Acting
Dec 31, 1983
Wimbledon, London, UK
Amara Karan
Acting
Biography
Amara Karan (born Amara Karunakaran, 1 January 1984, Wimbledon, London, England) is a British actress of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, whose parents emigrated from Zambia to the UK two years before her birth. She attended Wimbledon High School before studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at St. Catherine's College, Oxford, where she began acting in amateur plays. After graduating, she worked as an investment banker at Hawkpoint and CIBC World Markets before pursuing acting, training at The Arts Educational Schools London. She made her film debut in 2007 in Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited and her stage debut the following year in RSC productions of The Merchant of Venice and The Taming of the Shrew, the latter marking her West End debut at the Novello Theatre. In 2008 she carried the Olympic Torch during its London leg. Since 2016 she has been in a relationship with actor Jamie de Courcey. Her notable film credits include The Darjeeling Limited (2007) (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody), St Trinian's (2007) (Rupert Everett, Colin Firth), A Fantastic Fear of Everything (2012) (Simon Pegg, Kate Winslet), Jadoo (2013) (Tom Mison, Rafe Spall), The Death and Life of John F. Donovan (2018) (Natalie Portman, James Franco), and House of Spoils (2024). On television she is best known for her role as Chandra Kapoor in HBO's The Night Of (2016), DS Suri Chohan in Stan Lee's Lucky Man (2016–2018), DC Leila Hussain in Hope Street (2021–present), and Indira Mare in Moonhaven (2022), with additional appearances in Doctor Who (2011), The Twilight Zone (2019), Bancroft (2017), and Midsomer Murders (2021).
Feature Films (11)
When their beloved school is threatened with closure should the powers that be fail to raise the proper funds, the girls scheme to steal a priceless painting and use the profits to pull St. Trinian's out of the red.
St Trinian's
Three American brothers who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other -- to become brothers again like they used to be. Their "spiritual quest", however, veers rapidly off-course (due to events involving over-the-counter pain killers, Indian cough syrup, and pepper spray).
The Darjeeling Limited
Jack is a children's author turned crime novelist whose detailed research into the lives of Victorian serial killers has turned him into a paranoid wreck, persecuted by the irrational fear of being murdered. When Jack is thrown a life-line by his long-suffering agent and a mysterious Hollywood executive takes a sudden and inexplicable interest in his script, what should be his big break rapidly turns into his big breakdown, as Jack is forced to confront his worst demons; among them his love life, his laundry and the origin of all fear.
A Fantastic Fear of Everything
Atul and Vina, a newly-wed couple, are unable to consummate their marriage due to his meddling parents. As a result, both are left frustrated and complications start arising in their relationship.
All in Good Time
Television & Series (13)
Kidnap and Ransom is a British television three-part miniseries, originally shown on ITV in January 2011 with a second series following in February 2012. The series follows the work of a British hostage negotiator Dominic King, played by Trevor Eve, who is also executive producer of the series.
Kidnap and Ransom
Bella Sway, a lunar cargo pilot and smuggler 100 years in the future, finds herself accused of a crime and marooned on Moonhaven, a utopian community set on a 500 square mile Garden of Eden built on the Moon to find solutions to the problems that will soon end civilization on Mother Earth.
Moonhaven
The Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who mastered time travel. The Doctor saves planets for a living—more of a hobby actually, and the Doctor's very, very good at it.
Doctor Who
After taking a one-way trip to the Red Planet, graphic designer Jeff Cooper finds himself adrift when his bosses unceremoniously eliminate his role.
Fired on Mars
Port Devine, a small town in Northern Ireland, sees the mysterious arrival of English detective Leila Hussain, the first Muslim police officer in the town's history. Her entrance opens the door for a variety of cases among the locals.
