Pearl Chanda

Pearl Iannelli Chanda (born 11 March 1992) is an English actress. She is known for her theatre work and her roles in the Canal+ series War of the Worlds (2021–2022) and the film See How They Run.

Early life and education Chanda was born in Balham, in the south London Borough of Wandsworth. She is of Indian and Italian descent. She attended the BRIT School, a specialist performing arts school in Croydon. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in acting from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 2013.

Career Chanda gained prominence through her work in theatre, making her stage debut in 2013 as Nina in the Headlong production of The Seagull. The following year, she made her television debut with a guest appearance in an episode of the BBC One soap opera Holby City. She played Julia in the 2014 Royal Shakespeare Company production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Chanda appeared in the 2015 ITV miniseries Arthur & George as Maud Edalji. That same year, she had stage roles in Crave at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, The Angry Brigade at the Bush Theatre in London, and The Glass Menagerie at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton. This was followed by roles in Ink at the Almeida and Duke of York's Theatre in 2017, One for Sorrow at the Royal Court Theatre in 2018, and Three Sisters in 2019, also at the Almeida. Meanwhile, she had a small role in Motherland on BBC Two.

In 2020, Chanda played DC Laura Simpson in the first series of the ITV crime drama McDonald & Dodds, and Nilufer in two episodes of Michaela Coel's BBC One limited series I May Destroy You. She also had a film role in the horror film Marionnette. Chanda joined the main cast of the British-French science fiction production War of the Worlds for its second and third series, as Zoe.

Chanda played Cassie in the stage adaptation of The Taxidermist's Daughter at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2022. She appears in the 2022 mystery comedy film See How They Run as Sheila Sim. Chanda was able to discuss the role and character with Sim’s son Michael Attenborough whom Chanda had worked with previously.

Acting credits Film Year Title Role Notes 2014 Mr. Turner Theatre Actor 2016 The Big Return of Ray Lamere Lilly Short film 2020 Marionette Margie 2022 See How They Run Sheila Sim

Television Year Title Role Notes 2013 Holby City Imogen Parker Episode: "Father's Day" 2014 Royal Shakespeare Company: The Two Gentlemen of Verona Julia Recording 2015 Arthur & George Maud Edalji Miniseries 2017 Endeavour Bettina Pettybon Episode: "Canticle" Motherland Debbie Louise 2 episodes 2020 McDonald & Dodds DC Laura Simpson 2 episodes I May Destroy You Nilufer 2 episodes 2021–2022 War of the Worlds Zoe Main role (season 2-3) 2024 Mary & George Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset Miniseries

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2012 The Seagull Nina Headlong 2013 Godchild Minnie Hampstead Theatre, London 2014 The Two Gentlemen of Verona Julia Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 2015 Crave C Sheffield Crucible Theatre The Angry Brigade Anna / Henderson Bush Theatre, London The Glass Menagerie Laura Nuffield Theatre, Southampton 2017 Ink Stephanie Rahn Almeida Theatre / Duke of York's Theatre, London 2018 One for Sorrow Imogen Royal Court Theatre, London 2019 Three Sisters Masha Almeida Theatre 2022 The Taxidermist's Daughter Cassie Chichester Festival Theatre 2023 The White Factory Rivka Kaufman Marylebone Theatre, London 2023–2024 The House of Bernarda Alba Magdalena National Theatre, London 2024 The Harmony Test Zoe Hampstead Theatre, London 2025 Hedda Hedda Gabler Orange Tree Theatre, London 2026 Cleansed Grace Almeida Theatre, London