Varada Sethu (born Varada Sethumadhavan, 12 May 1992) is a British actress, best known for playing DS Mishal Ali in the BBC apocalyptic TV Series Hard Sun (2018) and Cinta Kaz in the Disney+ dystopian sci-fi thriller Andor (2022–present).

Sethu and her twin sister, Abhaya, were born in Kerala, India,^[1] and are of Malayali descent.^[2][1] Sethu's parents are both doctors. Having moved to the North East of England at a young age, she grew up in Benton, Tyne and Wear,^[3] near Newcastle upon Tyne. Sethu attended Dame Allan’s Schools and was a member of the National Youth Theatre.^[3] During her final year of sixth form, Sethu won the 2010 Miss Newcastle competition.^[1] She went on to study veterinary medicine at University of Bristol, later switching to physiology.^[1] Sethu has been performing both Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam from a young age.^[1] Sethu continued her acting education at the Identity School of Acting in London.^[4][5]

In 2010, Sethu made her debut appearance on screen in the short film Impressions as Samena.^[6] In 2011, Sethu landed the role of Kiran in the feature film Sket,^[3] then as Meghana Scariah in English: An Autumn in London in 2012. In 2015 she made an appearance in the 2000 TV series Doctors as PC Kylie Green.

Her career continued in 2016 appearing as Peaseblossom in a 2016 TV movie version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.^[4] Also in 2016, Sethu acted alongside Michael Caine and Daniel Radcliffe in Now You See Me 2 and as an Indian nurse in New Blood.

In 2017, Sethu starred as Aisha in 2 episodes of Doctor Foster.^[7] Sethu also starred as DS Mishal Ali for 6 episodes in the British crime drama series Hard Sun in 2018.^[7]

In 2018, she starred as DS Mishal Ali in the BBC apocalyptic TV Series Hard Sun.^[3]

In 2019, Sethu performed as a series regular in season seven of Strike Back: Revolution as Lance Corporal Manisha Chetri of the British Army.^[8][9]

She played rebel Cinta Kaz in the 2022 series Andor.^[2]

In 2024, rumours began circulating that Sethu would be replacing Millie Gibson as a companion to Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor in Series 15 of Doctor Who. These rumours were confirmed on 20 January by Variety.^[10] However, in April 2024, these reports were dispelled by the BBC, confirming that Gibson would be present for the whole season, with Sethu joining the cast as an additional companion.^[11]