Black Doves star Ambika Mod has previously spoken candidly about her mental health as she joins the Netflix thriller's second season. The show sees Helen Webb (portrayed by Keira Knightley) return for a web of deceit as she juggles life as the Prime Minister's wife with her covert role as a spy. This series also introduces One Day star Ambika Mod, who portrays agent Laila Joshi - a sharp-minded and unpredictable character.
A Fan-Favourite Character
A rogue operative with a razor-sharp tongue, the character has quickly become a fan-favourite, and actress Mod spoke candidly about her character's laid-back attitude towards killing, saying: "She's quite chill about what she does, her vibe is that it's just a job. She could just as well be an accountant."
Ambika Mod is a 31 year old English actress and comedian, best recognised for her appearances in The Stolen Girl, This Is Going to Hurt, and One Day. Originally from Hertfordshire, she is of Indian descent, reports the Mirror.
Career Milestones
At the outset of her career, she worked as a personal assistant at Condé Nast, while simultaneously performing comedy sketches. Following a string of short film appearances, her big break arrived in the role of Shruti Acharya, a struggling junior doctor alongside her Black Doves co-star Ben Whishaw in This Is Going to Hurt.
Over the course of her career, she has amassed prestigious honours and accolades, securing a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2024. The Sunday Times also recognised her as one of the 25 most inspiring people aged 30 and under in the UK and Ireland. She was named one of Harper's Bazaar UK's 2024 Women of the Year and continues to be celebrated as a rising star in television. Yet while her professional life has gone from strength to strength, she has been quietly battling mental health struggles behind closed doors.
Mental Health Struggles
In 2022, she spoke openly to The Times about pursuing therapy for depression and anxiety, along with dissociating and suppressing her emotions. She honestly revealed: "I don't remember a lot of 2019 because I was cut off emotionally from everything. When you cut yourself off from the pain and the hurt and the loneliness, you also cut yourself off from every positive feeling that you could experience. That sort of anhedonia - the lack of pleasure, no matter what you do - is something I experienced."
When Mod portrayed Shruti in This Is Going To Hurt, her own personal struggles with anxiety and depression were something she could deeply relate to in real life. She also discussed the "imposter syndrome" she felt during her next major opportunity in Netflix's adaptation of One Day.
She confessed she nearly turned down the role, revealing she was hesitant to even audition for the part of Emma. She previously told Glamour: "I always have imposter syndrome, always. Even when I'm not even doing anything remarkable. I feel like I shouldn't be here, and everyone's looking at me and thinking I'm an imposter. I just thought it'd be a massive waste of everyone's time if I even entertained it."
Black Doves season 2 is on Netflix. If you have been affected by any of the content in this article, contact Samaritans any time on 116 123.
