| Shazia Mirza | |
|---|---|
 Mirza in 2010 | |
| Born | Birmingham, West Midlands, England |
| Medium | Comedian, actor, columnist |
| Alma mater | Rose Bruford College |
| Years active | 2000 [1] –present |
| Genres | Observational comedy |
| Subject(s) | Social commentary, family |
| Website | www |
Shazia Mirza is a British comedian, actress, and writer. She is best known for her stand-up comedy, and her articles in British newspapers The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph . [2] [3] [4]
Mirza was born in Birmingham, England, the eldest daughter of Muslim Pakistani parents who moved to Birmingham, England in the 1950s. [5] [6] [7]
Mirza read Biochemistry at the University of Manchester and then achieved a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Goldsmiths, University of London. [8] Before beginning her career in comedy, Mirza was a science teacher at Langdon Park School, where she taught Dylan Mills, now known as the grime pioneer Dizzee Rascal. [9] [10] [11] She later attended Rose Bruford College, where she studied acting part time while working as a supply teacher, [9] taking the final year of the course full time. [12]
Her comedy is said to push barriers and as a comedian, she is often referred to as 'brave'. [2] [3] [4] [13]
Mirza was a columnist for The Guardian between 2008 and 2010. [14] In the past she has written columns for The New Statesman [15] and Dawn [16] newspaper.
She was a regular panelist on the Channel 5 topical discussion series The Wright Stuff , [17] as well as appearing on other TV shows [18]
In April 2007, she presented a documentary on BBC Three called F*** Off, I'm a Hairy Woman. [19]
Mirza has also appeared in reality game shows Celebrity The Island with Bear Grylls on Channel 4 (2017), and in 2018, the Channel 5 show Celebs in Solitary. [20]
She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2013. [21]
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