Singaporean actress Anjana Vasan is a Laurence Olivier Award winner!

Anjana Vasan is a Singaporean actress based in the United Kingdom. She is most known for her work in theatre and has recently won the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award.

Born in Chennai, India, Anjana Vasan moved to Singapore with her family at the young age of four and spent most of her life in the island nation. She has since obtained citizenship and is a Singaporean.

Despite not being born in the country, Anjana Vasan is a Singaporean through and through, having studied and graduated in theatre studies at the world-class National University of Singapore (NUS).

Image: anjvasan / Instagram

According to an interview on The British Blacklist, Anjana Vasan got her first professional acting gig while she was still an undergraduate at NUS!

The experience was a nerve-racking one for her understandably as it was Anjana Vasan’s first role.

Image: anjvasan / Instagram

Soon after, Anjana Vasan decided to move to the UK to further her studies. It was there that she enrolled in the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and got her Masters of Arts in Acting!

Image: anjvasan / Instagram

It is no surprise that after her postgraduate studies in the UK, Anjana Vasan decided to remain in the country and be based there for work given the breadth of opportunities there. Image: Netflix

The nervous newbie back then during her undergrad was no more eventually, as Anjana Vasan got many roles after, and even managed to make her TV debut on Channel 4’s ‘Fresh Meat’ while doing her postgrad studies!

Image: anjvasan / Instagram

Given her expertise in theatrical works, it’s understandable that Anjana Vasan is not as well known in popular media in Singapore, but instead has a stronger presence in the theatre scene and in the UK.

Did you know that other than her proficiency and training in the art of acting, Anjana Vasan is also a singer-songwriter?

Image: anjvasan / Instagram

She released her EP titled ‘Strange Country Jukebox’ in 2021, and is also known for singing in live performances. She once recorded a jazz tribute to Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ which was aired on the BBC.

Image: anjvasan / Instagram

Since starting out professionally in the UK, Anjana Vasan has clinched many roles across television, theatre, and film.

Image: anjvasan / Instagram

Because of her decision to stay in the UK, Anjana Vasan got a role in her first film in Sir Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Macbeth’ in 2013 as the Third Sister, and moved up from British TV!

Not only that, but Anjana Vasan also managed to land a cameo role in a Hollywood production and starred as a reporter in Marvel’s ‘Spider-man: Far From Home’ alongside big stars Tom Holland and Zendaya.

Image: Sony Pictures

Interested to see Anjana Vasan in action? It is recommended that you watch her on Channel 4’s ‘Hang Ups’ as Zahra Alsaadi and ‘We Are Lady Parts’ as Amina! Image: Netflix

‘We Are Lady Parts’ can be considered Anjana Vasan’s most iconic role thus far as this role earned her several nominations in four acting award ceremonies, including the British Academy Television Awards in 2022.

Despite not winning any of the four awards for which she was nominated, Anjana Vasan's role as Amina was largely iconic and culturally significant.

Image: Channel 4

Not only was the entire series ground breaking, Anjana Vasan was also given the heavy role of portraying the cultural navigation within her acting role as a Muslim woman with unconventional hobbies who fronts a punk rock band.

Image: Channel 4

Anjana Vasan's dedication and talent paid off when she took home the trophy for Best Supporting Actress at the prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards just last month in April – a crowning moment for her in the field of British theatre!

Anjana Vasan won the Laurence Olivier Award for her performance as Stella Kowalski in London’s Almeida Theatre and Phoenix Theatre 2022 and 2023 production of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’.

Anjana Vasan has two major roles lined up for her after this win. Be sure to check her out in the upcoming comedy film ‘Wicked Little Letters’ and the sixth season of Netflix’s ‘Black Mirror’.