Sofia Hayat is a British Asian actress, singer and model. She has worked on both British and Indian projects.
Hayat first came to public attention on Satellite Channel, Zee TV, where she hosted her own TV show for 3 years starting in 2000. The show became a cult favourite amongst young British Asians. Later, Hayat was in the UK TV talent show Bollywood Star, in which she lost out on the first prize by about 3 places. She holds a BA (Hons) in Music and Performing Arts. She has been instructed under David Schwimmer, famously from the American TV show Friends
Sofia has appeared in TV Advertising campaigns for big international brands like Walkers Crisps, McDonalds, and was the first model/actor who featured in the campaign for Timotei hair shampoo. A brand well known for hair products for blondes. This was the first time they shot with a brunette from Indian origin.
She started acting professionally at 16, where she landed her first role with the BBC on the hit show, "Absolute Power", where she starred alongside Stephen Fry. (V for Vendetta)
She then went on to star in the BAFTA award winning show Fur TV, where she played a Latino, complete with Brazilian accent! The show was an international success and has been translated in over 5 different languages.
For her first Bollywood film, Sofia had to learn Hindi, as she did not speak it, however she did understand some, and took on classes and watched films to perfect the language. It was initially decided that her voice would be dubbed in her first film, but after spending 3 months in India, the producer and Director agreed that Sofia should dub her own voice. Her autobiography was published on September 2009.
Hayat has recently completed feature films The Unforgettable, Cash and Curry, (starring Ameet Chana) and Exitz. (starring Malcolm Mcdowell and Stephen Billington). The Unforgettable premiered at The Venice Film Festival in 2008 to rave reviews. Hayat played the lead role opposite Raji James. In Cash and Curry she plays the gun-toting wife of a gangster.
Sofia has since appeared in BBC's "Waterloo Road", and "Jonathan Creek", as well as playing "Lucia", in the BAFTA award winning series, "Fur Tv", aired on MTV world wide.(Translated for different countries)
She has also published her autobiography called, "Dishonoured", which was published by Blakes Publishing in October 2009.
She also appears on the BBC Asian Network on a regular basis for their popular debate shows, and writes for Asiana magazine, and Asian Woman Magazine. Sofia is asked to regularly contribute to shows and magazines on the issues surrounding the Asian culture, as she is one of the few that does speak out openly and honestly, being affected by many of the issues, like arranged marriage and honor killings in her past.
She is also a keen supporter of the charity Ashiana (www.ashiana.org.uk) whom she regularly speaks for, raise money, and help to raise awareness for them. She is a role model to young women affected by violence, abuse, rape and honour killings.
Hayat made her Bollywood debut playing a leading role in the film "Diary of a Butterfly", which was released in April 2011. She has since signed two more Bollywood projects Read More About Her
Hayat first came to public attention on Satellite Channel, Zee TV, where she hosted her own TV show for 3 years starting in 2000. The show became a cult favourite amongst young British Asians. Later, Hayat was in the UK TV talent show Bollywood Star, in which she lost out on the first prize by about 3 places. She holds a BA (Hons) in Music and Performing Arts. She has been instructed under David Schwimmer, famously from the American TV show Friends
Sofia has appeared in TV Advertising campaigns for big international brands like Walkers Crisps, McDonalds, and was the first model/actor who featured in the campaign for Timotei hair shampoo. A brand well known for hair products for blondes. This was the first time they shot with a brunette from Indian origin.She started acting professionally at 16, where she landed her first role with the BBC on the hit show, "Absolute Power", where she starred alongside Stephen Fry. (V for Vendetta)
She then went on to star in the BAFTA award winning show Fur TV, where she played a Latino, complete with Brazilian accent! The show was an international success and has been translated in over 5 different languages.
For her first Bollywood film, Sofia had to learn Hindi, as she did not speak it, however she did understand some, and took on classes and watched films to perfect the language. It was initially decided that her voice would be dubbed in her first film, but after spending 3 months in India, the producer and Director agreed that Sofia should dub her own voice. Her autobiography was published on September 2009.
Hayat has recently completed feature films The Unforgettable, Cash and Curry, (starring Ameet Chana) and Exitz. (starring Malcolm Mcdowell and Stephen Billington). The Unforgettable premiered at The Venice Film Festival in 2008 to rave reviews. Hayat played the lead role opposite Raji James. In Cash and Curry she plays the gun-toting wife of a gangster.
Sofia has since appeared in BBC's "Waterloo Road", and "Jonathan Creek", as well as playing "Lucia", in the BAFTA award winning series, "Fur Tv", aired on MTV world wide.(Translated for different countries)
She has also published her autobiography called, "Dishonoured", which was published by Blakes Publishing in October 2009.
She also appears on the BBC Asian Network on a regular basis for their popular debate shows, and writes for Asiana magazine, and Asian Woman Magazine. Sofia is asked to regularly contribute to shows and magazines on the issues surrounding the Asian culture, as she is one of the few that does speak out openly and honestly, being affected by many of the issues, like arranged marriage and honor killings in her past.
She is also a keen supporter of the charity Ashiana (www.ashiana.org.uk) whom she regularly speaks for, raise money, and help to raise awareness for them. She is a role model to young women affected by violence, abuse, rape and honour killings.
Hayat made her Bollywood debut playing a leading role in the film "Diary of a Butterfly", which was released in April 2011. She has since signed two more Bollywood projects Read More About Her
