For Sunjay Midda, acting was never simply something he decided to try. It was something he says he felt destined to do.
The British actor, whose career has taken him from long-running television productions in the U.K. to international film and theater, can now be seen on the big screen alongside Mena Massoud in Daniel and the Fiery Furnace. Released in U.S. theaters September 18, the biblical drama follows Daniel and his three friends as they face persecution and ultimately confront the fiery furnace under King Nebuchadnezzar. Midda plays Shadrach.
For Midda, the role represents another step in a career that began with an extraordinary first audition.
His first professional acting job came in 2015 on the BBC One series Doctors, where he eventually became a series regular and appeared in 93 episodes between 2015 and 2021. His résumé has since expanded across television, film and theater, with credits including Silent Witness, Hulu’s Death and Other Details and A Quiet Place: Day One. He also has the upcoming feature Solitary, directed by David Midell.
But long before those credits, Midda says he already saw acting as his calling.
“I always knew I would be doing this.” – Sunjay Midda
BNH: You’ve gone from landing your very first acting role on Doctors from your first audition to appearing in 93 episodes, and now you’re starring in a major theatrical film. When you look back at that journey, when did you first realize that acting could become a real career for you?
SJ: Great question. I honestly would be lying if I said I didn’t always know I would be doing this. Acting and Hollywood and the industry itself has been in my bones since I can remember. My parents took me from a young age to LA and New York. I used to watch movies and plays and just saw myself in almost every character! School teachers used to tell my parents I was born to act and entertain. I had no family or friends who were actors, but I always had a dream in my heart – from the moment I played Robin Hood in year (grade) 6!
That early instinct has carried into the way Midda approaches his work. For Daniel and the Fiery Furnace, he immersed himself in the world of the Old Testament well before filming began, developing a detailed physical and emotional foundation for Shadrach.
BNH: You’re playing Shadrach in Daniel and the Fiery Furnace, a character whose story ultimately comes down to standing firm when everything is on the line. What did you discover about yourself as an actor while taking on a role with that kind of emotional and physical intensity? How did you train for the role?
SJ: Physically and mentally I approached this role with a lot of detail. They are described in the Bible in Daniel 1, as ‘there was none equal to them’ and ‘youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace.’ So I wanted to ensure I understood what that exactly meant.
I trained my body to be physically/visibly strong; I trained in combat sports, because I believe they would have been trained well for war. I disciplined my body to eat as the Old Testament figures might have eaten – very strict meat and veg diet – and I fasted consistently for 24-28 hours to allow my fleshly desires to be put aside and allow my senses/spiritual awareness to be in tune with the body and mind and role.
I began studying the Old Testament a few months before I began filming. I remember I was on the way to New York listening to the Bible on Audible to prepare for the role – this was even before I got the role – but I believed I would play Shadrach. And I got the call whilst I was in New York! I attracted it!
By studying the Old Testament I was able to understand and live through their perspective, know who their heroes were, their relationship towards God, life, what they might have done for education as young boys; I built an entire backstory on who my character’s parents were, although not mentioned, and of course, the prophecies they would have anticipated. I wanted to know what it would mean to be ‘special’ and so faithful to God through such a moment – the fire!
Finding the emotion in the furnace
That preparation became particularly important during the film’s climactic furnace sequence—a moment Midda describes as profoundly emotional.
BNH: You’ve talked about how emotional the fiery furnace sequence became for you. What was happening for you in that moment, and what did you learn about accessing that kind of emotion as an actor?
SJ: These guys were walking to their own death for the God they believe in – and that very God saves/delivers them. I mean, what can I say – I just had to channel that. And also our producer Travis Mann produced a movie called I Can Only Imagine. There is a song from that movie by Mercy Me which carried me. And it was in regards to what we would do when we meet our Saviour. So it was perfect for this particular sequence.
I just allowed the circumstances and all the odds against us to build and create a true supernatural moment and it did. I wept for like 4 hours because they get saved by the God they were willing to die for! I mean WOW!
The intensity of the role was balanced by the camaraderie among the young cast. Midda recalls a particularly strong first impression of Elijah Alexander, who plays King Nebuchadnezzar, while off-camera friendships helped the cast maintain a lighter atmosphere.
BNH: What was the cast like to work with? And how was it reuniting with them all for the premiere in Nashville, Tennessee?
SJ: I remember the first day Elijah Alexander walked onto set as Nebuchadnezzar – wow the presence of this man was powerful. I actually felt fear – from the character’s perspective – he brought such a layered performance and was not afraid to try things. That felt right within the story.
This gave us all the juice to also bring it – myself, Zaki Ali who plays Azariah, Mena Massoud who plays Daniel and Jazz Lintott who plays Zaid used to play pool every night at our hotel. We had so much fun and it just helped keep up the competitive edge.
It was great reuniting with some of the guys in Nashville, especially our directors the Kooman brothers and Travis who we owe a HUGE thanks to for making this project possible. They’re such pure human beings!
From Britain to an international career
Daniel and the Fiery Furnace was filmed in India, adding another international chapter to Midda’s increasingly diverse body of work.
BNH: The film was shot in India, and your career has taken you from British television to international productions. What has working across different countries and cultures taught you about acting—and about yourself?
SJ: I’ve been blessed over the last couple years to shoot in India, Romania, America, Morocco (currently) and a lot in England – in the North and South. India’s hospitality is incredible. To them, their guests are treated like a god. It’s truly pure and beautiful. We were able to be in India when Diwali landed. It was such a wonderful spectacle to be part of.
In terms of teaching me about acting – it’s a great question, because working with international producers and directors gives you a great perspective into how they work and were trained. I recently shot a lead role in New Mexico with an incredibly detailed director, David Midell, and you just see how and why his work is so powerful with the level of detail he goes through with his actors to tell the story.
That New Mexico production is Solitary, Midell’s upcoming feature. Midda describes the project as a particularly demanding experience and says audiences should “watch this space.”
BNH: You’re about to have audiences see you in Solitary, David Midell’s new feature. What can you tell us about the character you play and what attracted you to that project?
SJ: People will be stunned by this movie. It’s based on real life experiences of solitary confinement. This will move audiences with a true tough story to watch. If you’re familiar with The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain and the amount of awards the movie won, you will know David has created something special with Solitary. I am incredibly privileged to have worked with this director in a lead role. Watch this space!
With credits that have already taken him through medical drama, crime, science fiction, horror and biblical drama, Midda says he is drawn to characters with layers—and enjoys the process of building the person behind the role.
BNH: You’ve already worked on projects ranging from Doctors and Silent Witness to A Quiet Place: Day One, Death and Other Details, and now Daniel and the Fiery Furnace. What kinds of roles are you hoping to explore as the next chapter of your career unfolds?
SJ: Well, I’ve played a detective/officer twice over the last year and done a Biblical. I just shot an incredibly powerful role which required absolutely everything of my being to prepare for in New Mexico. I actually stripped down to 139 pounds for the role from 176 pounds.
I’m excited to be part of stories and play characters with great layers. I love being a detective when approaching a role and building so much backstory and preparation that I just become the character. I also love comedy stuff and I have a few humorous moments in Daniel that the audience are picking up on and loving! So more of that would be great too haha.
Midda also sees an evolving landscape for British South Asian performers, pointing to actors who have helped open doors for the generation coming through now.
BNH: As a British South Asian actor building an international career, do you feel that the industry is changing in terms of the kinds of stories and characters being offered to actors from diverse backgrounds? And where do you hope to see yourself fitting into that evolution?
SJ: I absolutely do. The landscape of the world is changing in a positive way, where South Asians are beginning to be seen universally. Himesh Patel in The Odyssey was a great example of this. And I currently have a circle of South Asian actor friends who are all working in a variety of roles. We just have a huge thanks and gratitude to give to those who came before us, the Kuliver Ghir’s, Om Puri’s, Meera Syal’s, Parminder Nagra’s etc. This is our time – and it’s about time!
A performer who wants audiences to connect
For Midda, the ultimate goal with Daniel and the Fiery Furnace is not simply to portray a biblical figure, but to make Shadrach feel human and relatable.
BNH: If someone discovers you for the first time through Daniel and the Fiery Furnace, what do you hope they’ll know about you as an actor and as a person?
SJ: When I watched the movie at the Nashville premiere, I burst out laughing at a few of my scenes because of the comedy I added to it – and at the same time the audience did too. I want people to be able to relate to these three boys. They were just like us in terms of three young friends and I want that to come across.
But also I want people to feel I gave an authentic portrayal of this great faith hero, which ultimately credits me as a person that I approached it with as much preparation and respect as possible!
For an actor who says he saw himself in movie characters from childhood, the journey from playing Robin Hood in sixth grade to standing inside the world of Daniel and the Fiery Furnace feels like a remarkably direct line.
And with Solitary on the horizon and an international career continuing to expand, Sunjay Midda is ready for the next chapter.
