Meryl Fernandes


Meryl Glynis Fernandes is an English actress and presenter. She played Afia Masood, a love interest for Tamwar Masood in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, originally making a guest appearance between 29 December 2009 and 5 January 2010. She returned to the role of Afia, on 18 November 2010, this time as a regular character. She departed EastEnders on 7 June 2012.

Personal life

Born in 1983 to Harold and Ghislaine Fernandes, Meryl was brought up in London and went to Trinity Catholic High School, Woodford Green. Her parents, of Goan Indian ancestry, were originally from Nairobi. Fernandes trained at Millennium Performing Arts in 2000. She is skilled in several types of dance and has kissed Tom Hardy in a play.

Career

Other than appearing in EastEnders, Fernandes has appeared Doctor Who, Demons, Minder alongside fellow EastEnders actor, Shane Richie, It's Now or Never, Clone and Dis/Connected. She has also appeared in the highly criticised YouTube series, Living With the Infidels playing 'Jot'. In stage she has appeared in The Lion of Punjab in 2006 and A Small Town Anywhere directed in 2007. In musicals she has appeared in Oliver! as a 'Workhouse Girl', in 1996 and sung in Il mondo della luna at the Royal Academy of Music in 2003. She has also appeared in a film, Ashes where she appeared as the lead role, Amisha, in 2012.

Filmography

;Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1993EastEndersSchoolgirl1 episode
1995A Small AdditionSchoolgirl1 episode
2006It's Now or NeverFlower Girl1 episode
2007Dis/ConnectedSara1 episode
2007Doctor WhoHead Girl1 episode
2008DemonsAmber Selway1 episode
2008CloneJasmine1 episode
2008MinderRoxy1 episode
2009–2012EastEndersAfia Masood110 episodes
2016World of WeirdPresenter
2018Ackley Bridge Maryam Quereshi2 episodes

;Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Living with the Infidels JotMain Role
2010AshesAmishaMain Role

;Theatre
YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Oliver!Workhouse GirlMusical
2003Sleeping BeautySleeping BeautyStage
2003Il Mondo Della LunaMoon DancerOpera
2005The Far PavilionsAnjuliMusical
2006The Lion of PunjabJindanStage
2007Who Asked You?Deborah SmithStage
2007A Small Town AnywhereThe SamaritanStage
2007A Matter of Life and DeathClerk/NurseStage
2007The Man of ModeHarrietStage