Lisa Ambalavanar

Lisa Hayley Ambalavanar is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Alia Hanif in the BBC soap opera Doctors (2018–2019) and Mia in the iPlayer and Netflix series The A List (2018–2021).

Early life Ambalavanar was born in Derby. She is of English and Sri Lankan heritage. She trained for one year at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) on the Performing Arts Diploma (Dance) course.

Career Ambalavanar made her professional debut in an episode of the BBC Two series Home Time in 2009, appearing as a shop assistant. She then made appearances in projects including short film Coffee (2011) and films The Stuff of Legend (2015) and Like Living (2016).

In 2018, she was cast in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors. She made her debut appearance as Alia Hanif on 7 February 2018; Alia was played by Mandy Thandi prior to Ambalavanar taking over the role. Later that year, she began appearing in the iPlayer and Netflix series The A List in the main role of Mia. In 2019, she made an appearance in a production of A View from the Bridge, in which she was described as "forthright, headstrong and full of energy" by Julie Bayley of Derbyshire Live. Later that year, she portrayed the role of Fairy Wiseheart in a production of Sleeping Beauty.

Starting in 2022, she appears as Jinx in season 4 of Titans on HBO Max. In 2023, she starred as Emily Young in the 2023 horror comedy film Slotherhouse.

Filmography + Television and film roles Year Title Role Notes 2009 Home Time Shop Assistant 1 episode 2014 Welcome Home Jenny Film 2015 The Stuff of Legend Tessa Film 2018–2019 Doctors Alia Hanif Recurring role 2018, 2021 The A List Mia Main role 2022–2023 Titans Jinx Recurring role (season 4) 2023 Slotherhouse Emily Young Film2024 Father Brown Annabel Binky Series 12: Episode 4

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