Mia Tharia

Mia Laura Tharia (born May 2005) is an English actress and writer. On television, she is known for her roles in the BBC series Phoenix Rise (2023–2024) and The Listeners. Her films include September Says (2024). She was named a 2024 Screen International Star of Tomorrow and a 2025 Brit to Watch by Variety.

Early life and education Tharia was born to an English mother, a psychologist, and a British Indian father, a scientist, and grew up in Balham, South London. She attended Chestnut Grove Academy. As a teenager, she joined Brixton Youth Theatre and the Burnt Orange Theatre Company. In 2024, Tharia was selected for Burnt Orange's ZEST Writers' Collective. She also took part in the Royal Court Theatre's Methods of Writing workshop.

Career In 2023, Tharia made her television debut when she joined the cast of the BBC Three teen drama Phoenix Rise as Polly Shah. She would reprise her regular role in the second series before making recurring appearances in the third and fourth. The following year, Tharia made her feature film debut starring as July in Ariane Labed's directorial debut September Says, based on the novel Sisters by Daisy Johnson. The casting director discovered Tharia through Brixton Youth Theatre. The film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival; she and her costar Pascale Kann were named arising Stars of the Festival by Vogue. In November, Tharia played Ashley in the BBC One thriller The Listeners with Rebecca Hall.

Tharia has an upcoming role in the film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's Klara and the Sun.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2018 Cur:few Tess Short film 2024 September Says July2026 The Education of Jane Cumming Jane Cumming Klara and the Sun JosieCompleted

Television Year Title Role Notes 2023–2024 Phoenix Rise Polly Shah 22 episodes (series 1–2; guest 3–4) 2024 The Listeners Ashley 4 episodes