Nitya Vidyasagar

Nitya Vidyasagar (born July 11, 1985) is an Omani-born Indian-American actress best known for her role as "Leela" on Sesame Street from 2008 to 2016.

Vidyasagar was born in Muscat, Oman on July 11, 1985. She grew up in India and the United States. She received a BFA with Honors in Drama Tisch School of the Arts and a Minor in Music from the College of Arts and Sciences, New York University.

Vidyasagar is the first Indian-American cast member of Sesame Street. Leela runs a laundromat next to Mr. Hooper's Store. Sesame Street producers were not looking for an Indian-American actress before they cast Vidyasagar, but the show's writers plan to use parts of Vidyasagar's background in certain episodes. Leela is described as "a young Indian-American who embraces her heritage and culture."

Vidyasagar is primarily a stage actress. She trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Her stage credits include:

• Yalda in the world premiere of "Modern Terrorism: Or They Who Want to Kill Us and How We Learn to Love Them" at Second Stage Theatre.

• Armanda (u/s) The Glorious Ones at the Lincoln Center Theater.
• Anna: Serendibat the Ensemble Studio Theatre.
• Cecilia’s: Cecilia's Last Tea Party. Passage Theatre Company.
• Puck: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Flux Theatre Ensemble
• Janine: NINJA: The Musical. Desipina & Co
• Emma: Monetizing EmmaPlanet Connections Festival.
• Anna: Coney Island Avenue. New York Theatre Workshop

Her Screen and Television work includes appearances in:

• Split Ends feature film. Back Pocket Prod (Dir. Dorothy Lyman)
• The television program on CBS The Good Wife.
• Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. Guest star 20th Century Fox (Dir. Oliver Stone)
• Sita Sings The Blues: Nina Paley Prod (Dir. Nina Paley)
• Sesame Street PBS Series Regular Leela.

• Southern Courier article
• Sesame Street Season 39 press kit
• Sesame Street bio
• [1]
• http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/reviews/04-2007/serendib_10434.html
• http://www.curtainup.com/ceciliaslastteapartynj.html
• http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/18theatnj.html?pagewanted=print
• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/nyregion/a-midsummer-nights-dream-at-the-greek-theater-review.html
• [2]
• IMDb profile