. In 2021, Balvinder posted a sweet tribute to her sister, referring to her as “my counsel, my strength, and my power!”
Balvinder sadly lost her mother Nirmal in February 2024. Posting to Instagram, Balvinder said her mother “passed peacefully, with dignity and grace, just as she’d lived her whole life.” She added: “As we told people, the one thing constant in people’s memory was Mums huge warm smile, her ability to adapt to change & show love & respect to all.”
Balvinder Sopal Strictly Come Dancing
Award-winning actress Balvinder Sopal is a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2025. The news was revealed live from Albert Square on 12 August on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. She was paired with professional dancer Julian Caillon.
On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Balvinder said: “Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen. Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of. I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom!”
Balvinder Sopal Partner
Eastenders star Balvinder Sopal partnered with professional dancer Julian Caillon for Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
Balvinder Sopal Height
Strictly Come Dancing’s Balvinder Sopal stands at a height of 5 ft 4 inches (1.63 m).
Balvinder Sopal Ethnicity
Balvinder is of South Asian heritage. She celebrates the South Asian Heritage Month.
Balvinder Sopal Religion
Balvinder is a follower of Sikhism, an Indian religion and philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century CE.
Balvinder Sopal’s Instagram handle is @leesopal.
