Ambika Mod, who stars as Emma Morley in the new Netflix adaptation of David Nicholls' novel One Day, has spoken about the pressures of social media and the significance of her casting as a lead actress of colour.
The 29-year-old, born in Hatfield to Indian immigrant parents, said she rarely saw people like herself in lead roles growing up. 'Even up until my early 20s, it was something that was quite rare in TV and film,' she told BBC News. While acknowledging progress, she added: 'I think we've still got a long, long way to go.'
Mod, who previously starred in BBC's This Is Going To Hurt, said playing Emma—a role originally portrayed by Anne Hathaway in the 2011 film—opens up new dimensions for the character. 'I think it just opens up a whole other dimension to her character and her identity that is prevalent in the book,' she said. 'I hope it will open people's minds a little bit, especially young women of colour, young South Asian women in particular.'
Author David Nicholls said the plan was always to rewrite the part to fit the best actor. 'We thought Ambika had all the qualities of Emma but we didn't want to ignore her heritage either,' he said. The series, spanning 14 episodes, has received five-star reviews from The Guardian and The Times, with critics praising Mod and co-star Leo Woodall's performances.
Mod admitted the role is 'significant' for representation and hopes it will inspire others. Meanwhile, Woodall, who plays Dexter Mayhew, said taking on the beloved character was 'daunting' but exciting, especially working alongside Mod.
