Veena Sood

**Veena Sood** (born 21 November), is a Canadian actress. Sood is best known for dramatic and comedic roles in a career spanning more than 3 decades. She portrays Rushmi in ***Alaska Daily***.

## Early life

She was born on 21 November in Nairobi, Kenya. Her father was a doctor and her mother, a nurse. When she was 7 years old, they immigrated to Canada. At the age of 16, she graduated from high school and later at the age of 20, graduated from University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree.

## Career

After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama theater degree, Veena helped co-found Calgary's 'Loose Moose Theatre Company' with Improv master Keith Johnstone, and later with the Vancouver TheatreSports League. In 1991, she won the Jessie Award for Outstanding Performance for her role in the Green Thumb Theatre play *2 B Wut U R*. In 2006, she received the Leo Award for Best Guest Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series which she won for the role 'Preety' in the Godiva's episode *Flipping Switches*.

She has appeared in numerous films & television series; Imagine Entertainment's *Wedding Season*, *Welcome to Marwen* (Robert Zemeckis), Corner Office, *The X-Files*, *BattleStar Galactica*, *Caprica*, *Stargate*, *Away*, *Peacemaker*, *Lucifer*, *A Million Little Things,* and several television movies. She's also gifted in her comedic work, as well as having an ear for accents. In 2006, she acted in the film *Nina's Heavenly Delights* where she speaks with Scottish/East Indian accent. Meanwhile, she appeared in American television, particularly on all three of the longest running North American science fiction series: *The X-Files* in 1993, *Stargate SG-1* in 1997 and *Smallville* in 2001. Her role in the film *Touch of Pink*, received critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival.

She is often described as a prolific dramatic actress who starred in popular films such as *The Accused*, *Loyalties*, *The Women of Marwen*. She also performed well in television serials: *Ghost Wars*, *The Indian Detective*, *Corner Gas Animated* as well as in the web series *Yoga Town*.

She has received several honors from the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists including the Lorena Gale Woman Of Distinction Award in November 2017 and the Sam Payne Award for contributions to humanity and artistic integrity in 2014. In 2019 she was honored by the Fund for the Arts on the North Shore (FANS) with the Distinguished Artist Award for international recognition in drama.

## Personal life

Her brother Manoj Sood is also an actor, while their cousin, Ashwin Sood (previously married to popular singer Sarah McLachlan), is a musician. Her nephew Kama Sood is a filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC.
She married J. Johnson on 30 August 2008.

## Trivia

* Sister of actor Manoj Sood and musician Ashwin Sood.
* Has dual citizenship to Canada, and the U.K.
* Was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to parents of Punjabi descent. Immigrated to Canada when she was 7 years of age.
* Has a great ear for accents; had to do a Scottish/East Indian accent for the film *Nina's Heavenly Delights* (2006) - which was shot on location in Glasgow, Scotland.
* Sister-in-law of singer Sarah McLachlan.
* Has traveled by canoe down the Amazon river, explored the Canadian Rockies extensively on horseback, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and safaried the Masai Mara.
* She made guest appearances on all three of the longest running North American science fiction series: *The X-Files* (1993), *Stargate SG-1* (1997) and *Smallville* (2001).
* Aunt of Kama Sood.
* Graduated high school at age 16, and graduated from University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree by age 20.
* Veena was recently honored by the Canadian acting union UBCP/ACTRA with The Lorena Gale Woman Of Distinction Award - annually presented to actresses whose work embodies accomplishments that advance the status of women in our society and the continued growth and diversification of opportunities for women.
* In 2014, the Canadian actors' union UBCP/ACTRA awarded Veena the Sam Payne Award for her contributions in humanity, artistic integrity and encouragement of new talent.

November 2017 Veena was awarded the UBCP/ACTRA Woman of Distinction Award for her contributions in advancing the status of women in the film industry.

* Veena was the recipient of the 2019 FANS Distinguished Artist Award, presented annually to outstanding artists from Vancouver, B.C. that have achieved national or international recognition for their body of work.

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