Lolita Chakrabarti (born 1 June 1969) is a British actress and writer.

Early life

Chakrabarti was born in

Kingston upon Hull Kingston upon Hull, usually abbreviated to Hull, is a port city and unitary authority in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies upon the River Hull at its confluence with the Humber Estuary, inland from the North Sea and south- ...

, England, to Bengali Hindu parents from

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

on 1 June 1969. She grew up in

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...

, where her father worked as an orthopaedic surgeon at Selly Oak Hospital.

Career

Acting

Chakrabarti graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1990. From 1993 to 1996, she presented the BBC children's educational programme ''

Numbertime ''Numbertime'' is a BBC educational numeracy television series for primary schools that was aired on BBC Two from 20 September 1993 to 3 December 2001. For its first four series, it was presented by Lolita Chakrabarti. El Nombre, an animated cha ...

.'' Her screen credits include '' Vigil'', '' Showtrial'', ''

The Wheel of Time ''The Wheel of Time'' is a series of high fantasy novels by American author Robert Jordan, with Brandon Sanderson as a co-author for the final three novels. Originally planned as a six-book series, ''The Wheel of Time'' spans 14 volumes, in ad ...

'', '' Criminal: UK'', ''

Riviera ''Riviera'' () is an Italian word which means "coastline", ultimately derived from Latin , through Ligurian . It came to be applied as a proper name to the coast of Liguria, in the form ''Riviera ligure'', then shortened in English. The two area ...

'', '' Delicious'', ''

Defending the Guilty ''Defending the Guilty'' is a British television sitcom. It stars Will Sharpe and Katherine Parkinson as London barristers. The programme was broadcast in the United Kingdom from 19 September 2018 on BBC Two. The show was recommissioned for a ...

'', ''

All Is True ''All Is True'' is a 2018 British fictional historical film directed by Kenneth Branagh and written by Ben Elton. It stars Branagh as playwright William Shakespeare. The film takes its title from an alternative name for Shakespeare's play ''Hen ...

'', '' Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands'', ''

The Casual Vacancy ''The Casual Vacancy'' is a 2012 novel written by J. K. Rowling. The book was published worldwide by the Little, Brown Book Group on 27 September 2012. A paperback edition was released on 23 July 2013. It was Rowling's first publication since ...

'', ''

My Mad Fat Diary ''My Mad Fat Diary'' is a British teen comedy-drama television series that debuted on E4 on 14 January 2013. It is based on the novel ''My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary'' by Rae Earl. The second series started on 19 February 2014 and ended on 31 Mar ...

'', '' Jekyll and Hyde'', '' Intruders'', ''

Bodies Bodies may refer to: * The plural of body * ''Bodies'' (2004 TV series), BBC television programme * Bodies (upcoming TV series), an upcoming British crime thriller limited series * "Bodies" (''Law & Order''), 2003 episode of ''Law & Order'' * B ...

'', ''

Vera Vera may refer to: Names * Vera (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) * Vera (given name), a given name (including a list of people and fictional characters with the name) **Vera (), archbishop of the archdiocese of Tarr ...

'', '' Outnumbered'', '' Hustle'', ''

Born to Kill Born to Kill may refer to: Film * ''Born to Kill'' (1947 film), a film noir directed by Robert Wise * ''Born to Kill'' (1967 film), a Spaghetti Western directed by Antonio Mollica * ''Born to Kill'' (1974 film) or ''Cockfighter'', a film direct ...

'', '' Forgiven'', '' Extras Christmas Special'', '' William and Mary'', '' Fortysomething'', ''

Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama '' Casualty'', and ...

'', ''

Silent Witness ''Silent Witness'' is a British crime drama television series produced by the BBC, which focuses on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in 1996, the series was created by Nigel ...

'', and as WPC Jamila Blake in the long-running ITV drama ''

The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, first broadcast on ITV from 16 August 1983 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, '' Woodentop'', broadcast in August 1983. The programme focused o ...

''. Her theatre credits include ''Fanny and Alexander'' for The Old Vic (2018), Gertrude in ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'' starring Tom Hiddleston and directed by Kenneth Branagh for RADA (2017), '' The Great Game: Afghanistan'' for the Tricycle Theatre (2009), ''Last Seen'' for the Almeida (2009) (which she co-wrote), ''Free Outgoing'' for the Royal Court (2008) and '' John Gabriel Borkman'' for the Donmar Warehouse (2007).

Writing

In 2018, Chakrabarti curated ''The Greatest Wealth'' for The Old Vic, London. She commissioned eight monologues, of which she also wrote one in recognition of the 70th birthday of the NHS. The season was relaunched online during the pandemic in 2020, with a new monologue written by novelist Bernardine Evaristo. She adapted Italo Calvino's 1972 novel ''

Invisible Cities ''Invisible Cities'' ( it, Le città invisibili) is a novel by Italian writer Italo Calvino. It was published in Italy in 1972 by Giulio Einaudi Editore. Description The book explores imagination and the imaginable through the descriptions of ...

'', in collaboration with 59 Productions,

Rambert Dance Company Rambert (known as Rambert Dance Company before 2014) is a leading British dance company. Formed at the start of the 20th century as a classical ballet company, it exerted a great deal of influence on the development of dance in the United Kingd ...

and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Presented at

Manchester International Festival The Manchester International Festival is a biennial international arts festival, with a specific focus on original new work, held in the English city of Manchester and run by Factory International. The festival is a biennial event, first tak ...

and

Brisbane Festival Brisbane Festival is one of Australia's leading international arts festivals, and is held each September in Brisbane, Australia. Its presence dominates the city for three weeks in September and its line-up of classical and contemporary music, ...

in 2019, it was reimagined as a virtual realty film named ''Stones of Venice'' for Hong Kong New Vision Festival. In 2020, Chakrabarti was dramaturg on the dance piece ''Message in a Bottle'' for Kate Prince, ZooNation and

Sadler's Wells Theatre Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue in Clerkenwell, London, England located on Rosebery Avenue next to New River Head. The present-day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500-sea ...

. ''Adrian Lester and Lolita Chakrabarti: A Working Diary'' was published by

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural, intellectual, and educational institutions. Bloomsbury is home of the British Museum, the largest ...

in 2020, charting a year in the working life of Chakrabarti and her husband. Her play ''Hymn'' at the Almeida Theatre opened during lockdown in 2021, also starring Lester. The production was live-streamed for several nights to critical acclaim, and later opened to a live audience in July of the same year. She has also written ''The Goddess'' for ''

Woman's Hour ''Woman's Hour'' is a radio magazine programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on the BBC Light Programme, BBC Radio 2, and later BBC Radio 4. It has been on the air since 1946. History Created by Norman Collins and originally presented ...

'' on

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC's ...

, ''Faith, Hope and Blue Charity'' for the same station, and co-wrote ''Last Seen'' for Slung Low Theatre Company and the Almeida Theatre.

''Red Velvet''

'' Red Velvet'', Chakrabarti's play about

Ira Aldridge Ira Frederick Aldridge (July 24, 1807 – August 7, 1867) was an American-born British actor, playwright, and theatre manager, known for his portrayal of Shakespearean characters. James Hewlett and Aldridge are regarded as the first Black Amer ...

, an African-American actor at the centre of controversy in 1833 when he takes over from Edmund Kean in ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cyp ...

'' at the Theatre Royal in

Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist si ...

premiered in 2012 at the Tricycle Theatre, London. It returned to The Tricycle in 2014 before transferring to

St. Ann's Warehouse St. Ann's Warehouse is a performing arts institution in Brooklyn, New York City. Formerly the Church of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity on Montague Street, in 1980 the site was converted into a venue for classical music. Initially known as ''Arts a ...

in New York. It returned again to the Garrick Theatre in London's West End as part of Kenneth Branagh's season in 2016. Chicago Shakespeare Theater and San Diego's Old Globe Theatre presented ''Red Velvet'' in 2017–18. ''Red Velvet'' has had more than 25 productions in the United States. The play won Chakrabarti the Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright at the

2012 Evening Standard Theatre Awards The 2012 Evening Standard Theatre Awards were announced on 25 November 2012. The shortlist was revealed on 12 November 2012 and the longlist on 29 October 2012. Winners, shortlist and longlist = winner Best Play * '' Constellations'' by Nick P ...

. That same year she was nominated for Best New Play and London Newcomer of the Year at the

WhatsOnStage Awards The WhatsOnStage Awards (WOS Awards), formerly known as the Theatregoers' Choice Awards, are organised by the theatre website WhatsOnStage.com. The awards recognise performers and productions of British theatre with an emphasis on London's West ...

. She won the award for Most Promising Playwright at the

Critics' Circle Award The Critics' Circle Theatre Awards, originally called ''Drama'' Theatre Awards up to 1990, are British theatrical awards presented annually for the closing year's theatrical achievements. The winners, from theatre throughout the United Kingdom, ar ...

s in January 2013 and received the AWA Award for Arts and Culture that same year. ''Red Velvet'' was also nominated for an Olivier Award in 2013.

''Life of Pi''

Chakrabarti's adaptation of '' Life of Pi'', based on Yann Martel's 2001 novel, premiered at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield in June 2019. Following critical acclaim, the production transferred to the Wyndham's Theatre, West End in November 2021. Chakrabarti was awarded the Olivier Award for Best New Play for her work, and numerous other accolades including a WhatsOnStage Award, UK Theatre Award and CAMEO Award.

Producing

Chakrabarti ran Lesata Productions with Rosa Maggiora. In 2011, they produced ''Of Mary'', a short film that won the Best Short Film Award at

PAFF Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is a non-profit corporation in Los Angeles, California, that states its goal is to promote "cultural understanding among peoples of African descent" through exhibiting art and film. It hosts a film festival and an a ...

, Los Angeles, 2012. Chakrabarti and Maggiora were nominated for the Best Producer Award at the

Underwire Film Festival The Underwire Film Festival is an annual event observing short films made with a major female contribution. Held in London, this List of film festivals in Europe, film festival is dedicated to promoting and celebrating female talent across the ...

, London, 2011.

Personal life

Chakrabarti is married to actor Adrian Lester, whom she met while they were both students at

RADA The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the S ...

. They have two daughters. She was awarded

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(OBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to drama.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chakrabarti, Lolita 1969 births Actresses from Kingston upon Hull Actresses from Yorkshire Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art British actresses of Indian descent British writers of Indian descent English dramatists and playwrights English people of Bengali descent English people of Indian descent English stage actresses English television actresses English women dramatists and playwrights Living people Officers of the Order of the British Empire 20th-century English actresses 21st-century English actresses 21st-century English dramatists and playwrights 21st-century English women writers Writers from Kingston upon Hull Writers from Yorkshire