Souad Faress

Souad Faress appeared on Coronation Street in October 2001 as Urmila Alahan, mother of Dev Alahan.

Born in Ghana to Irish and Syrian parents, she came to England to study acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Her other credits include roles including I, Claudius; Blakes 7; Crown Court; Shalom Salaam; Trial & Retribution; Family Affairs; The Bill; The Sarah Jane Adventures; Silent Witness; Casualty; Doctors; Hunted; Holby City and the films My Beautiful Laundrette, Bhaji on the Beach, Sixth Happiness and Such a Long Journey.

On stage she has appeared in productions of The Permanent Way, Celestina, Sugar and Snow, A Curse, Trojan Trilogy, The House of Bernada, Indian Plays and Tiger Country, but is perhaps better known for her portrayal of the solicitor Usha Gupta in the long-running BBC Radio 4 serial The Archers.