# Charithra Chandran
**Charithra Chandran** is a British actress best known for playing Edwina Sharma in the second season of Netflix's period drama *Bridgerton* (2022) and Sabrina Pleasance in the Prime Video spy series *[Alex Rider](https://www.edgepedia.org/alex-rider-tv-series)* (2021). Born in Scotland to Tamil Indian parents, she moved into acting after studying Philosophy, Politics and [Economics](https://www.edgepedia.org/economics) at the [University of Oxford](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-oxford) and working in consulting and policy research, and has since taken roles in British, American, and international productions including *One Piece* and *Dune: Prophecy*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Known for | Edwina Sharma in *Bridgerton* season 2 (2022); Sabrina Pleasance in *Alex Rider* (2021)[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3327515-charithra-chandran/) |
| Family background | Only child of two doctors from Tamil Nadu, southern India, in an arranged marriage; born in Scotland[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/mar/05/bridgertons-charithra-chandran-west-end-shocker-netflix-hit) • [3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/) |
| Education | Oxford High School Class of 2015; PPE at New College, Oxford, graduating 2019[4](https://oxfordhigh.gdst.net/our-community/alumnae/) • [5](https://www.elle.com.au/culture/celebrity/who-is-charithra-chandran-26802/) |
| Pre-acting career | Stints at Boston Consulting Group and the New Policy Institute think tank[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/) |
| Breakthrough | *Bridgerton* season 2, one of Netflix's most-watched series at the time of its release[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/) |
| Stage | West End debut, March 2024, in *Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon* at the Garrick Theatre[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/mar/05/bridgertons-charithra-chandran-west-end-shocker-netflix-hit) |
| Producing | Associate producer and star of *Song of the Sun God*, adapted from Shankari Chandran's novel; Kama Sutra docuseries with Fremantle's NAKD TV[3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/) • [7](https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/charithra-chandran) |
## Early life and education
Chandran is the only child of an arranged marriage between two doctors from [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) in southern India[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/mar/05/bridgertons-charithra-chandran-west-end-shocker-netflix-hit). She was born in Scotland to Tamil Indian parents[3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/), and spent part of her early childhood in India[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/). She is fluent in English and Tamil, and played hockey and netball at county level[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/mar/05/bridgertons-charithra-chandran-west-end-shocker-netflix-hit).
Her full name has been given as Charithra Surya Chandran, with a recorded birth date of 1997[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3327515-charithra-chandran/). Age statements in interviews are consistent with it: she was described as 25 at the launch of *Bridgerton* season 2 in 2022[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/) and as 27 in April 2024[3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/).
She attended Oxford High School, graduating in the Class of 2015, and studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at [New College, Oxford](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-college-oxford)[4](https://oxfordhigh.gdst.net/our-community/alumnae/). Before graduating in 2019 she performed in several university productions and joined the [National Youth Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-youth-theatre)[5](https://www.elle.com.au/culture/celebrity/who-is-charithra-chandran-26802/).
## Path into acting
Her practical grounding came from university productions and the National Youth Theatre[5](https://www.elle.com.au/culture/celebrity/who-is-charithra-chandran-26802/). After Oxford she worked at [Boston Consulting Group](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-consulting-group) and then at the New Policy Institute, a think tank[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/). Her first major screen role was Sabrina Pleasance in the 2021 Prime Video adaptation of [Anthony Horowitz](https://www.edgepedia.org/anthony-horowitz)'s *Alex Rider* novels[5](https://www.elle.com.au/culture/celebrity/who-is-charithra-chandran-26802/) • [1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3327515-charithra-chandran/).
## Breakthrough: Bridgerton
In *Bridgerton* season 2 Chandran played Edwina Sharma, the younger sister of Kate Sharma, played by [Simone Ashley](https://www.edgepedia.org/simone-ashley)[3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/). The season was one of Netflix's most-watched series at the time of its release and launched Chandran, then 25, as Edwina, "the diamond of the season", within its culturally diverse cast[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/).
## Stage work
In March 2024 Chandran made her West End debut at the Garrick Theatre in *Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon*, a role requiring her to hold the stage alone, playing a traumatized 17-year-old who relives an adolescence overshadowed by family tragedy[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/mar/05/bridgertons-charithra-chandran-west-end-shocker-netflix-hit). Tickets started at £15 ($18.80), an unusually low price for the West End, which she said was an intentional producer decision to attract more diverse audiences[3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/).
## Screen work and producing, 2024–2026
She appeared in *[How to Date Billy Walsh](https://www.edgepedia.org/how-to-date-billy-walsh)* (2024)[4](https://oxfordhigh.gdst.net/our-community/alumnae/). Netflix cast her in season 2 of its live-action *[One Piece](https://www.edgepedia.org/one-piece-2023-tv-series)*, titled *ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line*, as Miss Wednesday, a dangerous assassin working for the Baroque Works organization whose dancing can induce vertigo in her victims; the character is secretly Nefertari Vivi, Princess of Alabasta, working undercover to save her kingdom[8](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/one-piece-season-2-charithra-chandran-vivi-miss-wednesday). Netflix Tudum also credits her with a part in *Dune: Prophecy*[8](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/one-piece-season-2-charithra-chandran-vivi-miss-wednesday), and she was announced as cast in Thunder Road's *Fight or Flight* opposite [Josh Hartnett](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-hartnett)[7](https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/charithra-chandran).
**Producing.** As of April 2024 she was in pre-production on her associate producing debut, *Song of the Sun God*, a television series she will also star in, adapted from Shankari Chandran's novel[3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/) • [7](https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/charithra-chandran). She is also partnering with Fremantle's NAKD TV on a reality TV docuseries based on the [Kama Sutra](https://www.edgepedia.org/kama-sutra)[7](https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/charithra-chandran).
## Public statements on representation
Chandran has spoken frequently about colorism and the pressures of representation. On competition among actors of color she said, "It's not a zero-sum game... what other people of color are doing is just pulling up more chairs," adding that gatekeepers impose the idea of only one seat at the table[3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/). In the Indian Express she said that with more roles available, South Asian actors "can form a community" rather than compete, and she has questioned whether she would ever be cast as a lead in Indian films[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/).
In an interview she said she does not have the same opportunities as a white person in her position and described the media world as "still upheld by white supremacy"[9](https://www.thehandbook.com/charithra-chandran-interview/). Amid what she called "a massive rise in South Asian hate", she argued that people in the public eye should "double down on their pride" in South Asian identity[9](https://www.thehandbook.com/charithra-chandran-interview/). Her school's alumnae record likewise describes her as an outspoken advocate against colorism and racism in the film industry[4](https://oxfordhigh.gdst.net/our-community/alumnae/).
## By the numbers
- *Bridgerton* season 2 was one of Netflix's most-watched series at the time of its release[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/).
- Her dated screen credits run from *Alex Rider* (2021) through *Bridgerton* (2022), *How to Date Billy Walsh* (2024), and *One Piece* season 2[4](https://oxfordhigh.gdst.net/our-community/alumnae/) • [10](https://www.news18.com/movies/hollywood/who-is-charithra-chandran-the-british-indian-actor-stealing-spotlight-at-wimbledon-ws-l-aa-aa-9430028.html).
- West End tickets for her debut play started at £15 ($18.80)[3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/).
- She was 25 at her *Bridgerton* launch in 2022 and 27 in April 2024[6](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/) • [3](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/).
## References
1. [Charithra Chandran, The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3327515-charithra-chandran/)
2. ["I have big ambitions": Bridgerton's Charithra Chandran on her West End shocker, The Guardian (5 March 2024)](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/mar/05/bridgertons-charithra-chandran-west-end-shocker-netflix-hit)
3. [Bridgerton's Charithra Chandran Talks Diversity & Her Debut Play, Deadline (April 2024)](https://deadline.com/2024/04/bridgerton-charithra-chandran-representation-instructions-for-a-teenage-armageddon-1235894883/)
4. [Alumnae, Oxford High School GDST](https://oxfordhigh.gdst.net/our-community/alumnae/)
5. [Meet Charithra Chandran: Multi-Talented "Bridgerton" Star, Elle Australia](https://www.elle.com.au/culture/celebrity/who-is-charithra-chandran-26802/)
6. ["Bridgerton" season 2 star Charithra Chandran on why she may never be cast as a lead in Indian films, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/bridgerton-season-2-star-charithra-chandran-lead-cast-indian-films-colourism-8100239/)
7. [Charithra Chandran | Keynote Speaker, AAE Speakers Bureau](https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/charithra-chandran)
8. [How Live-Action ONE PIECE Season 2 Introduces Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday, Netflix Tudum](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/one-piece-season-2-charithra-chandran-vivi-miss-wednesday)
9. [From Bridgerton To One Piece, Charithra Chandran Is Moving Between Worlds, The Handbook](https://www.thehandbook.com/charithra-chandran-interview/)
10. [Who Is Charithra Chandran? The British-Indian Actor Stealing Spotlight At Wimbledon, News18](https://www.news18.com/movies/hollywood/who-is-charithra-chandran-the-british-indian-actor-stealing-spotlight-at-wimbledon-ws-l-aa-aa-9430028.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Scottish actors › Surnames A to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license