Nitya Vidyasagar

Nitya Vidyasagar
Born July 11, 1983 (1983-07-11) (age 28)
Muscat, Oman

Nitya Vidyasagar is an Indian-American actress best known for her role as "Leela" on Sesame Street.

Vidyasagar was born on July 11, 1983 in Muscat, Oman. She moved to India with her family when she was one year old and to the United States when she was 12. She received a BFA with Honors in Drama Tisch School of the Arts. NYU and a Minor in Music from the College of Arts and Sciences, New York University.[1]

Vidyasagar is the first Indian-American cast member of Sesame Street. Leela runs a laundromat next to Mr. Hooper's Store. Sesame Street producers were not looking for an Indian-American actress before they cast Vidyasagar,[2] but the show's writers plan to use parts of Vidyasagar's background in certain episodes.[1] Leela is described as "a young Indian-American who embraces her heritage and culture."[3]

Vidyasagar is primarily a stage actress. She trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.[4] Her stage credits include:

Her Screen and Television work includes appearances in:

References

  1. ^ a b India West profile
  2. ^ Southern Courier article
  3. ^ Sesame Street Season 39 press kit
  4. ^ Sesame Street bio
  5. ^ Playbll
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ IMDb profile