Massey came to Britain with her parents in 1946 at the age of 12. Her father fought in the Second World War, but remained in the UK and became a producer for the BBC.[1]
As a child, Massey acted for the BBC in radio children's programmes. She attended King's College London and graduated in Latin, Urdu and English. She had aspirations to train as an actress; however, her mother frowned upon such a career. Massey's mother refused to allow her to attend drama school after the death of her father, so she was forced to use subterfuge to fulfill her acting ambitions.[1]
Career
She began her career as an extra. Her first film role was in Sink the Bismarck! (1960), where she was used to translate and report a news section from the film into Urdu — announcing the sinking of the British battleship HMS Hood.[1]
In the mid-1990s she was cast as the recurring character Auntie Satya in Radio 4's daily agricultural soap opera, The Archers, fulfilling one of her life's ambitions.[1] Massey was the second actress to play the role. She had initially been asked to audition for the part, but was forced to turn it down due to work commitments. A year later she was offered the same part when the role was recast. Her character makes occasional appearances to visit her niece, Usha Gupta (Souad Faress).[1]
As well as acting, Massey has also co-authored several books with her husband, writer Reginald Massey. One was a novel, The Immigrants, based on field research among first-generation Asians in Britain. The other books were The Music of India, for which Ravi Shankar provided a foreword, and The Dances of India. Massey is deeply interested and involved in music; she has introduced several Indian musicians and dancers to audiences in the West.[3]
Massey appeared in Coronation Street in February 2010 as one of Sunita's aunts.
Personal life
Massey and her husband, the author and poet Reginald Massey, live in Llanidloes, Wales.[1]
Writings
The Music of India. London: Kahn & Averill. 1993. ISBN1-871-08250-1.
References
^ abcdefg"Archer's Actor - Jamila Massey", BBC. URL last accessed on 2007-03-31.
^"", The Hindu Archive. URL last accessed on 2019-06-31.
^"From India to Llani", BBC. URL last accessed on 2007-03-31.
jamila, massey, born, january, 1934, british, actress, writer, massey, long, career, television, radio, known, playing, auntie, satya, long, running, radio, soap, archers, jamila, ranjha, mind, your, language, sanjay, kapoor, mother, neelam, eastenders, born, . Jamila Massey born 7 January 1934 is a British actress and writer Massey has had a long career on UK television and radio She is known for playing Auntie Satya in the long running radio soap The Archers Jamila Ranjha in Mind Your Language and Sanjay Kapoor s mother Neelam in EastEnders Jamila MasseyBorn 1934 01 07 7 January 1934 age 89 Simla Punjab British IndiaOccupation s Actor writer Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Writings 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditMassey came to Britain with her parents in 1946 at the age of 12 Her father fought in the Second World War but remained in the UK and became a producer for the BBC 1 As a child Massey acted for the BBC in radio children s programmes She attended King s College London and graduated in Latin Urdu and English She had aspirations to train as an actress however her mother frowned upon such a career Massey s mother refused to allow her to attend drama school after the death of her father so she was forced to use subterfuge to fulfill her acting ambitions 1 Career EditShe began her career as an extra Her first film role was in Sink the Bismarck 1960 where she was used to translate and report a news section from the film into Urdu announcing the sinking of the British battleship HMS Hood 1 She continued to work extensively on radio in English Urdu Hindi and Punjabi as well as for the German service of the BBC Years later she acted in Tribunal a ZDF television serial in German with leading European actors She joined the Afro Asian Committee of Equity and continued to work in film and television 1 Roles for Asian actors were scarce during her early career but she was given parts in series such as Crossroads 1964 Within These Walls 1976 The Next Man 1976 Z Cars 1976 1977 Target 1977 Mind Your Language 1977 79 Play for Today 1977 1978 Empire Road 1979 Angels 1981 Minder 1982 The Jewel in the Crown 1984 The Bill 1984 Albion Market 1985 Chance in a Million 1986 Madame Sousatzka 1988 Great Balls of Fire 1989 Brookside 1989 playing Manju Batra and Pie in the Sky 1994 In the mid 1990s she was cast as the recurring character Auntie Satya in Radio 4 s daily agricultural soap opera The Archers fulfilling one of her life s ambitions 1 Massey was the second actress to play the role She had initially been asked to audition for the part but was forced to turn it down due to work commitments A year later she was offered the same part when the role was recast Her character makes occasional appearances to visit her niece Usha Gupta Souad Faress 1 In 1997 she was cast in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders She played Neelam Kapoor the domineering mother of market trader Sanjay Deepak Verma until 1998 Other acting credits include Arabian Nights 2000 Adrian Mole The Cappuccino Years 2001 Perfect World 2001 Doctors 2002 All About Me 2003 Chicken Tikka Masala 2005 Massey s theatre work includes The Great Celestial Cow Royal Court Conduct Unbecoming which toured Canada as well as the UK Song for a Sanctuary Lyric Hammersmith and Women of the Dust Tamasha Theatre and Bristol Old Vic She also played Kasturba in Mahatma versus Gandhi in the BBC Home and World Services and Harvey Virdi in Calcutta Kosher a play on the Indian Jewish Community of Kolkata 2 As well as acting Massey has also co authored several books with her husband writer Reginald Massey One was a novel The Immigrants based on field research among first generation Asians in Britain The other books were The Music of India for which Ravi Shankar provided a foreword and The Dances of India Massey is deeply interested and involved in music she has introduced several Indian musicians and dancers to audiences in the West 3 Massey appeared in Coronation Street in February 2010 as one of Sunita s aunts Personal life EditMassey and her husband the author and poet Reginald Massey live in Llanidloes Wales 1 Writings EditThe Music of India London Kahn amp Averill 1993 ISBN 1 871 08250 1 References Edit a b c d e f g Archer s Actor Jamila Massey BBC URL last accessed on 2007 03 31 Metro Plus Delhi The Hindu Archive URL last accessed on 2019 06 31 From India to Llani BBC URL last accessed on 2007 03 31 External links EditJamila Massey at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jamila Massey amp oldid 1134051752, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
