Pooja Shah was born on 8th August 1979 in North London in a
Kenyan-Asian family. Grandparents migrated to Kenya from Gujarat in
Western India and so the ancestral roots are there.
After studying at local Nursery, Infants and Junior school, she did
GCSE at a Girls Grammar School. Took a year out from studies and worked
part-time at the Finchley Youth Theatre. She had been a regular member
of the Theatre from the age of 12. Did A levels in Performing Arts and
Film Studies at a North London College. Straight after the college
Pooja Shah went to The University Of Brighton for three years. She
graduated in 2001 with a BA Hons Degree in Theatre With Visual
Practice.
Pooja Shah trained as an Indian Classical Dancer from very young age
and continued till she went to the University. During the second year
at secondary school, with two friends decided to learn a Chekhov play,
The Proposal, for fun, and were asked to perform at the University of
London's Arts Festival. After six nights of performing made up her mind
that this was what she wanted to do for a living.