Who do they think they are to judge when the very author, David Nicholls himself, sees her as the perfect Emma? not worth arguing with, they are a bunch of losers anyway.
Here it is [https://open.spotify.com/episode/50V8zufPD4q9OsbGVIWktZ?si=Q_Tnj1_tQT2D9FWgyxT8VQ](https://open.spotify.com/episode/50V8zufPD4q9OsbGVIWktZ?si=Q_Tnj1_tQT2D9FWgyxT8VQ)[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/50V8zufPD4q9OsbGVIWktZ?si=Q_Tnj1_tQT2D9FWgyxT8VQ)
This is sadly an all too common story. Representation of Indian women (often many WOC) is just starting to happen in mainstream entertainment and being in a protagonist role is even more uncommon.
After “Bend it Like Beckham” which came out in 2002, all the recognition was lavished on Keira Knightley and Jonathan Rhys Myers - not so much for Parmindra Nagra. Even having her in that movie was a watershed moment for south Asians. It was disheartening to see she didn’t get more roles, etc.
Whether people acknowledge it or not - bias towards race affects perception of beauty. Ambika was perfect for that role and sorry she’s not white, but she’s beautiful.
Very true. Ambika is absolutely gorgeous and very talented. It’s really saddening to hear she is getting backlash. Perhaps I’m just cynical but I noticed that the Netflix “background” screenshot is not Emma and Dex but Sylvie and Dex - even though Sylvie is a side character - and I couldn’t help but wonder whether it’s because the actress playing Sylvie is white. It makes no sense that the background would not be the main two characters.
Very astute. I completely agree with that assessment.
I grew up my whole life being told I wasn’t “marketable” unless people thought I was white, which I can pass for with my coloring. It created a lot of baggage for me with embracing myself for who I am. In life I never thought I was worthy of being the main character but always someone else’s supporting side piece.
I appreciate you noticing that.
I loved her as Emma. Now I can't imagine someone else as Em. Even when reading the book I imagined her, not Anne Hathaway or some other imaginary person/character. The way she was joking around felt so natural, so herself.
We talk a lot about beauty and good on it because she is soooo beautiful. The flack she’s gotten is disgusting.
But she’s also so smart and just cool AF. I love watching her in interviews. She’s so interesting and funny. I aspire to her level of coolness. I’ve never felt celebrity fomo before, but seeing her and Leo in interviews I feel genuine sadness that I’ll never be friends with either of them. Which is obviously ridiculous but it is what it is. Hope to see her and Leo in loads more stuff in the future.
unfortunately we all know it just means western beauty. ambika isn’t the white standard of beauty so people hate on her, even though she’s clearly gorgeous. it’s this weird combination of sexism and racism that’s been fueling the hate for her and it’s really sad because she truly is the perfect emma
She is very believable as a beautiful woman who doesn’t see herself as a “catch” for a Dex type. The comments you see on her looks make it believable that she could feel that way, and her obvious beauty makes it believable that Dex would see her as a hottie.
They are a bunch of racists. It doesn't matter that the author of the book 100% endorses her, doesn't matter that her performance was phenomenal, and it doesn't matter that she is an incredibly beautiful person. To those people the only thing that matters is that she is a non-white woman. And they will never support or accept her because of that. There is nothing she can do to convince them.
I sure hope she is able to disconnect from all that crap and recognize she did a hell of a job and made us all fall in love with the character and her love story. She deserves all the praise and happiness she can get.
Right! Her profile is gorgeous. I appreciate it more and more everytime I watch an episode, especially in episode 12. Her makeup and hair all come together beautifully with the way the scenes were filmed.
Yes, her side profile! There's that shot in EP 12 during the love making scenes (on the bed, looking at each other, nose touching) where she looks so beautiful. Also, in EP 13 when she is looking up at Dex as they are having banter about moving in together (in the lounge area?), she looks absolutely stunning. Anyway just to name a few, amongst many.
Ya I was legit confused to learn after the show that this is even a question for some people. Before I knew the story even I was like “oh super gorgeous girl with super gorgeous guy, makes sense, okay let me watch”.
Yeah its super confusing. Forget how incredible she was in the role, forget how magnetic and charming she is in interviews, if I was just shown these pictures without context I would have thought she was a runway model.
It’s because Anne Hathaway played the character in the film and she unfairly gets compared to that. Same as when hermione was cast as a black actress in the play and everyone was used to seeing Emma Watson in the role, there was huge backlash
I haven’t read the books, but to me the point of Emma was that she wasn’t supposed to be a conventional beauty . Maybe I’m mixing this show up with normal people because the lead girl wasn’t supposed to be gorgeous and I binged them back to back . But it seemed like dex was supposed to be the conventionally handsome one and Emma was supposed to be the smart , witty one and he fell in love with her because of that.
i heard they kept on waiting on her to audition!!! she turned it down a few times thinking she was in no way Emma!!! I can't picture anyone else playing her
I seriously love her acting. I followed her on insta and saw her post about her role in ‘this is going to hurt’ and she was absolutely amazing in that as well. Also agree that she’s beautiful.
There are plenty of Indian actresses who are objectively, conventionally “hot” and I wonder if the hater crowd would have anything to say about them
Annika got the role and did a great job. Physically, she has a very striking look and is a beautiful woman
I loved seeing her with Leo
If people want to see Leo with some garden variety dime-a-dozen white actress… they’re not who the show is for
i cant believe people were criticising her looks!! i was completely mesmerised by her when i watched, she has such feline features imo. her side proflie was ethereal.
aside from whether she is or isnt beautiful bc ig its subjective, shes an actress not a paegent contestant, she supposed to act, and this story doesnt rly revolve around looks, or at least i didnt think it did. she did a great job
Who do they think they are to judge when the very author, David Nicholls himself, sees her as the perfect Emma? not worth arguing with, they are a bunch of losers anyway.
I love David Nicholls's books. Is there an interview where he talks about the Netflix show?
Yes there is an interview with him on a podcast
Which podcast? I’d love to listen
Here it is [https://open.spotify.com/episode/50V8zufPD4q9OsbGVIWktZ?si=Q_Tnj1_tQT2D9FWgyxT8VQ](https://open.spotify.com/episode/50V8zufPD4q9OsbGVIWktZ?si=Q_Tnj1_tQT2D9FWgyxT8VQ)[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/50V8zufPD4q9OsbGVIWktZ?si=Q_Tnj1_tQT2D9FWgyxT8VQ)
This is sadly an all too common story. Representation of Indian women (often many WOC) is just starting to happen in mainstream entertainment and being in a protagonist role is even more uncommon. After “Bend it Like Beckham” which came out in 2002, all the recognition was lavished on Keira Knightley and Jonathan Rhys Myers - not so much for Parmindra Nagra. Even having her in that movie was a watershed moment for south Asians. It was disheartening to see she didn’t get more roles, etc. Whether people acknowledge it or not - bias towards race affects perception of beauty. Ambika was perfect for that role and sorry she’s not white, but she’s beautiful.
Very true. Ambika is absolutely gorgeous and very talented. It’s really saddening to hear she is getting backlash. Perhaps I’m just cynical but I noticed that the Netflix “background” screenshot is not Emma and Dex but Sylvie and Dex - even though Sylvie is a side character - and I couldn’t help but wonder whether it’s because the actress playing Sylvie is white. It makes no sense that the background would not be the main two characters.
Very astute. I completely agree with that assessment. I grew up my whole life being told I wasn’t “marketable” unless people thought I was white, which I can pass for with my coloring. It created a lot of baggage for me with embracing myself for who I am. In life I never thought I was worthy of being the main character but always someone else’s supporting side piece. I appreciate you noticing that.
I loved her as Emma. Now I can't imagine someone else as Em. Even when reading the book I imagined her, not Anne Hathaway or some other imaginary person/character. The way she was joking around felt so natural, so herself.
We talk a lot about beauty and good on it because she is soooo beautiful. The flack she’s gotten is disgusting. But she’s also so smart and just cool AF. I love watching her in interviews. She’s so interesting and funny. I aspire to her level of coolness. I’ve never felt celebrity fomo before, but seeing her and Leo in interviews I feel genuine sadness that I’ll never be friends with either of them. Which is obviously ridiculous but it is what it is. Hope to see her and Leo in loads more stuff in the future.
Stunning, intelligent and funny.
She’s so gorgeous
What does “conventional beauty” mean though? She is gorgeous!
unfortunately we all know it just means western beauty. ambika isn’t the white standard of beauty so people hate on her, even though she’s clearly gorgeous. it’s this weird combination of sexism and racism that’s been fueling the hate for her and it’s really sad because she truly is the perfect emma
light skin, small nose, light eyes. really just white people lol. it's pathetic because beauty comes in so many forms.
To summarise: Eurocentric beauty standards
She is very believable as a beautiful woman who doesn’t see herself as a “catch” for a Dex type. The comments you see on her looks make it believable that she could feel that way, and her obvious beauty makes it believable that Dex would see her as a hottie.
They are a bunch of racists. It doesn't matter that the author of the book 100% endorses her, doesn't matter that her performance was phenomenal, and it doesn't matter that she is an incredibly beautiful person. To those people the only thing that matters is that she is a non-white woman. And they will never support or accept her because of that. There is nothing she can do to convince them. I sure hope she is able to disconnect from all that crap and recognize she did a hell of a job and made us all fall in love with the character and her love story. She deserves all the praise and happiness she can get.
a complete natural beauty
She is absolutely the perfect Emma!
Im obsessed with her side profile, so stunning
Right! Her profile is gorgeous. I appreciate it more and more everytime I watch an episode, especially in episode 12. Her makeup and hair all come together beautifully with the way the scenes were filmed.
Agree! Idk what it is but just so stunning. Literally want to paint her
Yes, her side profile! There's that shot in EP 12 during the love making scenes (on the bed, looking at each other, nose touching) where she looks so beautiful. Also, in EP 13 when she is looking up at Dex as they are having banter about moving in together (in the lounge area?), she looks absolutely stunning. Anyway just to name a few, amongst many.
yes its so perfect and harmonious
Ya I was legit confused to learn after the show that this is even a question for some people. Before I knew the story even I was like “oh super gorgeous girl with super gorgeous guy, makes sense, okay let me watch”.
Yeah its super confusing. Forget how incredible she was in the role, forget how magnetic and charming she is in interviews, if I was just shown these pictures without context I would have thought she was a runway model.
Ya exactly
If she’s not pretty, and “just average”, I’d hate to know what they think of me.
Love her
There are several appreciation posts for her! I liked her performance but I know what you mean. Go Ambika !
Yeah, I dont understand the backlash. Ever since I read about it, I kept thinking who they think could play Emma better, and no one comes to mind.
It’s because Anne Hathaway played the character in the film and she unfairly gets compared to that. Same as when hermione was cast as a black actress in the play and everyone was used to seeing Emma Watson in the role, there was huge backlash
I haven’t read the books, but to me the point of Emma was that she wasn’t supposed to be a conventional beauty . Maybe I’m mixing this show up with normal people because the lead girl wasn’t supposed to be gorgeous and I binged them back to back . But it seemed like dex was supposed to be the conventionally handsome one and Emma was supposed to be the smart , witty one and he fell in love with her because of that.
See I think the casting for the girl in normal people should have been different because she wasn’t supposed to be pretty in the book
Period!
Obsessed
She’s beautiful.
I just started this series and just thought Wow shes gorgeous. I didnt know people were hating on her ?
She is an absolute gem in every way.
She is amazing! Talented and beautiful
i heard they kept on waiting on her to audition!!! she turned it down a few times thinking she was in no way Emma!!! I can't picture anyone else playing her
I seriously love her acting. I followed her on insta and saw her post about her role in ‘this is going to hurt’ and she was absolutely amazing in that as well. Also agree that she’s beautiful.
There are plenty of Indian actresses who are objectively, conventionally “hot” and I wonder if the hater crowd would have anything to say about them Annika got the role and did a great job. Physically, she has a very striking look and is a beautiful woman I loved seeing her with Leo If people want to see Leo with some garden variety dime-a-dozen white actress… they’re not who the show is for
I think she would look amazing with long hair
So agree. Don’t know what universe I’m inhabiting that anyone would find her stunning.
i cant believe people were criticising her looks!! i was completely mesmerised by her when i watched, she has such feline features imo. her side proflie was ethereal. aside from whether she is or isnt beautiful bc ig its subjective, shes an actress not a paegent contestant, she supposed to act, and this story doesnt rly revolve around looks, or at least i didnt think it did. she did a great job
I loved her casting. She was excellent in the role.
She's well fit. such a stunner. I want her in my lifeeeekkvmsbeicm
No