Prasanna Puwanarajah

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

Prasanna Puwanarajah
Born1981 (age 41–42)
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Alma materNew College, Oxford
OccupationActor
Years active2006–present

Early life

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

Puwanarajah lives in north-west London.[4]

Bibliography
  • Mercurio, Jed; Puwanarajah, Prasanna (2021). Sleeper. Scribner UK. ISBN 9781471194986.

Filmography

Film
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
TBA Ballywalter — Director[5]

Television
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)

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

References
  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.
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