Haresh Kathrotiya at 03:17, 13 April 2026

2026-04-13T03:17:31Z

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{{Short description|British actress and writer (born 1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}

{{Infobox person
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
| image = 
| image_upright =
| landscape = 
| alt = 
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1969}}
| birth_place = [[Kingston upon Hull]], England
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
| occupation = {{flat list|
* Actress
* writer}}
| years_active = 1990–present
| known_for =
| notable_works = 
| television =
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Adrian Lester]]|1997|2024|end=div}}
| children = 2
| relatives = [[Reeta Chakrabarti]] (sister)
| awards =
| website = 
}}

'''Lolita Chakrabarti''' (born 1969) is a British actress and writer.

==Early life and education ==
Lolita Chakrabarti was born in [[Kingston upon Hull]], England, to [[Bengali Hindus|Bengali Hindu]] parents from India in 1969. She grew up in [[Birmingham]], where her father worked as an orthopaedic surgeon at [[Selly Oak Hospital]].<ref name=Roy-Dec2012>{{cite web |last=Roy |first=Amit |date=2 December 2012 |title=Play it again, Lolita |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/7-days/play-it-again-lolita/cid/349599#.VJl1LdZAKA |website=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |location=Kolcata |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411014701/https://www.telegraphindia.com/7-days/play-it-again-lolita/cid/349599 |archive-date=11 April 2020 |access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref>

She was educated at the Convent of the Holy Child Jesus in Birmingham before moving to London, after being accepted at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]], where she studied acting for three years,<ref name=Roy-Dec2012/> graduating in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles?aos=acting&yr=1990&fn=lolita&sn=chakrabarti|title=RADA: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art - Student|website=www.rada.ac.uk|access-date=2017-11-22}}</ref>

==Career==
===Acting===
From 1993 to 1996, Chakrabarti presented the BBC children's educational programme ''[[Numbertime]].''{{cn|date=January 2025}} Other screen credits include ''[[Vigil (TV series)|Vigil]]'', ''[[Showtrial (TV series)|Showtrial]]'', and ''[[The Wheel of Time (TV series)|The Wheel of Time]]''.<ref name="WoT">{{cite web |url=https://dragonmount.com/news/tv-show/emondsfieldcast/ |title=Casting Announcement for Six Emond's Field characters |last=Denzel |first=Jason |date=June 25, 2020 |website=Dragonmount |access-date=June 25, 2020 }}</ref> She appearred in ''[[The Bill]]'' as WPC Jamila Blake from 1996 to 1999.

Her theatre credits include ''Fanny and Alexander'' for [[The Old Vic]] (2018), Gertrude in ''[[Hamlet#21st century|Hamlet]]'' starring [[Tom Hiddleston]] and directed by [[Kenneth Branagh]] for RADA (2017), ''[[The Great Game: Afghanistan]]'' for the [[Tricycle Theatre]] (2009), ''Last Seen'' for the [[Almeida Theatre|Almeida]] (2009) (which she co-wrote), ''Free Outgoing'' for the [[Royal Court Theatre|Royal Court]] (2008), ''[[John Gabriel Borkman]]'' for the [[Donmar Warehouse]] (2007), and ''[[The Hunt (play)|The Hunt]]'' for [[St. Ann's Warehouse]] (2024).{{cn|date=January 2025}}

In 2025, it was announced she would be portraying Mrs. Darling in the London production of [[Ella Hickson|Ella Hickson's]] 2013 play [[Wendy & Peter Pan]], alongside [[Toby Stephens]] and [[Alexander Molony]], directed by Jonathan Munby.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-21 |title=Wendy & Peter Pan {{!}} Barbican |url=https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/event/royal-shakespeare-company-wendy-peter-pan |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=www.barbican.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>

===Writing===
==== ''Red Velvet'' (2012) ====
''[[Red Velvet (play)|Red Velvet]]'', Chakrabarti's play about [[Ira Aldridge]], an African-American actor at the centre of controversy in 1833 when he takes over from [[Edmund Kean]] in ''[[Othello]]'' at the [[Royal Opera House|Theatre Royal]] in [[Covent Garden]], premiered in 2012 at the Tricycle Theatre, London.<ref name="Billington-Oct2012">{{cite news |last=Billington |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Billington (critic)|date=17 October 2012 |title=Red Velvet – Review |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/oct/17/red-velvet-review |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913091351/http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/oct/17/red-velvet-review |archive-date=13 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Chakrabarti-Jan2014">{{cite news |last=Chakrabarti |first=Lolita |date=28 January 2014 |title=Lolita Chakrabarti, 'Red Velvet', and what's wrong with theatre today |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/lolita-chakrabarti-red-velvet-and-whats-wrong-with-theatre-today-9088989.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129202343/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/lolita-chakrabarti-red-velvet-and-whats-wrong-with-theatre-today-9088989.html |archive-date=29 January 2014}}</ref> It returned to The Tricycle in 2014 before transferring to [[St. Ann's Warehouse]] in [[New York City|New York]]. It returned again to the [[Garrick Theatre]] in London's West End as part of Kenneth Branagh's season in 2016. [[Chicago Shakespeare Theater]] and San Diego's [[Old Globe Theatre]] presented ''Red Velvet'' in 2017–18. ''Red Velvet'' has had more than 25 productions in the United States.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The play won Chakrabarti the Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright at the [[2012 Evening Standard Theatre Awards]]. That same year she was nominated for Best New Play and London Newcomer of the Year at the [[WhatsOnStage Awards]]. She won the award for Most Promising Playwright at the [[Critics' Circle Award]]s in January 2013 and received the AWA Award for Arts and Culture that same year. ''Red Velvet'' was also nominated for an [[Olivier Award]] in 2013.<ref name="Brantley-Apr2014">{{cite news |last=Brantley |first=Ben |date=1 April 2014 |title=Grandeur Under Siege: 'Red Velvet' Recalls One Shocked London Audience |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/theater/red-velvet-recalls-one-shocked-london-audience.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402012806/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/theater/red-velvet-recalls-one-shocked-london-audience.html |archive-date=2 April 2014}}</ref>

==== ''The Greatest Wealth'' (2018) ====
In 2018, Chakrabarti curated this event for The Old Vic, London. She commissioned eight monologues, of which she also wrote one in recognition of the 70th birthday of the [[National Health Service|NHS]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-16 |title=The Greatest Wealth, curated by Lolita Chakrabarti. |url=https://www.londontheatre1.com/theatre-news/the-greatest-wealth-curated-by-lolita-chakrabarti-and-directed-by-adrian-lester/ |access-date=2022-02-07 |website=LondonTheatre1 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Musbach |first=Julie |title=The Old Vic Announces Casting for THE GREATEST WEALTH |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/The-Old-Vic-Announces-Casting-for-THE-GREATEST-WEALTH-20180613 |date=13 June 2018 |access-date=2022-02-07 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref> The season was relaunched online during the pandemic in 2020, with a new monologue written by Booker prize winning novelist [[Bernardine Evaristo]].

==== ''Invisible Cities'' (2019) ====
She adapted [[Italo Calvino]]'s 1972 novel ''[[Invisible Cities]]'', in collaboration with [[59 Productions]], [[Rambert Dance Company]], and [[Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui]]. Presented at [[Manchester International Festival]] and [[Brisbane Festival]] in 2019, it was reimagined as a [[virtual reality]] film named ''Stones of Venice'' for Hong Kong New Vision Festival.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

==== ''Life of Pi'' (2019) ====
Chakrabarti's adaptation of ''[[Life of Pi (play)|Life of Pi]]'', based on [[Life of Pi|Yann Martel's 2001 novel]], premiered at the [[Crucible Theatre|Crucible Theatre, Sheffield]] in June 2019. Following critical acclaim,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-07-10 |title='It's a hit' - five-star reviews for Life of Pi on stage in Sheffield |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48925006 |access-date=2022-04-13}}</ref> the production transferred to the [[Wyndham's Theatre|Wyndham's Theatre, West End]] in November 2021. Life of Pi was nominated for 9 [[Olivier Award]], winning 5 of them. Chakrabarti was awarded the [[Olivier Award]] for [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play|Best New Play]] for her work,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-10 |title=Olivier awards 2022: the full list of winners |first=Chris |last=Wiegand |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/apr/10/olivier-awards-2022-the-full-list-of-winners |access-date=2022-04-13 |newspaper=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> and numerous other accolades, including a [[WhatsOnStage Awards|WhatsOnStage Award]], [[UK Theatre Awards|UK Theatre Award]] and CAMEO Award.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

==== ''A Working Diary'' (2020) ====
''Adrian Lester and Lolita Chakrabarti: A Working Diary'' was published by [[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] in 2020, charting a year in the working life of Chakrabarti and her ex husband.

==== ''Hymn'' (2021) ====
In 2020 during the height of the pandemic Lolita's play Hymn opened at the Almeida Theatre in London. It was live streamed for seven performances in January 2021 and returned for live performances in July and August that year. An original play with music about two men who meet at a funeral and discover they are brothers.

==== ''Hamnet'' (2023) ====
Chakrabarti adapted [[Maggie O'Farrell]]'s novel ''[[Hamnet (novel)|Hamnet]]'' for the stage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sherwood |first=Harriet |date=2022-11-08 |title=RSC to stage play about plague death of William Shakespeare's son Hamnet |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/nov/08/rsc-to-stage-play-about-plague-death-of-william-shakespeare-son-hamnet-maggie-ofarrell |access-date=2023-05-15 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> ''Hamnet'' had its world premiere at [[Stratford-upon-Avon|Stratford-Upon-Avon]]'s [[Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon|Swan Theatre]] on 1 April 2023. After its sold-out Stratford engagement closing on 17 June 2023, the show transferred to the West End's [[Garrick Theatre]]. It opened on 30 September 2023 and played until 17 February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Margaret |date=1 April 2023 |title=Royal Shakespeare Company Production of Hamnet Begins Performances In Statford-Upon-Avon April 1 |url=https://playbill.com/article/royal-shakespeare-company-production-of-hamnet-begins-performances-in-statford-upon-avon-april-1 }}</ref>

==== Dramaturg ====
In 2020 Lolita was [[dramaturg]] on ''[[Message in a Bottle (film)|Message in a Bottle]]'' for [[Sadler's Wells Theatre]] and ZooNation. She also dramaturged ''Sylvia'' which played at [[The Old Vic]] in 2023. Both were created and realised by [[Kate Prince]].{{cn|date=January 2025}}

==== Other work ====
''The Goddess'' for ''[[Woman's Hour]]'' on [[BBC Radio 4]],
''Faith, Hope and Blue Charity'' for on [[BBC Radio 4]],
''Last Seen : Joy'' for Slung Low Theatre Company and the Almeida Theatre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Last Seen |url=https://www.slunglow.org/last-seen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411023533/https://www.slunglow.org/last-seen/ |archive-date=11 April 2020 |access-date=11 April 2020 |website=Slung Low}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Lyn |author-link=Lyn Gardner|date=14 July 2009 |title=Last Seen |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2009/jul/14/last-seen-theatre-review-almeida |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919072027/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2009/jul/14/last-seen-theatre-review-almeida |archive-date=19 September 2015}}</ref>

===Producing===
Chakrabarti ran Lesata Productions with Rosa Maggiora.{{cn|date=January 2025}} In 2011, they produced ''Of Mary'', a short film that won the Best Short Film Award at [[Pan African Film Festival|PAFF]], Los Angeles, 2012.{{cn|date=January 2025}} Chakrabarti and Maggiora were nominated for the Best Producer Award at the [[Underwire Film Festival]], London, 2011.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

==Personal life==
Chakrabarti is divorced<ref>{{citation|first=Adrian|last=Lester|title=Adrian Lester: 'Sometimes I'll eat out on my own on Saturday night'|work=[[Telegraph Magazine]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/my-saturday-adrian-lester-history-journal-london-dining/|date=30 March 2024}}</ref> from actor [[Adrian Lester]]. They have two daughters.<ref>{{cite news |date=2022-05-28 |access-date=2022-06-25 |first=Rosanna |last=Greenstreet |title=Lolita Chakrabarti: 'I got caught stealing crisp money aged seven. I've been unbelievably honest since' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/may/28/lolita-chakrabarti-i-got-caught-stealing-crisp-money-aged-seven-ive-been-unbelievably-honest-since |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

She was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2021 Birthday Honours]] for services to drama.<ref>{{London Gazette
| issue = 63377
| date = 12 June 2021
| page = B11
| supp = y
}}</ref>

She is the sister of BBC News presenter [[Reeta Chakrabarti]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0149808}}

{{Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chakrabarti, Lolita}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Actresses from Kingston upon Hull]]
[[Category:Actresses from Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
[[Category:British writers of Indian descent]]
[[Category:English people of Bengali descent]]
[[Category:English people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:English stage actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:English women dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century English actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century English dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:21st-century English women writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Kingston upon Hull]]
[[Category:Writers from Birmingham, West Midlands]]

Lolita Chakrabarti - Revision history

Haresh Kathrotiya at 03:17, 13 April 2026