I like to do new things, so I always take on roles that I feel will keep me on my toes. I never want to pigeon myself, so I always like to surprise myself. I believe in versatility and so I would play anything as long as it was a challenge. Archie Panjabi More Quotes by Archie Panjabi More Quotes From Archie Panjabi I went to Brunel University and very much wanted to go on to do a PhD in management, but then my acting career started to take off. In those days when you switched on the box there were hardly any brown or black faces. Archie Panjabi black careers acting I had a dialect coach to get an American accent, and then another dialect coach to come off it a bit. There is something deep and mysterious in the voice when it isn't too high-pitched American. Archie Panjabi dialect-coach mysterious voice The generation that migrated to the West in the 1970s or 1960s has now lived more in the West than India, and India has changed so much. My parents fall into that category. Archie Panjabi india parent fall I feel like I have one foot in New York, one foot in London and one foot in India. But it's important to me to invest time with family. Archie Panjabi important new-york feet At the end of the week, it's nice to just hang out in a pair of jeans and let my hair down. I need a break from all that fashion! Archie Panjabi fashion nice hair I like to cook Indian food when I can. I find the process of creating a home-cooked meal to be unwinding. Archie Panjabi creating meals home I am still married, yes - no children. I have Benzo, though; he's my dog, a Lhasa apso. Archie Panjabi married dog children My mother told me not to listen to anyone. She had been told that she wouldn't be able to teach and she did. Archie Panjabi teach able mother When I started out in the '90s, there were not many people of color writing, directing and producing - hence, the roles for people of color were few and far between. There's still few roles in England [where she's from]. Archie Panjabi color writing people I remember sitting in school and thinking, 'I don't know why I'm here, because I know I'm going to act and I know I'm going to America.' Archie Panjabi america school thinking Luckily my parents were not against my ambition, they've always been very supportive. But they were adamant that I went to university first. Archie Panjabi supportive parent ambition It was the success of 'Bend it Like Beckham' which got my name out there. 'A Mighty Heart' also helped. Archie Panjabi beckham names heart A lot of the time, people want to hear from someone like myself. They want to give it a shot. It's challenging, and it's driven me more than discouraged me. Archie Panjabi challenges giving people You can have all the agents and publicists in the world but no one's ever going to give you 110 per cent like someone who loves you. Archie Panjabi agents love-you giving Coming to New York is like a big hug, everyone is so welcoming. There's something about here, everyone makes you feel so at home. I miss my family of course, but I don't miss London that much. I was worried, but I feel really at home. Everyone says that who comes here from London, but I didn't believe them. Archie Panjabi new-york home believe I think it is vital to fight to do something you want to do despite not gaining your community's or your friends' approval. Archie Panjabi community fighting thinking I don't ever want to be hugely famous because I had a little taste of it after 'East Is East' and 'Bend It.' Archie Panjabi east want littles When I was younger I was fat. I was never conscious of it and was content with who I was because I was so loved. My mother never told me to lose weight and my father doted on me, but my agent told me. I tried, but I loved Indian food too much. Archie Panjabi agents mother father And I'd love to direct. One day. I'm learning a lot on the set of The Good Wife. Archie Panjabi gut-instinct one-day wife I have always let the lack of Indian actors in the industry drive me, not hold me back. I remember an agent in L.A. telling me a few years ago that an Indian actor wouldn't ever make it in Hollywood, but my ethnicity has helped me. Archie Panjabi ethnicity hollywood years
