Taj Atwal: Riot Women and Representation
“I feel incredibly privileged to be asked to bring Nisha’s story to life,” says two time TV BAFTA nominated Taj Atwal when asked about her new role in the BBC and Britbox show, Riot Women. Written by award-winning Sally Wainwright and first aired on October 12th of this year, the drama revolves around five middle aged women who start a punk rock band and their journey through life’s frustrations. Taj plays Nisha Lal, a lesbian policewoman whose storyline reflects a reality many women have to face: speaking up. Taj is no stranger to British TV, having appeared in a range of productions including Daddy Issues, The Syndicate, Hullraisers and many more. Alongside all of these accreditations, she is currently writing a script for a film with Fable Pictures and Hinterland Productions.
Taj, you have worked on many projects throughout the years. Why does Riot Women stand out to you?
Oh gosh, big question. I think just because of how detailed Sally's writing is and how detailed the worlds are of these women…and how truthfully and nuanced she's written each character.
What is it like to work with Sally Wainright and how does it feel to step into her world in this new drama?
It was amazing working with Sally. She's so detailed and precise and so passionate about her work. She’s also warm and kind, and can put both hats on and stepping into this world is just, I mean, it's a big ask, but it's such an honor. Like it's an honorable ask and I feel incredibly privileged to be asked to bring Nisha's story to life.
How would you describe Nisha Lal’s outlook on the world, and what techniques or experiences help you embody that point of view?
I'm not sure about techniques, but I feel like she has such a strong moral compass. I think it's a kind of blessing and a curse for her, because she so wants to be good at her job and she so wants to do the right thing for humanity. That's why she's probably a police officer. She believes in justice. But then at the same time her naivety and her inexperience in the job—for example, not telling the older colleagues about her sexual harassment at work, for fear of repercussions. Which is a real, true fear that people have in that workplace. And many women all over have that fear of repercussions…if that happened to me, I would hope I would have the confidence to speak up about it, but I can understand, in her profession, especially why she doesn't.
The show revolves around working class women shaking up the system in a punk rock group. Where do you see your own form of rebellion in life or in your work?
My own form of rebellion, I suppose, is saying no to things that I feel, where other people try to pigeonhole Asian actors, like we don't stereotype ourselves. I think other people can sometimes stereotype us. We just play parts and want to play roles that other actors play and people think it's radical when we're playing something that isn't so what people perceive to be stereotypical. I feel like I'm always being a bit rebellious in many different ways. I'm always standing up for myself. I'm always being outspoken or perceived to be being outspoken on things that mattered to me. I also, like Nisha, care about humanity and I care about justice. I can be very front-footed about that.
Top by ELLA DOUGLAS
Boots by KALDA
Tights by FALKE
Earrings, Bracelet & Rings by FOPE
How does this representation of communities such as working class women, South Asian women, and LGBTQ+ individuals resonate with you and with Riot Women as a project?
Well, working class women have always existed and South Asian women and South Asian working class women. We've always existed. We've always been around. So it resonates because I am one. And we've always had interesting stories to tell. We've always contributed to society. We're just finally, bit by bit, being allowed a platform to be able to do that. We're always going to be here. We're not going anywhere. And I think it's important, you know, also Nisha is a lesbian and I think it's so rare to see those South Asian stories on screen.
What impact do you hope your performances have on young women, and what do you want them to take away when they see you on screen?
The confidence to speak up, to not fear, obviously, Nisha did fear repercussions and she suffered from it, but, you know God, it's tricky, isn't it? To be able to hopefully have people that are on your side and to confide in them. We need to rally against it. You know, women are suffering and suffering in workplaces and are being scared to speak up. For fear of losing their job. But I feel like nothing is worth your mental health.
Corset by MURMUR
Skirt by Atsuko Kudo
Earrings & Rings by FOPE
You’ve played so many characters from Nisha, Roxy, Cherry and many others throughout your career, which one has stuck with you the most?
Ooh…all of them kind of leave a little bit of a footprint on me in little ways. I loved playing Rana in Hullraisers because she was so empowering, and sexually empowering, and fierce, and brilliant, and funny, and sexy—and all these different things. And she loved herself. It's so rare to play these characters who like themselves, women who like themselves. Yes, why not? When people say, 'Oh God, look at her, she loves herself.' If someone ever said that to me, I'd be like, 'Great.' It's taken me a lifetime to love myself. Rana never took that as a criticism. And I think I definitely learned from her.
After embodying a character so deeply, what helps you reconnect with your own identity once the role ends?
I can let it go. I go on to another job and that's that. I go back to my friends. I go back to my loved ones. I do different things that are not acting. I dance. I just, whatever isn't acting, I just go back to normal life for a minute or two and then come back to it.
How do you approach preparing for a new character, what does this process look like?
The same as all of them, just go through the text again and again and again, picking out what the characters are trying to say, the subtext. Is the character like me in any way? Is it like anyone I know? If not, I'd build that character, amalgamate it with qualities of people that I do or don't know, and try to sprinkle a bit of well, a lot of finding the truth of that character's world. You can only ever really do so much prep because once you're in there and you're on set and you're in that environment and in that vibe, you're with the other actors. You don't know what they're doing, what they're going to do. You don't know, but the rehearsal process might change how you've prepared it. You've got to be really adaptable, I think, to each different show and the way each director directs.
Dress by HUISHAN ZHANG
Shoes by Malone Souliers
Earrings & Rings by FOPE
You’re also writing a script, what kind of stories do you wish you had seen growing up?
What kind of stories did I wish I'd seen growing up? Um, more working class stories, more South Asian working class stories, I would say. I grew up in a council estate in Norwich for the first part, very first part of my life. I would have loved to have seen that story. I'd like to write that story in Norwich, you know, on this little estate outside of Norwich. Yeah, I would probably say that.
What’s next for you, are there any upcoming projects or roles you’re excited about?
Yes, I've got Sweet Pea S2 coming out. I actually don't know when that's going to come out. Probably going to be next year sometime. I've got Daddy Issues S2 coming out in a couple of weeks. And obviously, at the back of quite a heavy storyline with Riot Women. It's nice to have some comedy. And then Sweet Pea, again, is a mix of the two. So, yeah, some really fun stuff coming up. There’s also my stuff that I've written. I've got a movie that I've written. So hopefully that all goes ahead as well.
CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Taj Atwal
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: David Reiss
Fashion Stylist: Harriet Nicholson
Hair: Sandra Hahnel at Caren Agency using Redken
Makeup: Anna Inglis Hall at Stella Creative Artists using Rodial
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Leonor Moreira, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
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