Meera Syal ‘sexually assaulted by actor who promised to boost her career’

| Senior TV Reporter Published August 30, 2026 12:58pm Updated August 30, 2026 12:58pm Meera Syal is speaking about a sexual assault that occurred early on in her career for the first time (Picture: Getty) Dame Meera Syal has spoken for the first time about being sexually assaulted by a fellow actor early on in her career. The legendary British screen star, 65, entered the industry in the 1980s, appearing in various TV mini-series and one-off roles, but as with any early-career creative, there were points where she questioned if she was going to break into the entertainment industry. In a new interview, she revealed that while working as a jazz singer in Covent Garden, ready to move home to the West Midlands again, she was invited to a gathering by an established older Asian actor – a similar age to her father – who had connections with casting directors. In the hopes of giving her career a boost, she accepted his invitation. However, soon after arriving, she was left totally alone with the unnamed actor who, she revealed, tried to rape her after dinner. According to The Times, she ‘froze in fear but managed to clamp her legs together’, though the actor continued his sexual assault. After leaving his home, getting in a cab and returning to her friend’s home where she was crashing, she never reported the incident. She wanted to save her parents from having to witness a public criminal trial, and, instead, told no one about what happened that night. The actress decided not to report it at the time (Picture: Getty Images Europe The incident inspired her to pen strong female characters in some of her biggest shows (Picture: BBC/Des Willie) Only many years later did she speak to close female friends about her experience, who shared similar experiences of their own. ‘This is the first time I’ve spoken about this publicly,’ the star shared. She continued: ‘It completely changed my life and the direction of my career. I could have given up, but instead I sought out a group of South Asian writers. ‘They encouraged me to write more, they found me a place to live, they healed me and awakened me politically.’ By the mid-1990s she was well on the way to establishing herself as a household name, with game-changing shows like Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42. She shared that she was ‘awakened politically’ by the crowd she surrounded herself with in the aftermath (Picture: Hattrick) She explained that during her processing of the sexual assault, she was inspired to write strong female characters, which became the defining feature of these iconic shows. She acknowledged, however, that the British TV industry has changed, perhaps not for the better, since the late 90s and early 00s. Deals of the Day The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 A friend said I looked 'snatched' – I credit this new Charlotte Tilbury powder Shop MySweetSmile's biggest Bank Holiday offers before they end Back-to-school shopping just got a lot cheaper thanks to Primark The back-to-school essential parents forget every year – and it could cost them ‘It was a golden age of sketch comedy, alternative comedy and Cool Britannia. There was a real embracing of multicultural Britain. How times have changed,’ she reflected, speaking ahead of the release of her new memoir, Vigilauntie. Learn more about Rape Crisis England & Wales Rape Crisis England & Wales is a charity working to end rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse – and all other forms of sexual violence. Whether it happened recently, or a long time ago; whether you know without a doubt that you experienced sexual violence, or aren't quite sure; whether it happened to you, or someone you know; Rape Crisis England & Wales will always believe you and listen to you, and they can offer you information and support. You can find out more about Rape Crisis England & Wales here; and if you're aged 16 or over, you can call the charity's 24/7 support line for free on 0808 500 2222.