Dame Meera Syal has disclosed for the first time that she was sexually assaulted early in her career by an established older actor who had promised to help her secure casting connections, per metro.co.uk.
The 65-year-old actress and writer revealed that the incident occurred in the 1980s while she was working as a jazz singer in Covent Garden and contemplating leaving London to return to the West Midlands.
She accepted an invitation to a gathering hosted by an older Asian actor of a similar age to her father, who claimed he could provide a career boost.
Upon arrival, she was left alone with the unnamed individual, who attempted to rape her after dinner. According to reports, she froze in fear and clamped her legs together while the assault continued. She did not report the incident to the police at the time, choosing instead to keep silent to protect her parents from a public criminal trial.
The trauma ultimately redirected her life and career trajectory. After sharing the experience years later with close female friends who had faced similar ordeals, she connected with a collective of South Asian writers. This community provided housing, political awakening, and creative encouragement, inspiring her to pen strong female characters that later defined acclaimed programmes such as Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42.
The disclosure precedes the publication of her upcoming memoir, “Vigilauntie”. Reflecting on her career, Syal also contrasted the current television landscape with the multicultural and alternative comedy boom of the 1990s, noting how the industry has shifted significantly since that era.
- Featured image: Meera Syal/Getty Images