Leicester actor Rakhee Thakrar tells Rhys Bailey about her character on the ground-breaking Netflix show, the impact of filming in a pandemic, and representation for actors of South Asian heritage.
Despite the dim light of a chilly winter’s day, when she’s wrapped in a jumper to resist the cold, Rakhee Thakrar projects warmth and positivity in her demeanour. She is relaxed and charming and whenever she speaks about her work and her colleagues, it’s with so much pride and excitement that the winter’s day suddenly doesn’t seem quite so glum.
As an actor Rakhee has played several compelling and exciting roles in her career. These include Shabnam Masood in the iconic soap EastEnders, and Bliss, the assistant to the eight Doctor in the BBC Doctor Who: Time Wars audiobooks. But more recently, she has gained fame and recognition for her role in the smash-hit Netflix series Sex Education, as the diligent English teacher Emily Sands.
The series has been critically acclaimed for the themes it addresses around sex and relationships. After rave reviews for its first two seasons, a third is well underway, despite that production initially halted, in no small part to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rakhee is currently staying in Wales for the recording of the new season and reflects on how fortunate and grateful she felt to be back to work.
“Luckily over the first few months of the lockdown, Netflix worked out a great, vigorous testing regime and we were able to go back to work again in September. I’m very conscious that me and my colleagues get to work at a time when so many people haven’t been able to,” she says.
Within the show, Rakhee plays Miss Emily Sands, a supportive and nurturing English teacher who serves as a counterpart to the ruthless and rigid Headmaster of Mooredale Secondary School, Mr. Groff. Miss Sands also has an important relationship with the solitary and troubled Maeve Wiley, played by Emma Mackey, acting as the encouraging, positive female figure that Maeve is lacking in her life.
As the show has progressed audiences have gradually come to learn more about Emily’s character, including a subplot about her adorably awkward-yet-sweet relationship with the humorous science teacher Mr. Hendricks, played by the comical Jim Howick.
With a tone of apology, Rakhee says that unfortunately, she cannot divulge any details on what future stories audiences can expect for Emily or any of the other characters. But, with a sudden burst of excitement, she says: “All I can say is there is one episode that is quite spectacular. But I can’t say what it’s about or who’s involved. But I really hope it’ll be some nice levity for people. It’s such a heart-warming show that hopefully, it’ll be a bit of a tonic for everyone.”
When asked if she would like for Emily’s character to have her own story arc or if there’s anywhere she’d like to see her character develop, there’s a slight pause. After a moment, Rakhee says there is an importance in how Sex Education effectively tells the stories of its characters in a way that’s balanced and meaningful, and that sometimes the small snippets seen of the characters’ ordeals and narratives is enough to send an important message.
“To be honest there’s a real ensemble feeling the show, so it has to serve a purpose and a story. I think the beauty of the show is that it organically tells multiple stories. That’s what’s nice about the show is that you dip in and out of all these characters,” she says. “So long as it serves the show, that’s what’s important.”
Rahkee does, however, confess that she would like to see the dynamic between Miss Sands and Maeve progress and for Maeve to realise her full potential. Consistently through the show, Miss Sands has fought for Maeve to own her natural intelligence and creativity, defending her from expulsion. She also invited Maeve to connect with other intellectual peers and showcase her talents by joining the school’s aptitude program and quiz team.
Sounding very much like her character, a part of Miss Sands appears as Rakhee says: “I’d love for her to eventually instill in Maeve her self-belief. I feel that is Miss Sands’s ultimate goal; is to get these kids to believe in their power and full potential. I’d love to see that come to fruition. It’s nice to see what can happen when students are believed in.”
The show has been praised for its incredible writing and dealing with difficult themes of sexual health and relationships in both whimsical and heartfelt yet sincere and emotional ways. Sex Education has also been praised for its representations of racial and sexual identities and varied family dynamics, but all with great sensitivity and with a genuine sense of purpose.
With a warmth and positivity that contrasts the coldness of the weather outside Rakhee says: “I’m super proud of being part of a show where they are trying really hard to represent lots of perspectives and different walks of life, and a lot of it is things that people might be ashamed to talk about. The show creates a space to talk about that. I wish it were there when we were growing up.”
One of the show’s key storylines that were a standout scene for many news outlets and fans was in its second season which saw the comedically spacey but likable character Aimee Gibbs experience sexual harassment on a bus. While initially dismissive of the harassment, as the series continued the series explored how it took a toll on Aimee’s mental wellbeing and her relationships.
The storyline reached a magnificent apex when Aimee along with several of the other female characters was put into group detention by Miss Sands with the condition that they find something in common as women.
Eventually these girls, from all different backgrounds, connected over their stories of experiencing inappropriate sexual behavior and harassment, with them all riding the bus with Aimee the next day in a beautiful depiction and expression of solidarity and support.
This storyline stood out to Rakhee as well, and she praises the writing and the cast for the dignity the story held. She says: “It’s crazy how minimised it is, to know how traumatic it is and it needs to be talked about. The show gives us the tools and the languages to talk about this. When TV and film can encourage these conversations and dialogues it just goes to show how important television can be and the role it plays.”
On the topic of the show’s diversity, the conversation turns to the matter of representation and opportunities for actors from minority groups and identities. Rakhee herself is of South Asian heritage and grew up in Leicester, a city recognised for its large and diverse population, including a vibrant and thriving South Asian community.
Having over a decade of experience as an actress Rakhee has been in the business long enough to recognise what challenges and advancements have been encountered by the South Asian acting community.
“It has come a long way, for sure over the past decade. I think it comes in cycles. There was a time when we had an all-Asian sketch comedy show on BBC1, that was 20 years ago. There were shows that were big successes that all people related to and found funny. And then it reset to nothing. I feel like now it’s been more consistent in the kinds of representation we’re seeing,
“I find it very encouraging to know we’re heading in the right direction. There’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of tokenism and not there just to serve or tick a box for a show. I think the conversation needs to be wider as well because it’s about representing our wonderful society which is made up of lots of different walks of life.
“I think there is a shift in people realising entertainment can be varied and still be relatable, it’s going in the right direction but there’s still lots to be done about the different kinds of roles to be offered to people on the margins.”
Rakhee says this is one of the factors she considers in the roles she takes on, and that with the growing efforts for inclusive and more fleshed out and complex roles for minority characters, South Asian actors are in a better position in being able to consider these roles. Progress, she thinks, is about actors, filmmakers, and the entertainment industry having those conversations about authenticity and respect.
What also draws Rakhee to a role is if the character she portrays is one that is a fully formed human being, and what they do in the story. But she is also drawn to projects where, even if it’s not the largest part or a low budget production, the talent of the individuals and teams involved, and great writing makes for an even better working experience.
In this way, Rakhee feels incredibly lucky and proud to be a part of the Sex Education cast and speaks so highly of her peers and colleagues, saying that everyone involved, both on the set and behind the scenes, works so hard to make the show what it is.
“I’m super proud of everyone involved, it’s such a massive team effort, there’re so many people involved. The floor and pre-production crews are huge and all come together to make the show work. Everyone is amazing and supportive. There are no bad apples,” she says.
When asked if there are any plans for the cast and crew to celebrate after wrapping for the new season, Rakhee is uncertain, given the circumstances of the year and how the show has had to adapt to the many changes caused by Covid-19.
Rakhee says: “Just to finish the show will be an achievement, everyone will be so chuffed. The producers and production crew have worked their socks off to get the season done. Getting to the end will be the wrap.”
