(April 28, 2025) Thirteen-year-old Isha Kaur Athwal in the UK is a young actor with a growing list of screen credits, a deep connection to her Punjabi roots, and a clear sense of discipline that anchors both her creative and academic life. Currently in Year 9 at Bradford Grammar School, Isha recently played the lead role of Zara in High Hoops, a 10-episode CBBC comedy series that follows the spirited escapades of a girls’ basketball team. The series, created by Sinead Fagan and written by Chris Grady, was shot in Halifax, West Yorkshire where Isha relocated temporarily from her home in Idle, Bradford..
Her work in High Hoops joins an already impressive resume that includes voice acting in Pip and Posy (Channel 5), where she voiced Frankie the cat for four years, and her live-action performance as Anneena in Biff, Chip and Kipper on CBeebies. She began her acting journey at the age of five with a role in the feature film The Runaways, and has appeared in national campaigns for Children in Need and Morrisons.
“I just went along with it and enjoyed all the experiences, even the jobs I didn’t get,” the actor tells Global Indian, summing up her open and determined approach to the acting world.
Isha Kaur Athwal
Lights, camera… donkey? The acting journey begins
Isha’s entry into the world of acting came through a local drama class her mother signed her up for. “It sort of grew from there,” she recalls. “I didn’t even know what an audition was back then.” Her first professional role was in The Runaways, filmed in 2019, where she played a young girl on an estate. “I don’t remember lots of it,” she says, “but I remember being able to ride a donkey!”
Since then, she’s taken on varied roles across genres and formats. Her voice acting debut came in Pip and Posy, where she began recording in lockdown during Year 4. “Playing a five-year-old cat was so much easier when I was actually closer to that age,” she says, reflecting on the challenge of sustaining a young-sounding voice as she got older.
Biff, Chip, Kipper and the power of a wardrobe
Isha describes her time on Biff, Chip and Kipper as a learning curve. “Anneena was a great role to play because she was different to me,” she explains. “I remember realising how I needed to play this one from the clothes that had been picked out for her. Sounds silly, but her wardrobe really reflected her character.”
That sense of discovery extended to her experience in High Hoops, where she played Zara, a confident, sometimes sassy captain who leads a team of underdogs. “The writer gave Zara some really fun one-liners,” she says. “It gave me another angle of confidence. I was a bit sassy at times, and that really isn’t reflective of me as Isha.”
Isha Kaur Athwal with co-actors
Managing filming and schoolwork
Filming High Hoops meant spending weekdays in Halifax with a chaperone and tutor, returning home to Bradford on weekends. “I am very organised,” Isha says. “My parents are very supportive, but they’ve always made it really clear that my studies have to take priority.” With scheduled study hours and backing from her school, she managed both responsibilities. “My school is very supportive too,” she adds.
Language, culture and stories passed down
Isha was born in West Yorkshire. Her parents were also born in the UK. Her mother grew up in the Midlands, and her dad in Yorkshire. Both her maternal and paternal grandparents were born in Punjab, India, and moved to the UK when they were young, after completing secondary schooling before joining the workforce. “Back then, the goal was to get into work to earn money to be able to afford to live,” she says.
Punjabi is spoken at home, and while Isha understands the language, she’s more comfortable speaking it with family. “With other people, I worry I might get it wrong,” she admits.
“I am connected to my roots through my parents,” she adds. “Whether it be through our Sikhi guidance, the cultural clothes, the food we prepare together or the films we watch together. I know I won’t experience India in the same way my parents have over the years, but the stories they and my extended family tell are often really interesting to hear.”
Her parents speak Punjabi with her and her brother at home, and much of what they do and believe is closely tied to their Indian roots. “Bradford has a large Indian population too,” Isha says, “and this is part of a wider community and sense of belonging for me and my family. Everyone keeps traditions and beliefs going.”
Though the young actor hasn’t yet visited India, a trip is planned for 2026. “We’re planning to visit our ancestral homes and see some Sikh Gurdwaras, especially Har Mandir Sahib (Golden Temple),” she shares.
Isha Kaur Athwal
Putting ‘Kaur’ in the credits
As there is more and more representation now, Isha is really proud to put the ‘Kaur’ name in the credits of British TV. She shares that the older generations often speak about how proud they are to see South Asians on television. “They tell me they’re proud to see me achieving things they would never have dreamed of being able to do.”
The teen actor believes that that’s more to do with their experience growing up than their ability. The fact that they are so proud of her accomplishments keeps her motivated to continue acting.
While her heritage is a part of her identity, Isha has never limited herself to culturally specific roles. “My agent Stacey Burrows, who heads casting at Articulate Drama School & Agency has put me forward for all sorts of roles. I’ve been with her since I was three. There have been occasions where the original audition script had a very English name and I thought, ‘I don’t think that is for me,’ but then I’ve been successful and they change the character name to reflect,” the actor tells..
Reality shows, Bollywood, and home rituals
Though her mum tries to get her into old Bollywood movies, Isha admits they don’t always hold her attention. “Three hours plus is a bit of an ask!” she remarks playfully. Still, they bond over Indian reality shows, especially the musical ones. “We particularly like the dancing and singing contests, their version of our X-Factor and BGT.”
Learning by doing
Voice acting taught the young actor how to work without other characters in the room. “I didn’t have any other characters around to bounce off. I remember that being a little weird to begin with,” she says. Live-action roles, like Anneena and Zara, pushed her in other directions, from understanding character through costume to delivering sharp one-liners.
She continues to take weekly drama classes with Articulate. “Each time I walk away with something new. Something to add to my little toolkit, and I hope that I can use these in auditions to come,” says Isha who keeps on learning constantly on sets by watching people she works with.
Isha Kaur Athwal with co-actors of High Hoops
Plans to explore new characters and new geographies
“I would love to continue in entertainment. Who knows where this journey will take me?” Isha remarks. “I’ll keep trying and keep pushing. I’d love to do something abroad, just for a change and to see how different things are.”
The teen actor is currently working on a new project, though details remain under wraps. “It’s another experience and an opportunity to play a different character to what I have before,” tells the actor who considers herself really lucky to be involved with lots of fantastic production teams over the years, and is always excited for whatever comes next.
With each new role and every lesson learned, Isha Kaur Athwal is building a future steadily, sincerely, and with eyes wide open to what’s ahead.
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