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Prasanna Puwanarajah

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Prasanna Puwanarajah
Born1981 (age 42–43)
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Alma materNew College, Oxford
OccupationActor
Years active2006–present

Prasanna Puwanarajah (Tamil: பிரசன்னா புவனராஜா; born 1981) is a British actor, director, writer, and former junior medical doctor.

Early life and education

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Puwanarajah was born at Ipswich Hospital in Suffolk to Tamil Sri Lankan parents from Sri Lanka, his mother a psychiatrist and his father a dentist. He spent his early childhood on Churchill Avenue in Ipswich before the family moved to Hampshire when he was four. He participated in school plays and spent a season with the National Youth Theatre, but thought of acting as more of a hobby than a career choice at the time.[1]

He trained in Medicine at New College, Oxford.[2] After working as a junior doctor in reconstructive surgery for over three years, Puwanarajah decided to take a year out. It was during this time he decided to become a full-time actor, describing it as "more of a strong pull towards something else" than a "push away from" his medical career.[3]

Personal life

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As of 2019, Puwanarajah was living in north-west London.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2008 The Stoning of Soraya M. Guard
2009 Clamp and Grind — Director, writer, producer; short film
2010 London Assurance Servant National Theatre Live
Hamlet Guildenstern
2011 The Half-Light — Director, writer; short film
2012 Boy — Director; short film
Southbank Centre Goes Bollywood Graham Short film
2013 Möbius Saïd
Diana Martin Bashir
2015 The Gunman Doctor
2016 The Complete Walk: Richard III First Murderer Short film
The Baby Shower Eric Short film
2020 Dara Talib National Theatre Live
2023 Malcolm Joe
TBA Ballywalter — Director[5]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2008 The Sarah Jane Adventures Car Salesman Episode: "The Mark of the Berserker: Part 2"
2012 Coming Up — Writer, episode: "Spoof or Die"
2012–2014 Silk Dr Malik 3 episodes
2015 Critical Ramakrishna Chandramohan Main role
The Vote Tom Baird Television film
New Tricks Sanjeev Da Silva Episode: "Prodigal Sons"
You, Me and the Apocalypse Rajesh McNeil Miniseries; main role
2016 Cold Feet Sam Harvey 1 episode
2017 Doctor Foster James Mohan Series 2 (4 episodes)[6][7]
2018 Patrick Melrose Johnny Hall Miniseries[8]
2018–2019 Defending the Guilty Ashley Jeevaratnam Main role
2019 Mum Kumar Episode: "Monday"
World on Fire Major Taylor 2 episodes
2020 Unprecedented: Real Time Theatre from a State of Isolation — Writer; 1 episode
2021 Line of Duty Haran Nadaraja Series 6
Three Families David Fortress Part 2
2022 Ten Percent Dan 8 episodes
2022 The Crown Martin Bashir Supporting role (Season 5)
2023 Payback DC Jibran Khan

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 Romeo & Juliet Escalus Battersea Arts Centre, London
2008 Something I Wrote in a Hurry — Director; Tabard Theatre, London
2009 On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco — Director; New End Theatre, London
Thyestes Messenger Arcola Theatre, London
Twelfth Night Priest Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon / Duke of York's Theatre, London
Amadeus North Wall Theatre, Oxford
2010 London Assurance Servant Royal National Theatre, London
Hamlet Guildenstern Royal National Theatre, London
The Wages of Thin — Director; Old Red Lion Theatre, London
2011 Emperor and Galilean Medon / Oribasius Royal National Theatre, London[9]
2011 Nightwatchman Writer
Part of Double Feature at the Royal National Theatre, London
2013 Moth — Directed; HighTide Festival, Aldeburgh / Bush Theatre, London[10]
2013–2014 Henry V Montjoy Noël Coward Theatre, London[11]
2014 Peddling — Director; HighTide Festival, Aldeburgh / Arcola Theatre, London / 59E59 Theaters, New York
Dara Talib Royal National Theatre, London
2015 The Iliad and The Odyssey Almeida Theatre, London
Macbeth Banquo Young Vic, London
2017–2018 The Reluctant Fundamentalist — Director; Yard Theatre, London[12]
2018 Absolute Hell Nigel Childs Royal National Theatre, London[13][14]
2019 Venice Preserv'd — Director; Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon[15][16]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2009 Ian Charleson Awards Thyestes Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Barnett, Laura (11 January 2015). "Second comings: the artists who found success the long way round". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Prasanna Puwanarajah". Nick Hern Books. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  3. ^ Clarke, Andrew (23 April 2013). "Suffolk-born doctor now operates in a different theatre". East Anglia Daily Times. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  4. ^ Watson, Faye (1 April 2019). "Prasanna Puwanarajah: The Edgware Road actor's journey from NHS to TV". The Resident. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  5. ^ Dalton, Ben (28 January 2021). "First look at comedy 'Ballywalter' as filming wraps in Northern Ireland (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  6. ^ Gordon, Naomi (14 September 2017). "Doctor Foster's Prasanna Puwanarajah: 'James and Gemma have a genuine connection'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Doctor Foster: James Mohan". BBC One. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  8. ^ Kealey, Helena (11 May 2018). "Patrick Melrose star Prasanna Puwanarajah talks to Culture Whisper". Culture Whisperer. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Prasanna Puwanarajah". National Theatre. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Prasanna Puwanarajah". United Agents. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Henry V". Michael Grandage Company. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  12. ^ Stewart, Greg (28 July 2017). "NYT Interview: Prasanna Puwanarajah Director of The Reluctant Fundamentalist". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  13. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (24 April 2018). "Prasanna Puwanarajah: 'Britain wasn't ready for Absolute Hell when it first came out'". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  14. ^ Saner, Emine (16 May 2018). "Prasanna Puwanarajah: 'I thought Planet Acting didn't need someone like me'". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Prasanna Puwanarajah Q&A". Royal Shakespeare Company. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  16. ^ Hemming, Sarah (17 May 2019). "Why Prasanna Puwanarajah quit medicine for theatre". Financial Times. Retrieved 29 November 2021.

Further reading

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