Balvinder Sopal Biography – Balvinder Sopal Wiki

Balvinder Sopal, an acclaimed actress, has made a name for herself through her compelling portrayal of the notorious Suki Panesar (now Unwin) on the beloved show EastEnders since 2019. Prior to her EastEnders fame, Balvinder graced the screens of various popular television series, including a notable guest stint in the seventh series of Call The Midwife, as well as appearances on Doctors and Waterloo Road.

Raised in Gillingham, Kent, as the eldest of four children, Balvinder’s passion for acting emerged early on, nurtured through imaginative play with her family. After persuading her parents to back her theatrical aspirations, she pursued Theatre Studies with Media at the University of Huddersfield, paving the way for a diverse career encompassing stage, television, and voice acting.

Balvinder’s stage debut came in 2001 with The Beautiful Violin at Oldham Coliseum, followed by roles in Absent Friends and The Tales of the Harrow. On television, she’s featured in productions such as Kidhaar!, Waterloo Road, Call the Midwife, Coming Up, and Five Days. Balvinder also lent her voice to the character of Simran Kaur in BBC Asian Network’s Silver Street. Since stepping into the role of Suki Panesar in EastEnders in 2020, she has captivated audiences, earning numerous accolades for her nuanced performances in storylines about family dynamics, personal identity, and romantic entanglements.

Her portrayal of Suki Panesar has tackled bold and complex narratives, including family conflicts, an abusive marriage, and a groundbreaking LGBTQ+ storyline with Eve Unwin. In 2023, she played a pivotal role in the suspenseful The Six whodunnit, participating in filming various endings to maintain the mystery of the Christmas Day revelation. Her outstanding performances have earned her several awards, including the RadioTimes.com Soap Award, the Digital Spy Readers Award, the Asian Media Award, and the Inside Soap Award.

Asian Media Awards

As Suki Panesar, Balvinder stands as the matriarch of EastEnders’ first Sikh family, who made their entrance in Albert Square in January 2020. She has since become an integral part of the Walford community, with the Panesar family and their business empire expanding around her.

In 2022, Balvinder was honored with the Best TV Character award at the Asian Media Awards. During her acceptance speech, she expressed: “EastEnders is brilliant. It is a collaborative process, and we have worked with the producers and writers to ensure we push narratives that transcend the typical stories of cultural and religious oppression. Our identity is indeed a powerful thing.”

Balvinder Sopal Age

She was born on 4 December 1978 in Chatham, Kent, England.

Balvinder Sopal Husband

Is Balvinder Sopal married? She is unmarried in real life. On EastEnders, Balvinder dealt with abuse at the hands of her evil husband Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry). She also confidently came out as a lesbian and went public with her romance with Eve Unwin.

Balvinder Sopal Family

Balvinder Sopal is the eldest of four children. She often shares glimpses of her family life on social media, including photos with her sister Manjeet. In 2021, Balvinder posted a sweet tribute to her sister, referring to her as “my counsel, my strength, and my power!”

Balvinder sadly lost her mother Nirmal in February 2024. Posting to Instagram, Balvinder said her mother “passed peacefully, with dignity and grace, just as she’d lived her whole life.” She added: “As we told people, the one thing constant in people’s memory was Mums huge warm smile, her ability to adapt to change & show love & respect to all.”

Balvinder Sopal Strictly Come Dancing

Award-winning actress Balvinder Sopal is a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2025. The news was revealed live from Albert Square on 12 August on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. She was paired with professional dancer Julian Caillon.

On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Balvinder 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!”

Balvinder Sopal Partner

Eastenders star Balvinder Sopal partnered with professional dancer Julian Caillon for Strictly Come Dancing 2025.

Balvinder Sopal Height

Strictly Come Dancing’s Balvinder Sopal stands at a height of 5 ft 4 inches (1.63 m).

Balvinder Sopal Ethnicity

Balvinder is of South Asian heritage. She celebrates the South Asian Heritage Month.

Balvinder Sopal Religion

Balvinder is a follower of Sikhism, an Indian religion and philosophy that originated in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century CE.

Instagram

Balvinder Sopal’s Instagram handle is @leesopal.