The British actress Archana (Archie) Kaur Panjabi, better known for her role in Bend it Like Beckham, is making India and Indians all around the world proud by winning her first Emmy Award. She won the trophy for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Kalinda Sharma, a bisexual private detective in the dramaserial The Good Wife.
The 38-year-old actress of Indian descent described the victory as a “dream come true” at the 62nd Emmy Awards ceremony. “When I started in the business in England, just getting a job was a dream. And to receive an Emmy now is just beyond my wildest dreams…working on The Good Wife for me is like a dream come true,” she said.
Panjabi was nominated in the category with Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Elisabeth Moss Rose Byrne (Damages) and Sharon Gless (Burn Notice), but managed to beat the competition with ease.
The actress, born to Sikh parents in West London, began her career in the film East is East in which she had Om Puri as her co-star. She continued her way and is better known for her roles in Bend it Like Beckham and the Academy Award nominee Constant Gardener
The actress, who is married to fellow British actor Raj Nihlipandi, appeared with Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart, where she played the role of former Wall Street Journal reporter Asra Nomani. Archie’s performance was very much appreciated and she received the Chopard Trophy for Breakout Performance at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.
