Manjinder Virk

Manjinder is the recipient of Paines Plough’s 2026 Playwright Fellowship.

Manjinder Virk is an award winning actor/writer/director who has worked extensively in Film, TV, Theatre & Radio.

She has written and directed ten short films including award-winning OUT OF DARKNESS, about an Aid worker, THINGS WE NEVER SAID (BFI/Wild swim) – which is in development as a feature film and most recently DEKHO, (Look) for Alzheimer’s Society, produced by her production company Riverbird Films (with Neil Biswas). In 2022 Manjinder wrote THE ROOM while at The Royal Court – the play was shortlisted as one of the five finalists for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting. She has been on a writers attachment at The National Theatre where she is developing two new plays. As an actress, she was a Screen International Star of Tomorrow and was nominated for Best actress and Newcomer at BIFA awards for her lead role in Clio Barnard’s THE ARBOR. She has been in many popular TV shows including CALL THE MIDWIFE, MIDSOMER MURDERS, SHETLAND and TRIGGER POINT. Her acting on stage includes Clare Barron’s DANCE NATION (Almeida Theatre) and Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s’ A KIND OF PEOPLE (Royal Court). Manjinder has recently finished filming SILENT WITNESS (BBC) and Daisy Jacob’s new feature, DANGEROUS ROMANCE (BFI).