Who is Balvinder Sopal? EastEnders star’s life off-screen as she joins Strictly Come Dancing
Balvinder Sopal is best known for playing Suki Panesar in EastEnders, but the actress is set to show off her moves on the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor
Balvinder Sopal is most recognised for bringing Suki Panesar to life on BBC One’s EastEnders, but telly fans are set to see a different side of the actress as she tackles the demanding world of Strictly Come Dancing.
The 46-year-old soap favourite is amongst the 12 famous faces vying for the glitterball trophy in this year’s series, representing her debut foray into reality television.
Balvinder, who first graced Albert Square in 2020, has described taking part in Strictly as a “dream” come true, and with previous dance training in her background, she might just prove to be a formidable competitor on the ballroom floor.
Here, we delve into Balvinder’s personal journey and professional achievements, exploring her television credits and family connections.
Balvinder Sopal is set to appear on Strictly Come Dancing (Image: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Who is Balvinder Sopal?
Balvinder is a performer originally from Medway. Born in Chatham and raised in Gillingham, she was the firstborn of four siblings, reports Kent Live.
Her sister, Manjeet Griffiths, has featured in numerous productions including Holby City, and is currently employed as a producer with a London-based production house.
Following her studies at the University of Huddersfield, Balvinder has settled back in Medway, Kent. She tends to maintain privacy regarding her personal affairs, choosing to shield intimate details from public scrutiny.
EastEnders role
Balvinder became part of the EastEnders ensemble in December 2019, taking on the character of Suki Panesar. Her inaugural appearance was broadcast in January 2020, and she has remained a fixture in the soap opera ever since.
Suki has been central to numerous plotlines, including her relationship with Eve Unwin (Heather Peace), the tragic death of her son Jags (Amar Adatia) and the torment she endured from her estranged husband Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry).
Balvinder’s portrayal of Suki has earned her a slew of award nominations, and last year she clinched the Soap Superstar title at the Inside Soap Awards.
The actress is known for playing Suki Panesar in EastEnders (Image: BBC)
What other roles has Balvinder taken on?
Balvinder’s professional acting journey began in 2001 with The Beautiful Violin at Oldham Coliseum Theatre. This paved the way for her involvement in other stage productions like Absent Friends and Relatively Speaking.
In the same year, Balvinder made her television debut in an episode of BBC’s Kidhaar!, playing the character Reena. She also lent her voice to Simran Kaur in the radio soap opera Silver Street, broadcasted on BBC Asian Network.
Before joining the EastEnders cast, Balvinder featured in four other popular TV soaps. From 2009 to 2018, she appeared in Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Doctors and Hollyoaks.
Her acting credits also include Call the Midwife and Waterloo Road, as well as films such as Anatomy of a Crime, Naachle London and Honeycomb Lodge.
Strictly Come Dancing marks Balvinder’s first foray into reality TV, following her appearance on the game show Pointless earlier this year.
What has Balvinder said about Strictly?
Balvinder is one of 12 celebrities competing on this year’s Strictly (Image: BBC)
Balvinder is among the celebrities set to strut their stuff on the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor this year. She’ll be competing against a star-studded line-up including Lewis Cope, Dani Dyer, Vicky Pattison, Ross King and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
On securing her place in Strictly, Balvinder expressed: “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!”