Meera Syal Receives the BAFTA Fellowship

May 2, 2023

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is one of the most prestigious award-giving bodies in the entertainment industry. One of their highest accolades is the BAFTA Fellowship, awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to film and/or television. The recent recipient of this esteemed award is Meera Syal.

Who is Meera Syal?

Meera Syal is a UK-based Indian-origin actor, screenwriter, and novelist. She was born in the UK to Punjabi parents and grew up in the West Midlands region of England. Syal is best known for her work in television shows such as ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and ‘The Kumars at No. 42’, which have earned her critical acclaim and several awards. She has also made her mark as an award-winning screenwriter and novelist.

Awards and Honours

Syal’s contribution to drama and literature has been recognized with various awards and honours. She has received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) and a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for her work in these fields. In 2023, she was conferred with the BAFTA Fellowship, which is the highest honour the Academy can bestow.

History of the BAFTA Fellowship

The BAFTA Fellowship was first awarded in 1971, and Alfred Hitchcock was the first recipient of the award. Since then, the award has been presented annually to outstanding contributors to the moving image art forms. While the award is usually given to film directors, it has also been awarded to actors, film/television producers, cinematographers, film editors, screenwriters, and contributors to the video game industry.

Notable Recipients

Merchant Ivory Productions became the first organization to win the BAFTA Fellowship award in 2002. The list of recipients mainly includes people from the UK, but it also includes several U.S. citizens and some from other European countries. However, the last time someone from a European country other than the UK received the award was in 1996. In 2010, Shigeru Miyamoto became the first citizen of an Asian country to receive the award.

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