Talented Bray actress lands lead CBBC role after ‘whirlwind’ four years

A talented young actress from Bray has landed a lead role in a new CBBC show set to air next month.

Aroop Shergill, 11, plays Rupi in Dexter Procter: The 10-Year-Old Doctor, first in the Christmas special and then in another Easter special next year.

The Oldfield student has been acting since she was six and has already made her Netflix debut, after being flown out to South Africa to star in the live-action remake of the hit anime One Piece.

The youngster has also featured in Doctor Who and Ted Lasso, as well as parts in both Hollywood and Bollywood films, and described the last few years as a ‘bit of a whirlwind’.

“I was a drama queen, so my mum put me into acting and I really liked it,” she told the Advertiser about her journey into acting.

“I really like being in the entertainment industry. I enjoy acting because I like playing different roles, and I think it's really fun.

“I'm doing school and then holidays and then acting – it’s all been a bit crazy, but I think it just came naturally for me.”

Her mum, Manpreet, highlighted the hard work that goes into juggling acting auditions around Aroop’s full-time education, but emphasised the importance of ‘representation’ and ‘breaking barriers’ for young Asian actors.

“I don’t think anyone realises it until you yourself are doing it. I can honestly say it is a lot of hard work – the number of times after school we’ve gone to London to meet a casting director – there’s a lot of rushing around,” said Manpreet.

Aroop filmed Dexter Procter: The 10-Year-Old Doctor in Liverpool for six weeks in August and September, where she enjoyed ‘hanging out with everyone’ and leaving with new friends.

“I hate missing school for acting,” added Aroop.

“I just don't like doing half days because I feel like everyone always asks me where I’ve been. I've had to study for the 11 Plus, and I'm also acting, so it's all been a bit crazy.”

She loved the ‘really fun’ experience of being on a Netflix set in South Africa after seeing the elaborate sets and visiting the props department on One Piece.

“That was so fun – everywhere you went, they were just making stuff, and it was so cool and none of it is fake, it's all real,” she said.

Aroop also enjoys acting in plays at school, such as a recent production of Macbeth, but says she prefers TV acting to theatre.

“They have so much skill with singing, protecting your voice, the memory, especially memorising seven-page scripts and handling any mess-ups,” said Aroop.

“But with TV acting, it's one scene at a time, and if you mess up, you go again.”

Aroop attends a weekly acting class on Zoom where she reads new scripts and receives feedback. She also likes asking questions and getting advice from more experienced actors on set.

“I want to do a horror film,” joked Aroop. “I think I could play a scary person in a white dress very well.”

Mark Jermin, founder and director of Aroop’s acting school, said watching her rise through the industry is ‘nothing short of inspirational’.

“These young actors have worked incredibly hard and have embraced every opportunity with professionalism and passion,” he added.

“I couldn’t be prouder of each of them. They represent everything we stand for at Mark Jermin - talent, dedication and heart. It’s a really exciting time for the company.”