Charithra Chandran: Bridgerton actress with big dreams and bigger purpose

(September 8, 2024) Known for her role as Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton Season 2, the British-Indian actress Charithra Chandran has now been cast as Miss Wednesday in Netflix’s One Piece Season 2, a move that marks an exciting new phase in her career. Her other significant work includes appearances in Alex Rider, Star Wars: Visions, and How to Date Billy Walsh.

Unlike many actors who struggle to break into the industry, Charithra’s path to stardom has been swift. Just two months after deciding to pursue acting, she had secured a role in Amazon’s teen spy series Alex Rider in 2021, and shortly thereafter, landed her breakout role in Bridgerton. Reflecting on this meteoric rise, she had acknowledged in an interview with The Guardian, “I’ve potentially had the biggest success, in my professional life, in the second thing I’ve ever done.” However, the actor dreams of even bigger opportunities. “I’m not saying I’ll never do anything grander than Bridgerton. I hope that’s not the case – and I have big ambitions. It’s just rather bizarre that it was the beginning of my career. I think it has really warped my sense of achievement,” she said.

Tamil Nadu connection and Oxford education

The only child of two doctors from Tamil Nadu, Charithra Chandran calls her parents a ‘case of classic economic migrants’ who moved to the United Kingdom before her birth. Her endocrinologist mother and surgeon father separated quite early, and the actor has no recollection of their days together. At the age of six, she was sent to a boarding school as her parents were too busy with their careers but Charithra grew up being close to both.

“My parents are polar opposites. I always say I’m in the middle: less hard-working than my dad and less intelligent than my mum. But as a combination, it has enabled me to be high-achieving enough,” she mentioned.

Her education revolved around modern languages, and classical literature. Just like her fluency in English, she is comfortable in Tamil, and has played hockey and netball at county level.

After school Charithra Chandran had joined the prestigious Oxford University where – despite spending most of her time doing drama – she earned a first-class degree in philosophy, politics and economics.

Transformative experiences

While her education at Oxford University shaped her personality, it was her gap year experiences that she describes as truly ‘transformative.’ She spent it traveling, working as a waitress, and serving in the constituency office of her local MP. These experiences ignited a passion for social justice, a cause she continues to be deeply committed to.

Upon graduating, Charithra Chandran was ready to start a job with an international consultancy firm, but couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t the right fit. So, she chose to take another year off before committing to a demanding 70-hour-a-week job. Then the pandemic struck. As she watched her parents head to work in their hospitals daily, she took action by setting up a food bank.

“This was the time I became introspective about what I wanted to achieve and what I would regret. I was like, ‘I have to give acting a go’,” she shared.

Finally identifying where her interests are, she sent emails to acting agencies, and two months later, got signed for Alex Rider. Even before filming ended, she had got the role of a lifetime; in Bridgerton.

While considering herself lucky, Charithra Chandran believes that there is another side to her good fortune. “In getting signed to my agent, I was a beneficiary of the Black Lives Matter movement. Everybody took stock of how diverse their looks were and – whether cynically or beautifully – they were like, ‘Oh, shoot, we need more people of colour,’” she remarked.

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The 27-year-old is aware of the intersectionality of race in her industry. “As a brown actor, my experiences aren’t going to be the same as those of my white peers.” She understands that she would have lesser opportunities, and hence has a plan B ready.

From pleasure to purpose

Charithra harbours ambitions to make a difference in the lives of people in India. If opportunities in acting start diminishing, she plans to shift her focus back to her other passions. The Indian-origin actress has a dream of setting up a micro-community near her grandparents’ home in Tamil Nadu, where she aims to establish solar-powered factories operated by women who will share the profits. Her goal is to demonstrate alternative models for running businesses and communities, proving that profit maximization doesn’t have to be the sole priority.

“I believe life is divided into periods of purpose and periods of pleasure,” she remarked, “and my acting career is a period of pleasure.” However, the actress also views acting as a path that can intersect with purpose, especially when it conveys a positive message to society.