Sacha Dhawan (/dəˈwɑːn/[1]) (born 1 May 1984)[2] is an English actor. He began his career in the ITV series Out of Sight (1997–1998), The Last Train (1999), and Weirdsister College (2001–2002). He originated the role of Akthar in the play The History Boys (2004–2006) and reprised his role in its film adaptation (2006).

Sacha Dhawan
Dhawan on the set of The Boy with the Topknot
Born (1984-05-01) 1 May 1984 (age 40)
OccupationActor
Years active1998–present
Known forThe Master
PartnerAnjli Mohindra

Dhawan has since played Paul Jatri in the BBC One comedy-drama Last Tango in Halifax (2012), Waris Hussein in the BBC Two docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time (2013), Davos in the Marvel series Iron Fist (2017–2018), Count Orlo in The Great (2020–2023) on Hulu, and The Master in the science fiction series Doctor Who (2020–2022).

Early life and education

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Sacha Dhawan was born in Bramhall, Stockport[3] to Indian parents from Jalandhar, Punjab, India.[4][5][6]

Dhawan trained at the Laine-Johnson Theatre School in Manchester, and started acting at the age of twelve. He attended the Roman Catholic school Aquinas College in Stockport.[3]

Career

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Television and film

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Dhawan has appeared in a number of television shows in the United Kingdom. He had recurring roles in Weirdsister College, in which he played Azmat Madaridi, and series two and three of the children's TV series Out of Sight. He appeared in the miniseries The Last Train (1999), and has guest starred in episodes on EastEnders, Altogether Now, and City Central.[7] He also appeared in 2008 ITV drama, Wired, as Ben Chandrakar, alongside Jodie Whittaker and Laurence Fox. He was part of an ensemble cast on the NBC sitcom Outsourced, which aired during the 2010–2011 season.[8] In November 2013, Dhawan portrayed director Waris Hussein in An Adventure in Space and Time, a BBC Two biographical television film on the creation of the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who as part of its 50th Anniversary celebration. He also appeared as Paul Jatri, a 22-year-old man involved with a woman twice his age, in the first series of BBC One's Last Tango in Halifax. He plays the part of Davos in the Netflix series Iron Fist in both the seasons. He starred as Sathnam Sanghera in the critically acclaimed The Boy with the Topknot, shown on BBC 2 in 2017. He appeared in four episodes of the twelfth series of Doctor Who as the latest incarnation of the renegade Time Lord known as the Master, acting opposite Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor.[9] He reprised the role in the 2022 special The Power of the Doctor, Whittaker's last episode. From 2020 to 2023, he played the role of Count Orlo, advisor to Catherine the Great, in comedy-drama TV series The Great.

Dhawan was cast as the title character in the BBC crime drama Virdee, adapted from the novels by A A Dhand.[10] He was later replaced in the role by Staz Nair.

Theatre

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Dhawan originated the role of Akthar in Alan Bennett's play The History Boys. After playing Akthar in the original stage production he reprised the role in the Broadway, Sydney, Wellington and Hong Kong productions, and radio and film versions of the play.[11][12]

In July 2018, Dhawan reunited with History Boys playwright Alan Bennett and co-star Samuel Barnett for Bennett's new play Allelujah! at the Bridge Theatre.

Personal life

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Dhawan was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2006.[citation needed]

Dhawan is in a relationship with actress Anjli Mohindra.[13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 The History Boys Akthar
2010 Splintered Sam
2012 Girl Shaped Love Drug Him
The Mystery of Edwin Drood Neville Landless Miniseries
2013 After Earth Hesper Pilot
2015 The Lady in the Van Doctor at Gloucester Crescent
2018 National Theatre Live: Allelujah! Dr. Valentine
2023 The Glassworker Vincent Oliver Voice

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1997–1998 Out of Sight Ali Pantajali Main role; 20 episodes
1998 City Central Tony Episode: "Picking Up the Pieces"
1999 The Last Train Leo Nixon Main role; 6 episodes
2001–2002 Weirdsister College Azmat Madari Main role; 13 episodes
2003 EastEnders: Perfectly Frank DC Wayne Atkins TV movie
2006 Bradford Riots Karim TV movie
2008 Wired Ben 3 episodes
2008–2009 Chuggington Eddie Voice; 38 episodes
2009 Paradox Jaz Roy Series 1, episode 4
2010 The Deep Vincent 5 episodes
Five Days Khalil Akram 4 episodes
2010–2011 Outsourced Manmeet Main role; 22 episodes
2012 Last Tango in Halifax Paul Jatri 6 episodes
Being Human Pete Episode: "Hold the Front Page"
Welcome to India Narrator TV documentary[14]
2013 The Tractate Middoth William Garrett Television film
An Adventure in Space and Time Waris Hussein Television film
2014 Utopia Paul 2 episodes
24: Live Another Day Naveed Shabazz 4 episodes
In the Flesh Amir Series 2, episode 3
Line of Duty Manish Prasad 3 episodes
Mr Selfridge Jimmy Dillon Main role; 9 episodes
2014–2016 In the Club Dev Sidhwa Main role; 12 episodes
2015 No Offence Majid Hassan Series 1, episode 3
Bugsplat! Mohammed Mohammed Television film
Not Safe for Work Danny 6 episodes
The Interceptor Astin Ray Episode 3
2017 Sherlock Ajay Episode: "The Six Thatchers"
The Boy with the Topknot Sathnam Sanghera BBC Two
2017–2018 Marvel's Iron Fist Davos Main role; 15 episodes
2020 Dracula Dr. Sharma 1 episode
Thunderbirds Are Go Stew Voice; episode: "Upside Down"
2020–2022 Doctor Who The Master 5 episodes
2020–2023 The Great Count Orlo Main role
2021 The Prince Teddy / Dinesh Voice; 12 episodes
2022 Suspect Jaisal 8 episodes
2023 Wolf Honey 6 episodes
Summer Camp Island Miracle Rabbit Voice; episode: "Miracle Rabbit"

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Gray Matter Malik Voice
2012 Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes Durrig
2014 Game of Thrones: A Telltale Games Series Gryff Whitehill
2017 Mass Effect: Andromeda Additional voices
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 Steel Serpent
2018 Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Prince Faris, additional voices Voice (English version)

Radio and theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Chocky Matthew Gore Radio play, BBC Radio 4
2001 East is East Sajid Live theatre, Haymarket Theatre, Leicester
2002 The Witches Boy Live theatre, Haymarket Theatre, Leicester
2004–2006 The History Boys Akthar Live theatre, Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London
Live theatre, Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway
Live theatre, Sydney Theatre, Sydney
Live theatre, St. James Theatre, Wellington
Live theatre, Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong
2007 The Prospect Hanif Radio play, BBC Radio 4
Pretend You Have Big Buildings Danny Live theatre, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Borstal Boy Live theatre, Edinburgh Festival Fringe
2008 Pornography Live theatre, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh[15]
2009 England People Very Nice Norfolk Danny/Carlo/Aaron/Mushi Olivier Theatre, National Theatre[16]
2018 Allelujah! by Alan Bennett Dr. Valentine Live theatre, Bridge Theatre
2022 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Firewall by James Swallow Charlie Cole Radio drama, BBC Radio 4

References

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  1. ^ "60 Seconds With... Sacha Dhawan". BAFTA Guru. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Sacha Dhawan Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Sacha's well versed at History". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
  4. ^ Seale, Jack (30 June 2015). "Sacha Dhawan: 'My generation don't care who plays a part'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  5. ^ Siddiqui, Sabrina (14 October 2010). "From Stage to Stateside: In Conversation with Outsourced's Sacha Dhawan". Divanee.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016. I'm from Indian parents, so I go from my own experiences and just be as truthful as possible
  6. ^ "Interview with Sacha Dhawan (from NBC's Outsourced) – Smita Shares". Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Hatton McEwan Artists (Sacha Dhawan CV)". Archived from the original on 21 October 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2006.
  8. ^ Tsering, Lisa (21 May 2011). "NBC Cancels 'Outsourced': First TV Show Set in India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Doctor Who sees the shock return of a classic foe in opening episode". BBC. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  10. ^ "'Happy Valley' Creator Sally Wainwright, Jenna Coleman, Nicôle Lecky, Sacha Dhawan Series Set at BBC". variety.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Internet Broadway Database: Sacha Dhawan Credits on Broadway". Retrieved 10 November 2006.
  12. ^ "National Theatre : Productions : The History Boys 2004". Retrieved 10 November 2006.
  13. ^ Osborne, Emma (24 September 2018). "Bodyguard's Anjli Mahindra's life away from the BBC drama uncovered as her famous boyfriend is revealed". OK. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  14. ^ "BBC Two - Welcome to India, Episode 1". Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  15. ^ Nightingale, Benedict (5 August 2008). "Pornography at the Traverse, Edinburgh". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  16. ^ "Production of England People Very Nice | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
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