Early last month, Netflix debuted its latest original series, 'One Day,' a revival of the 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. It proved to be more than just a passing sensation on Netflix's top charts. In its first week, the miniseries averaged 5.3M views and quickly grabbed the number one spot. The series chronicles the journey of Emma Morley, a sarcastic working-class woman with aspirations of becoming a writer, and Dexter Mayhew, a cheeky, privileged individual seeking fame. Spanning twenty years, the miniseries delves into their complex relationship as they navigate love, loss, and reliance on each other, creating the ultimate will-they-won't-they narrative.
After her heart-breaking role as Shruti Acharya in 2022’s This is Going To Hurt, Ambika Mod takes on the bittersweet role of Emma Morley alongside Leo Woodall. Following in the footsteps of Anne Hathaway, Mod understood that she “had a lot more to prove” as she took on the role of a woman of colour. As she has famously admitted in various press interviews, Mod initially turned down the role as she struggled to envision herself as the leading lady, explaining that “you don’t see a lot of brown women on screen being the romantic lead” but persistence from the casting director, Rachel Sheridan, and author, David Nicholls finally broke her. And rightfully so. In an interview with Wonderland, Mod shares the sentimental message written in a postcard by Nicholls gushing that “he can’t think of anyone better to play [Emma] than [Mod]”. And we, the audience, can’t help but agree, Mod brings striking independence and defying creativity to Emma Morley, all essential qualities of a heroine.
Described as the "first Indian character [she's] seen on telly that isn't a stereotype" by SheerLuxe's Sapna Rao, Emma Morley breaks free from any preconceived notions, a rarity for brown characters in Hollywood. While Emma's chosen career path might seem stereotypical at first glance, Ambika Mod infuses her portrayal with boundless wit and humour, subverting conventional bookish standards. The organic evolution of Emma's character resonates with authenticity, mirroring a journey familiar to many young individuals. Above all, Emma Morley emerges as a flawed yet endearing character, sharing relatable hopes, fears, and emotions with her audience.
While more South Asian women are being selected for lead roles, their characters often fall weak to stereotyping and are unvalued. A comparable female heroine may be Bend It Like Beckham’s Parminder Nagra, who stars as the fiercely determined Jess Bhamra, capturing the hearts of many in 2002. While Nagra is cast as the lead, is it her co-star Keira Knightley’s career that skyrockets, landing her films such as Love Actually and The Pirates of the Caribbean? Despite her consistent commitment to the industry, Nagra hasn’t become “mainstream” like her white colleague did in the 2000s/2010s. While the film is a British classic, sending its viewers into eruptions of laughter, the movie is still riddled with stereotypes that only further spread inaccurate representations.
Image British Vogue
Similarly, although made almost 20 years later, Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever is another example where representation goes awry. While the show touches on crucial subjects such as family trauma and the chaos of teenage years, the writing paints its protagonist Devi Vishwakumar as painfully desperate for a sexual encounter and dismissive of her Indian-Tamil heritage. The show sprouted potential upon its initial release through its diverse and female-forward casting, but the cast’s traditions were often forgotten to create a binge-worthy, sometimes humorous show. Despite the underwhelming nature of the show, its heroine Maitreyi Ramakrishnan shows signs of a budding future. Ramakrishnan is set to lead the new Jane Austen-inspired contemporary film The Netherfield Girls, which I look forward to watching as a Pride and Prejudice fan.
Despite this, Hollywood is making steps in the direction with the casting of Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma in season two of Netflix’s hugely successful, Bridgerton. The inclusion of a South Asian family introduces a level of appreciation for Indian culture rather than using it as a platform for humour. The infamous Bridgerton soundtrack includes Bollywood’s classic Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham title track as one of its iconic covers, which acts as a nod to its South Asian viewers. Additionally, there is a scene where the two Asian actresses, Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran, are oiling each other’s hair, which showcases a key cultural aspect in a positive light. Ambika Mod’s new role as Emma Morley plants a new legacy of representation free of the weeds of stereotyping. Through its casting, One Day takes leaps for not just Indian women but all actresses of colour.
Bridgerton Netflix
As a young woman of colour who shares a similar heritage to Ambika Mod, it is incredibly exciting to see her become the heroine of a number-one TV show, a role that doesn’t come at the cost of stereotypical characterisation. I am filled with hope for future representation that is to come and for the many deserving women of colour who long to join the industry.
One Day Netflix