EP.280 - MEERA SYAL
Summary
Adam Buxton interviews Dame Mira Sorvino, a celebrated British actress, writer, and comedian, about her new memoir, *Vigilante*. They discuss her childhood as the only South Asian family in a 1960s mining village, the impact of Enoch Powell’s “Rivers of Blood” speech, and her experiences with racial tension. The conversation also covers her career highlights, including co-creating *Goodness Gracious Me*, her recent DBE honor, and a humorous recounting of her appearance on *The Great British Bake Off*.
Topics discussed
Squarespace ad: The Cyclops and Odysseus
Intro, Patreon updates, and guest introduction
Mira Nair's career, awards, and background
Editing the interview and early cooking stories
MasterChef experience and cooking preferences
Judging people by how they eat and memoir structure
Writing from truth and the 'only one in the room' feeling
Loss of parents, Black Country dialect, and code-switching
Growing up in a racist village and the Enoch Powell speech
Receiving the Dame title and views on the British Empire
Goodness Gracious Me, Apu, and satire vs. stereotypes
The long road to TV and the Sanjeev Kapoor show
Social media, public perception, and the JawSizer
Beauty routines, death cafes, and finding perspective
Music, karaoke, and the JawSizer jingle
Outro, shed clearing, and Sharon Horgan reference
Audiobook recommendations and production credits
Final sign-off and bonus Squarespace ad
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