EastEnders star Suki Panesar's life outside of Albert Square as she gears up for Strictly
EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal says her home town is 'full of heart' as we take a look at her life away from Albert Square as she puts on her dancing shoes to prep for Strictly
EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, who is known for her iconic role as Suki Panesar, will be stepping from one TV show to another as she is going from Albert Square to the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor.
The actress, 46, is set to compete on the nation's favourite dancing programme alongside celebrities such as Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis, Geordie Shore legend Vicky Pattison, and Love Island's Dani Dyer, among a host of others.
As she steps into her new role, let’s take a look at her life away from the cameras. Born on 4 December 1978, Balvinder reportedly lives in Medway, Kent, which she has previously said she ‘loves’ due to its diversity and ‘surrounding areas’. Speaking about the area, she said: “ It is full of heart, and it’s where I grew up. It’s where I come from”, reports Grazia.
The actor is the eldest of four siblings, and among her closest relationships is the one she shares with her sister, Manjeet Griffiths. Like Balvinder, Manjeet has carved out her own path in the entertainment world, with acting credits in EastEnders and Holby City, and now works as a producer for a London-based production company, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Early last year, Balvinder had to deal with the loss of her mother, Nirmal Sopal, as she took to social media and paid homage to her mum, praising her for her warmth, adaptability, and the nurturing home she created.
Balvinder hailed her mother as their "rock, friend, confidant, guiding light," underlining the mark she left on their family. Her tribute also noted: "As we told people, the one thing constant in people's memory was Mums huge warm smile, her ability to adapt to change and show love and respect to all."
While Balvinder doesn’t open up often about her personal life, it is believed that she doesn’t have any children and isn’t currently married.
Balvinder Sopal became a household name thanks to her powerful performance as EastEnders’ formidable Suki Panesar, but her journey to Albert Square was paved with a wide range of TV roles. Prior to joining the soap in early 2020, Balvinder made guest appearances on hit soaps like Doctors and Casualty.
She even graced the set of Hollyoaks in 2018 as Amrita Desai, and popped up on the cobbles of Coronation Street in 2019 playing Ranita. Not to mention her stint in Emmerdale, where she appeared as DI Taylor in both 2015 and 2017.
While she has had many roles, it was the layered, emotionally charged role of Suki that truly captured audiences, particularly through her unexpected romance with Eve Unwin (played by Heather Peace ).
Speaking about her latest cha-cha challenge with OK!, the TV star 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!"
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