- Jameela Jamil is a British actress
- She starred in The Good Place
- Find out what she's up to now
Born on February 26th, 1986, Jameela Jamil was raised in London, England, and has a long list of both personal and career accomplishments. However, it took a long, reflective path to get there...
Jameela Jamil: Life Before Fame
Jameela is a woman of many trades! She's been active in many fields throughout the course of her life - from being a video jockey to starring in Michael Schur's The Good Place.
Jameela's teenage years
Growing up, Jameela didn't have plans on becoming an actress. She actually had various health issues growing up, like congenital hearing loss and labyrinthitis, which is an inflammation of the inner ear. By the age of nine, she also was diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Additionally, Jameela also suffered from anorexia from ages 14-17, which has deeply impacted her vocal advocacy on body positivity today.
She was tragically struck by a car at 17, breaking several of her bones and damaging her spine. However, she states that this was a life-changing moment for her, a wake-up call for both her and her body.
Life as a VJ
Before she started working at the BBC, Jameela taught English at the Callan School of English, Oxford Street, London. She was discovered at age 22, where she then became the host of a popular entertainment show called T4 in 2009. The same year, she also took over Alexa Chung's spot on the TV show, Freshly Squeezed. On top of being a television host, Jamil also wrote columns for the British fashion magazine, Company for three years. In 2012, Jameela made history at the BBC for being the first female host of the renowned The Official Chart show.
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Jameela Jamil: The move to Los Angeles
In 2016, Jameela left everything she knew behind her: her career, her boyfriend, and the UK. She had a breast cancer scare which prompted the spontaneous move. Although she was never formally trained in acting, she heard about an audition for a Michael Schur series (co-creator of The Office and Parks and Recreation). She auditioned, and ultimately received the role of "Tahani Al-Jamil" in NBC's The Good Place. The series wrapped up its final season in 2020.
Jameela uses her platform today
Currently, Jamil is focusing on her platform "I Weigh", which, according to her Instagram is about "radical inclusivity, so that no one feels alone". She has criticized the Kardashians and rapper Cardi B for their promoting of diet products on social media. Her efforts have been recognized by Instagram- thanks to Jameela, users under 18 are no longer exposed to any diet or detox products. Those above 18 are now allowed to report said products.
Jameela is not afraid to use her voice or platform for positivity, and we are here for it! One of her biggest supporters is boyfriend and musician James Blake, who have been happily dating since 2015, and even have a dog together! You can check out her informative podcast called "I Weigh with Jameela Jamil" where she has major guest stars like Debra Messing!
