Nina Wadia
Born: 18 December 1968
Nina Wadia is a powerhouse who's been gracing screens for over three decades, and honestly, she's done it all. While many know her best as the fierce Zainab Masood from the British soap EastEnders—a role that made her a household name and earned her serious acting credentials—her career stretches way beyond that iconic part. She's been comedy gold in Goodness Gracious Me, brought warmth and humor to Citizen Khan as Aunty Noor, and even ventured into Bollywood with the charming Namaste London. From British television to Hindi cinema, she's proven she can handle drama, comedy, and everything in between with equal finesse. What really sets Nina apart is her ability to bring authenticity and depth to every character she touches, whether she's playing a strong matriarch, a comedic aunt, or a romantic lead. She's been a trailblazer in British Asian representation on screen, paving the way for so many others and refusing to be boxed into one type of role. Beyond her EastEnders fame, her work in sketch comedy and ensemble casts shows her range—she's equally comfortable making you laugh as she is breaking your heart. Even in recent years, with appearances in series like Origin and Doctors, she continues to prove that she's still very much a force to be reckoned with, bringing the same energy and skill that made her a beloved figure in entertainment for decades.
Awards & Nominations
Wadia won Best Comedy Performance at the 2009 British Soap Awards, as well as Best On-Screen Partnership at the same awards ceremony for her on-screen relationship with Nitin Ganatra. In 2004, she won the chairman's Award at the Asian Women awards. In April 2013, she was awarded with the Outstanding Achievement in Television Award at The Asian Awards. The following year, Wadia won the Sophiya Haque award for Services to British Television Award at the Asian Media Awards. The award was presented to her by Haque's sister, Seyera. Wadia was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to entertainment and charity.
