About Nadia Jamil

Nadia first dived into the world of theatre in 1985, at the age of 13, and it wasn’t long before she realized that this was exactly what she wanted to do with her life. Since then, Nadia has worked with many talented professionals on a wide range of projects, all of which push her to be more creative each time. She knows how important it is to be innovative and authentic when it comes to work, which is why she is constantly researching industry trends to stay at the forefront of the creative world. Nadia loves hearing from people. If you have any comments or questions, get in touch with Nadia today.

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Nadia's Early Life

Nadia Jamil is a British and Pakistani actress, born in London to Nusrat and Abdul Jalil Jamil in 1972, the second of their three children, the eldest of whom died in infancy.

While Nadia's life at home was filled with love, laughter, spirituality and music, it was during this time that her powerful bond with nature, especially with trees, was established. Nadia has drawn great strength, inspiration and companionship from trees since childhood.

On July 27, 2020, in the thick of her battle against cancer, she wrote in a Facebook post: "I want a core as strong, roots as powerful and the capacity to nurture as generously as this magnificent tree. Its branches spread like the veins in my body, at the back of my hand, within me, in the bones and blood attached to my spine, reminding me... Nado... Learn. You got this..."

Nadia's first stage performance was as the backside of a donkey in a primary school nativity play! Her mother, Nuscie Jamil, had her educated in a Convent from the age of three. Nadia's family moved to Lahore when she was nine and she continued her education at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Lahore. She later completed her A levels at Davies College, Holborn, London.

She performed her first professional play, Lapar, at the age of 13 with Ajoka Theatre - a radical street theatre group well known in theatre circles in South Asia. "Acting was the only thing I felt I was good at, and the stage the only place I felt safe," says Nadia. She went on to perform publicly with several theatre companies and, after studying Theatre and Political Science at Hampshire College and Allegheny College, and completing her Masters in English Literature, went on to TV in 1995-96.

About Nadia Jamil: Text

Screen & Television, Theatre and Hosting

The bulk of Nadia's work has been in TV, short films and theatre.

Nadia acted in Raat Chali Hai Jhoom Ke, Pakistan's first digital film which was released to critical acclaim for its sharp performances and unembellished glimpse of life in the underbelly of Karachi. The film was screened at the Commonwealth Film Festival in Manchester, 2002. Nadia was declared the Best Supporting Actress at the Kara Film Awards for her role in this film.

Nadia also wrote an award winning play, Sumundar Ka Bulava. She has written several short stories, one of which was televised in Aur Zindagi Badalti Hain.

Nadia Jamil acted in her first show (as Katherine in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew) at The Globe, London, during the 2012 London Olympics. A few years later, she went back on invitation and became an International Fellow of the Globe Theatre. "That was awesome!" she says. Nadia then kept herself engaged in theater by directing plays.

Screen & Television

1995: Pakistan Television's Jharoka, a TV serial
1995: Nasser Aslam's Iqbal, on the life of Allama Iqbal (35mm), directed by Nasser Aslam
1996: Lead in Tasveer Productions' Putlighar, a telefilm written by Azra Babar, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
1996: Lead in Ever Ready Productions' Jaane Anjaane, a TV serial written by Haseena Moin, directed by Javed Faazil
1997: Tasveer Productions'Beauty Parlour, a short film on female sexuality in Pakistan written by Azra Babar, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
1998: Lead in Moomal Productions' Dhoop Main Saawan, a TV serial written by Azra Babar, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
1999: Usman and Zulfikar's Bulandi, a TV serial written and directed by Usman & Zulfikar
1999: Lead in Indus TV's Kiran Kahani, a TV serial
2000: Lead in Indus TV's Ijtiba-e-Nazar, a telefilm written by Ashfaq Ahmad
2000: Lead in Indus TV's Afsoon Khwab, a telefilm written by Ashfaq Ahmad
2000: Lead in Rana Sheikh's Dua, written by Hasina Moin, directed by Rana Sheikh
2001: Supporting role in Hassan Zaidi's film Raat Chalee Hay Jhoom Ke, Pakistan's first digital film, written by Mohammad Hanif, directed by Hassan Zaidi (35mm), for which Nadia was awarded the Best Supporting Actress at the Kara Film Awards
2001: Lead in Moomal Productions' Aur Zindagi Badalti Hay/La Vida Cambia, a TV serial shot in Spain, written by Nasreen Rahman, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
2002: Lead in Faisal Rahman's Kaali Shalwar, an adaptation of Saadat Hassan Munto's short story by Bilal Munto
2002: Lead in Moomal Productions' Daboo, part of the Kahaniyan series written by Mohammad Ahmad, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
2002: Supporting role in Moomal Productions' Maya, written by Nasreen Rahman, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
2002: Lead in Moomal Productions' Park Main Nangay Paon, an adaption by Mohammad Ahmad of Barefoot In The Park, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
2002: Lead in Moomal Productions' Rehmat, written by Mohammad Ahmad, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
2002: Lead in Moomal Productions' Spenta, Mary Zubeida, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
2002: Supporting role in Friends, written by Mohammad Ahmad, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
2002: Lead In TV film Giraah, written by Mohammad Ahmad, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
2002: Supporting role in Panchi, a telefilm, written by Nasreen Rahman, directed by Mehreen Jabbar,
2003: Cameo appearance in Adeel Hashmi's Teen Batta Teen, a comedy series directed by Jawad Bashir
2003: Lead in Moomal Productions' Mere Paas Paas, a TV serial written by Sumera Fazil, directed by Misbah Khaled
2004: Office, a short film produced by Saavan Productions exploring female homosexuality among Pakistan's sex workers, directed by Mehreen Jabbar
2006: Supporting role in The Ghost, a TV serial written by Omera Ahmad, directed by Babar Javed
2007: Lead in Meri Jaan, a TV serial written by Omera Ahmad, directed by Babar Javed
2011: Supporting role in Durre Shewaar, a TV serial written by Omera Ahmad, directed by Haissam Hussain
2011: Lead in an award winning telefilm Behadd, written by Omera Ahmad, directed by Asim Raza
2017: A 27-episode TV serial Mujhay Jeenay Do campaigning against child marriage
2018: Lead in Damsa, a 30-episode TV serial campaigning against child trafficking

Theatre

1985: Lead in Ajoka Theatre's production of Lapar (The Slap), a play about women's rights and the girl child in Punjabi, written by Shahid Nadeem
1985: Second wife in Ajoka Theatre's production of Kala Maida Bhes (My Black Disguise), a play on polygamy and women's rights in Saraiki. Written by Shahid Nadeem
1989: Nurse in LCAS's production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet in Minglish (a mixture of Urdu & English)
1990: Laurencia in LCAS's production of Fuente Ovekhuna written by F G Lorca
1991: Begum Jugnoo (Dolly) in Zain Ahmad's production of Matchmakers, an adaption of Hello Dolly
1992: Antigone in Theatre Walley's production of Antigone written by Jean Anouih
1992: Christine in Centre Stage's production of Phantom of the Opera
1993: Solo in Salaam (Peace), a one-woman show on sexual abuse written by Nadia Jamil
1994: Preacher in Awam Ampka's adaptation of To Dance With Dionysus written by Wole Soyinka
1995: Tour of Nadia's one-woman show Salaam (Peace) in NYC, Boston and Chicago at various private venues
1996: Tara, one of the three lead women, in Katha Karachi's production of Kaisay Bithaay Jeevan (How to Get Through Life), written by Shahid Shafaat
1997: Lead as the Nameless Wife in Katha's production of Ragini, an adaptation of Death and the Maiden, by Shoaib Hashmi
2003: Nighat Rizwi's production of The Vagina Monologues in Islamabad, written by Eve Ensler
2003: Ayesha Alam's production of The Vagina Monologues in Karachi
2003: Nadia's own production of The Vagina Monologues in Lahore
2007: Bosnian woman with baby in The Commune Artist Colony's production of Necessary Targets written by Eve Ensler
2011: Qurut-Ul-Ain (Kate) in Sue Wilson and Haissam Hussain's production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew's Urdu adaptation, Illaje Zid Dastiyaab Hay, in Lahore
2011: Qurut-Ul-Ain (Kate) in Theatre Walley's Illaje Zid Dastiyaab Hay at The Globe Theatre, London
2014 International Fellow of The Globe, London
2016: Lorelei, A meditation on Loss, a one-woman show produced by Reprieve and JPP Pakistan for Human Rights
2016: Perspectives, a short one-woman multimedia performance on violence against children
2017: An Ode to the Men I've Loved - A woman living in terror, a one-woman performance for BNU

Anchoring & Hosting (Select List)

2005: Lux Style Awards in Dubai
2007: Sanjan Nagar Public Trust's Parents' Day and Drama Fest
2008: Hum TV Awards (a popular Pakistani TV channel)
2008: Book launch of Shoaib Hashmi’s Translations of Faiz Ahmad Faiz
2009: Lipton's Music Festival
2009: Public Speaker at Channans Youth Festival
2010: Charity Auction of Paintings for Sanjan Nagar Public Trust

Social Work and Campaigning

A little known fact about Nadia: She began volunteering at Mother Teresa's home for children in Lahore when she was just seventeen. She later went on to volunteer with SOS and the Edhi Foundation as well as several orphanages after she returned from college. She practiced as a Drama Therapist long before the line of work was professionalised with the introduction of formal qualifications.

Nadia Jamil has worked with the children of Kasur, the children of Joseph Colony, the Bali Memorial Trust, Altaf Mahmood Foundation as well as street children. She is on the boards of some outstanding schools, such as the Sanjan Nagar Public Education Trust. Nadia has taught at Aitchison College and Kinnaird College.

Nadia Jamil's interest in education and child welfare does not end there. She is an Ambassador for the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Punjab , Girl Rising and Pakistan's Children's Literary Festival. Nadia has also worked for the Pakistan Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled.

Nadia Jamil established The Empty Space, Nadia Jamil's Imaginarium in Lahore as a sanctuary and nurturing space for minds and bodies of all ages. The Imaginarium ran courses in Art, Music, Dance and Acting, as well as Story Telling, Gym and Yoga sessions.

Nadia feels especially close to the children she works with. "They are really my saviours", she says. "They literally led the way and healed my soul."

When Nadia Jamil was working with the child sexual abuse victims of Kasur, she went public about the sexual abuse she suffered as a child between the ages of four and seventeen. Her heartrending disclosure provided courage and fortitude to many others in their battle against the same evil.

Nadia's lived experience as a CSA survivor has made her the fierce and relentless warrior against child sexual abuse she is, "a fearless fire-breathing dragon". Apart from child protection and children's rights, Nadia has campaigned for family planning, education, women's rights, environmental protection, gender equality and animal rights.

Cancer Fighter

The onset of epilepsy in 2011 during a film project, the discovery of a benign brain tumour in 2018 and finally her breast cancer diagnosis, surgery and treatment in 2020 revealed a new side of her personality to her fans and admirers, one of steadfast courage, resilience, spirituality, positivity and inner strength.

From Day One of her cancer journey Nadia kept her global family updated, expressing her fears, hopes, pain and loneliness eloquently, with immense grace and authenticity. Her persistent optimism and unshakeable faith earned her the love and respect of thousands.

Nadia has emerged as a formidable social media influencer who speaks her mind on a range of issues with knowledge and the courage of conviction. Thousands have logged in to her live posts on social media and watched her interviews, offering support and prayers, something that sustained her through the lowest points of chemotherapy, infections and sepsis. Nadia acknowledges this support with deep love and gratitude.

Looking Ahead

Nadia is back home in Cambridge, UK, where she lives with her younger son Mir Vali and puppy Nico. Nadia's elder son Rakae lives with his Dad Ali Pervaiz in Lahore, Pakistan.

Nadia is recuperating from post chemo fibromyalgia, arthritis and diabetes. She savours every moment of every day with joy, passion and gratitude to the Almighty. She does online storytelling sessions for children several times a week, and regular Instagram live posts to connect with her fans. She is evaluating several projects that are close to her heart.

As she gathers her strength, Nadia looks forward to meeting the challenges ahead with renewed joie de vivre, commitment, energy and spirit.

Watch this space!