# Leila Khan (actress)
**Leila Khan** is an English actress known for playing Sahar Zahid in the Netflix series *Heartstopper*, Amira Dhawan in the [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) series *Crookhaven*, and Jess Kirkman in the ITV drama *Adultery*.[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/meet-the-cast-of-heartstopper?inapp=true%2F) • [2](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/dominic-cooper-and-romola-garai-lead-cast-itvs-provocative-love-story-adultery) She entered professional acting through a nationwide open casting call while still a university student, and *Heartstopper* was her first professional role.[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/meet-the-cast-of-heartstopper?inapp=true%2F)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Breakthrough role | Sahar Zahid in Netflix's *Heartstopper*, joined for season 2 (announced September 2022) through a nationwide open casting call; her first professional acting role[3](https://www.thewrap.com/heartstopper-season-2-cast-filming/) |
| Other television | Riley Biggs in the *Death in Paradise* 2023 Christmas special (BBC One, aired 26 December 2023); Amira Dhawan, a main role across 8 episodes, in *Crookhaven* (2026)[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/389935/leila-khan) |
| Film | Sahar Zahid in *Heartstopper Forever*, the franchise's feature-length finale released on Netflix on 17 July 2026[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14069161/news/) |
| Latest role | Jess Kirkman in *Adultery*, a six-part ITV drama created and written by Danny Brocklehurst, airing on ITVX from 25 October 2026[2](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/dominic-cooper-and-romola-garai-lead-cast-itvs-provocative-love-story-adultery) • [6](https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/leila-khan-interview/) |
| Education | First Class Honours degree in Drama and English Literature, Anglia Ruskin University[7](https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/people/spotlights/leila-khan) |
| Representation | Curtis Brown (agents Cordelia, Jill, and assistant Nieve)[7](https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/people/spotlights/leila-khan) |
## Early life and education
Khan grew up in Harlow, Essex, in what she described as a working-class area, and moved to Great Dunmow at about age fourteen, where she attended Helena Romanes School and stayed on for sixth form studying law, [English literature](https://www.edgepedia.org/english-literature), and drama.[7](https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/people/spotlights/leila-khan) She has said she fell in love with drama around Year 9, at thirteen or fourteen, and as a child made scripts and films with neighborhood kids on an iPad.[7](https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/people/spotlights/leila-khan)
She applied to four courses at [Anglia Ruskin University](https://www.edgepedia.org/anglia-ruskin-university), including law and policing, after family members encouraged her toward an academic subject, but chose the combined Drama and English Literature degree.[7](https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/people/spotlights/leila-khan) She was the first person in her family to go to university.[7](https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/people/spotlights/leila-khan) Her studies ran alongside her early acting work: season three filming of *[Heartstopper](https://www.edgepedia.org/heartstopper-tv-series)* delayed her graduation, and she has said she wrote her dissertation in about a week, graduating with First Class Honours.[7](https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/people/spotlights/leila-khan) • [8](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/13179776-leila-khan)
## Heartstopper
Khan joined *Heartstopper*, the adaptation of [Alice Oseman](https://www.edgepedia.org/alice-oseman)'s graphic novels, in its second season as Sahar Zahid, a Higgs school student.[3](https://www.thewrap.com/heartstopper-season-2-cast-filming/) A friend pointed her to the casting call posted on Instagram; she sent in pictures and a description of herself, then binge-read the novels before the audition process.[9](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/leila-khan) After the initial Zoom audition she heard nothing for a week, then found about five emails from the casting team in her junk folder and made an in-person audition in London the next day.[7](https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/people/spotlights/leila-khan) The process from open call to booking took three or four weeks.[10](https://www.numeronetherlands.com/in-conversation-with/in-conversation-with-leila-khan)
Season 2 premiered on 3 August 2023, and her character returned as a core member of the friend group in season 3, which premiered 3 October 2024.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/389935/leila-khan) • [1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/meet-the-cast-of-heartstopper?inapp=true%2F) In season 3, Sahar explores a complicated relationship with Imogen (Rhea Norwood) and a musical storyline.[1](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/meet-the-cast-of-heartstopper?inapp=true%2F) Khan, who does not describe herself as a singer, took singing lessons and worked with composer Adiescar Chase, who wrote a song from Sahar's point of view.[8](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/13179776-leila-khan) She has described the show's atmosphere and its theme of chosen family as formative, saying the cast "unironically became one big family."[10](https://www.numeronetherlands.com/in-conversation-with/in-conversation-with-leila-khan)
The series concluded not with a fourth season but with the feature film *Heartstopper Forever*, released on Netflix on 17 July 2026, in which Khan reprised Sahar.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14069161/news/) A behind-the-scenes special, *Heartstopper: Ending on a Hi*, followed on 24 July 2026.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14069161/news/)
## Crookhaven and other work
Between *Heartstopper* seasons, Khan appeared as Riley Biggs in the *Death in Paradise* 2023 Christmas special on BBC One, broadcast 26 December 2023.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/389935/leila-khan)
In 2026 she took a main role as Amira Dhawan in *Crookhaven*, an eight-part BBC One children's drama based on J.J. Arcanjo's novels about a secret school for crooks, led by [Dougray Scott](https://www.edgepedia.org/dougray-scott).[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/389935/leila-khan) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14069161/news/) Preparing for the athletic character drew on her hobbies of boxing and indoor rock climbing; for season two, she signed up to an adult gymnastics class after learning stunts would be involved, and has performed her own stunts with a South African stunt team.[11](https://1883magazine.com/leila-khan-adultery-heartstopper-interview/) • [6](https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/leila-khan-interview/)
## Adultery
Khan plays Jess Kirkman, the teenage daughter of Tom Kirkman ([Dominic Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/dominic-cooper)), in *Adultery*, a six-part ITV and STV drama created and written by Danny Brocklehurst and produced by Ben Stephenson's Poison Pen Studios.[2](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/dominic-cooper-and-romola-garai-lead-cast-itvs-provocative-love-story-adultery) The series, filmed in and around Manchester from September 2025, also stars [Romola Garai](https://www.edgepedia.org/romola-garai) as Beth Brookes, Shelley Conn as Tom's wife Hannah, and [Matthew McNulty](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-mcnulty) as Beth's husband Neil; it introduces Khan and Johnny Sanpher as the teenage lovers Jess and Ollie Brookes.[2](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/dominic-cooper-and-romola-garai-lead-cast-itvs-provocative-love-story-adultery) The story follows the two families as Tom and Beth begin an affair after their children fall in love.[2](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/dominic-cooper-and-romola-garai-lead-cast-itvs-provocative-love-story-adultery) Khan has described Jess as a character who matured early while helping raise her siblings, and said she wanted to avoid playing a stereotypical rebellious teen.[11](https://1883magazine.com/leila-khan-adultery-heartstopper-interview/) • [6](https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/leila-khan-interview/) The series airs on ITVX from 25 October 2026.[6](https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/leila-khan-interview/)
## References
1. [Meet the Lovestruck Teens of Heartstopper Season 3, Netflix Tudum](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/meet-the-cast-of-heartstopper?inapp=true%2F)
2. [Dominic Cooper and Romola Garai Lead Cast in ITV's Provocative Love Story Adultery, ITV Press Centre, 19 September 2025](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/dominic-cooper-and-romola-garai-lead-cast-itvs-provocative-love-story-adultery)
3. ['Heartstopper' Adds 4 Actors to Cast as Season 2 Filming Begins, TheWrap, 22 September 2022](https://www.thewrap.com/heartstopper-season-2-cast-filming/)
4. [Leila Khan, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/389935/leila-khan)
5. [Leila Khan News, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14069161/news/)
6. [Heartstopper Star Leila Khan On Her New Scandalous ITV Drama Adultery, Country & Town House](https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/leila-khan-interview/)
7. [Leila Khan, Anglia Ruskin University Creative Showcase](https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/people/spotlights/leila-khan)
8. [Leila Khan, Revamp Magazine, 4 October 2024](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/13179776-leila-khan)
9. [Leila Khan, Revamp Magazine, 7 August 2023](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/leila-khan)
10. [In Conversation with Leila Khan, Numéro Netherlands](https://www.numeronetherlands.com/in-conversation-with/in-conversation-with-leila-khan)
11. [From Heartstopper to Adultery, Leila Khan Is Taking On Her Most Grown-Up Project Yet, 1883 Magazine, 23 October 2026](https://1883magazine.com/leila-khan-adultery-heartstopper-interview/)
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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 › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames I to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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