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Ambika Mod has highlighted the challenges she faces in the acting world, pointing out the lack of the same “privilege” that some of her peers experience when it comes to securing roles. Fans have often wondered why her career hasn’t expanded as rapidly as that of her One Day co-star Leo Woodall, who has appeared in notable films such as Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and A24’s Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony. In response to these observations, Mod expressed to Newsbeat that she believes there is a problem of systemic racism within the industry. She mentions that South Asian actors, in particular, find it difficult to break through, with an ever-increasing “glass ceiling” obstructing their progress.
Research supports her views, with reports from the Creative Diversity Network showing a slight decline in the representation of minority ethnic groups on and off-screen last year, after some previous improvements. Similarly, findings from media regulator Ofcom reveal that individuals from minority backgrounds are notably underrepresented across the UK broadcasting sector. The report states that only 11% of senior management roles in the industry are held by people from minority ethnic groups, alongside a broader lack of diversity across creative, production, and on-screen roles. Mod says she is uncertain whether representation is genuinely improving but emphasizes that she refuses to participate in roles that feel tokenistic or rely on stereotypes.
Throughout her career, Mod has been fortunate to portray nuanced, complex characters and has actively worked to alter the narrative surrounding representation. She firmly states, “I’m not looking to regress.” When choosing her next projects, she follows advice from Dame Emma Thompson: “There’s no such thing as a career, there’s only what you do next.” Mod focuses on the challenge of new roles, the opportunity to collaborate with inspiring people, and ensuring that the work remains enjoyable for her.
Mod’s most recent role as Laila, a rebellious agent in the secretive Black Doves organisation, appealed to her because it upended many common espionage tropes. Introduced in season two to support Keira Knightley’s character Helen on a high-stakes mission, Laila allowed Mod to engage in exciting stunt sequences alongside Knightley. “Honestly, the main reason I wanted to do it was because of all the stunts,” Mod says, describing the experience as “so much fun” and praising the thrill of action scenes that involved taking down numerous adversaries. Additionally, the show’s dark humor complements Mod’s own dry wit, reflecting her comedic roots that date back to her time in a sketch group during her university days at Durham. Though she hasn’t done stand-up comedy in several years, she shares her desire to return to it someday, admitting, “I have a lot of stories to tell.
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