Waterloo Road star Priyasasha Kumari praises show for breaking stereotypes with Samia role

Waterloo Road revival's Priyasasha Kumari has commended the characterisation of her onscreen alter-ego Samia Choudhry.

Chatting to BBC Asian Network, she highlighted Samia's willingness to "speak her mind" that goes hand-in-hand with a "fierce, empowering" persona, which is historically rare in South Asian roles.

"I think in the beginning you can get stereotyped for particular roles and I think it's really great for us to break those barriers," she began.

"A lot of the time South Asian characters are put into a pigeon hole. If she's a young girl, she's oppressed by her parents, she doesn't have much ambition and she can't do anything in life that she aspires to do.

"What Samia's character does is break all of those stereotypes. She has a voice of her own and leads the way for her fellow classmates."

Kumari, who also appeared in Doctors for an episode back in 2018, also mentioned her character's "interracial relationship" with Noah Valentine's Preston Waters, in that it's not been made into a 'thing'.

"It wasn't addressed. It was just as it was. Society today has changed and everyone is moving with the times. Many young people can relate to that and relate to her and the situations she goes through."

Wall To Wall/Rope Ladder Fiction///BBC

Such has been the success of this representation, the Asian community is now regularly reaching out to Kumari with strong support.

"A lot of girls message me saying it's so amazing to see you on our screens, thank you so much for telling a story and representing us," shared the star.

"When I grew up I didn't see anybody that was like me on the telly. It's quite taboo trying to talk about being a creative in an Asian family and I think if there's more representation [it gives] families a chance to understand it and get behind and be supportive."

Waterloo Road airs on Tuesday nights on BBC One. The new series is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.