S3, Ep5 – In conversation with Nina Wadia OBE
24 March 2023
On this very special episode of Life & Smile, Dr Reena is joined by a true household name whose voice on this podcast will no doubt be instantly recognisable having built her career across film, television, stage and radio.
As a highly renowned British actress and comedian our guest today first came to prominence in the BBC sketch show Goodness Gracious Me. She is known for portraying Zainab Masood in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, Aunty Noor in Citizen Khan, Mrs Hussein in the BBC comedy Still Open All Hours amongst many many more including of course joining Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 where she was paired with professional dance partner Neil Jones during her hugely celebrated career to date.
Listen now as Dr Reena welcomes Nina Wadia OBE to the Life & Smile Harley Street recording studio.
Conversation Show Notes – The Recap
We start the episode by welcoming Nina Wadia to Harley Street, where we recap her incredible and celebrated career. We kick things off by asking the all-important first question: how it all began and what exactly prompted her to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
Nina shares that her passion for writing started as a teenager, when she would write comedy sketches, often centred around her teachers, who found them equally amusing. Alongside writing, she had a love for dance. Initially growing up in India, Nina later moved to Hong Kong at the age of nine, where she couldn’t continue with her Indian-style dance. Despite disliking ballet, she channelled her energy into tap dancing. So, her school years were filled with both writing comedy and dancing, which became the foundation for her future career choices.
This, however, went against her mother’s wishes, who had hoped Nina would study law. But her mum’s perspective changed after seeing Nina perform on stage while she was at drama school in the UK. Her mother instantly recognised that this was where Nina truly belonged. Nina’s father, a natural comedian, helped her mother embrace her career choice. Once she gained her parents’ support, Nina could focus wholeheartedly on her passion.
Although Nina loved Shakespeare and aspired to become a classical actor, she found success in television. After seven years of theatre work, she landed her big break in the BBC sketch show Goodness Gracious Me. Despite her theatre experience, Nina recalls being described as the “new girl on the scene,” and crossing over to television was terrifying. She admits that she was learning on the job but always made sure to prepare by arriving early and working closely with cameramen and lighting crews.
Nina draws inspiration for her characters from her keen observational skills and often looks to her own family for material, especially for Goodness Gracious Me.
Dr Reena shares that she used to watch the show and felt a sense of pride when she saw the surname “Wadia” on the screen, even though they weren’t related!
When reflecting on her proudest moments, Nina considers the past thirty-four years of her career a journey full of many highlights. But, she acknowledges that her greatest achievement is her children, as she believes that being a mother is one of a woman’s biggest victories. Career highlights include her work on Goodness Gracious Me and her character in EastEnders, a role she loved playing.
When asked about advice she would give her younger self, Nina would say: “Just chill out!” She advises not to stress over the small things, something she’s learned to embrace over time.
Nina leads a very busy life and travels extensively each week. Dr Reena asks what keeps her going. Nina admits that staying busy helps distract her from her worries. She openly acknowledges that she is a worrier, but she balances this by surrounding herself with family and close friends.
Nina has had the same best friends since she was eleven years old. Together, they’ve navigated divorces, ill health, and life’s ups and downs. She’s learned that the true significance of her career lies not in the accolades but in the journey, especially the support of her family and friends.
Nina reflects further, sharing that the people you want to celebrate your achievements with are those who have been with you along the way, not those who simply show up at the end. This is why she always makes time to interact with fans who stop her in the street, despite it sometimes interrupting time with her children. She knows she wouldn’t be where she is today without their support.
For those starting their careers, Nina offers this advice: “Please, please train and always keep learning!” She stresses the importance of not becoming jaded or thinking you know it all. Resilience is crucial, as the acting industry is relentless, all-encompassing, and time-consuming. You need to be mentally strong and have a supportive network. Feedback in the industry can be blunt, but you must keep pushing forward. Nina also advises aspiring actors to focus on creating interesting characters, not just focusing on looks. This is one reason she’s grateful to be a character actress—she knew that would be the best fit for her.
Her final piece of advice is to know when to call it quits. Nina went to drama school with eighteen classmates, and now only two of them are still working in the industry. If, after fifteen years, you haven’t made significant progress, it might be time to reassess. “Be real, be honest, know your role in the industry, and enjoy that.”
There is no typical day in the life of Nina Wadia. Her schedule is so unpredictable that she can’t even call it. Some days, she might be filming across the country for multiple television projects, catching trains back to London to perform on stage in the evening, and still be home by midnight. To maintain some semblance of balance, she’s become stricter with her diary, carving out rare, non-negotiable holiday times to recharge.
When it comes to performance rituals, Nina has adopted the habit of ‘blessing the mic’ before a performance to ensure a successful show. On film sets, she touches the floor just before stepping on, blessing the set as she goes. She also confesses to a “crazy ritual” of sleeping with a script under her pillow, hoping the words will sink in overnight. She still does this occasionally, as it helps her absorb the material subconsciously!
Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas
Discover your mission and passion in life – Once you’ve found it, you’ll just know it’s the right path for you.
Master your craft and invest in training – Continuous learning is essential to growth and success.
Be an observer of people – The best inspiration for your characters often comes from those around you.
Trust that life works itself out – The universe has a way of guiding you, and though you may fight it at times, everything happens for a reason.
Embrace and enjoy life – Time flies by, so make the most of every moment.
Build a strong foundation of friendships – They will always be your support system and keep you grounded.
Remember, the journey is more important than the destination – It’s the experiences along the way that truly matter.
Give back and stay humble – Be kind and respectful to others, as you’ll encounter the same people on your way down as you did on your way up.
Know your limitations – Take care of yourself first, so you can be there for others when they need you.
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