Nimmi Harasgama: From Shy Child to Award-Winning Actress and Writer

In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Nimmi Harasgama, a celebrated Sri Lankan actress, writer, and producer with a diverse career spanning continents. We delve into Harasgama's early years of overcoming extreme shyness, her break into acting, and her impactful roles in productions like TV drama 'Good Karma Hospital' and the film 'Funny Boy.' The episode covers Harasgama's experiences as an immigrant in the UK, the challenges of navigating cultural identity, and her dramadedy 'Brown Girl Panic.' The episode also discusses significant moments from Harasgama's life, including a deeply personal connection portraying a key moment at the dawn of the Sri Lankan Civil War.  

00:39 Meet Nimmi Harasgama

01:37 Nimmi's Early Life and Career Beginnings

04:53 The Impact of Drama on Nimmi's Life

13:00 Cultural Identity and Immigrant Experiences

22:00 Brown Girl Panic and Creative Works

26:45 Serendipitous Friendships and Life Stories

29:25 Experiencing Racism in School

30:34 Landing the Role in Good Karma Hospital

31:40 Developing the Character in Good Karma Hospital

35:19 The Impact of Funny Boy

42:21 Personal Reflections on Sri Lanka's History

51:32 The Importance of Creativity and Representation

53:22 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

About Nimmi Harasgama

A charming multi award winning actress, writer, and producer. The British National Television Awards nominated her for best "Drama Performance" for her portrayal of a much loved character Nurse Mari in ITV's The Good Karma Hospital.[1] She made her screen-debut through the English movie Mother Teresa in 1997 and Her first appearance in Sri Lankan cinema.[2]was as the lead in the Sinhalese movie Ira Madiyama for which she won Best Performance/Best Actress at  award ceremonies including International Film Festival of Las Palmas in Spain.

In 2020 she played the female lead in Oscar nominated director Deepa Mehta's film Funny Boy based on Shyam Selvadurai's book. 

Title: Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting Pot
Host: Dee Gibson — Sri Lankan-born, award winning designer based in London and founder of boutique hotel Kalukanda House in Sri Lanka. www.kalukandahouse.com | instagram @deegibson2017 & @kalukandahouse

Podcast Themes:

• Modern Sri Lankan identity and culture
• Architecture, art, and design
• Sustainability and heritage
• Diaspora experiences and storytelling

Why Listen:
This podcast offers deep, intelligent storytelling about Sri Lanka’s evolving identity — a blend of East and West, ancient and modern. It’s for listeners who love culture, travel, architecture, and thoughtful conversation.