Mia Tharia is a British actress and writer from South London, best known for Phoenix Rise, September Says, The Listeners, and the 2026 film Klara and the Sun. Her full name is Mia Laura Tharia, she was born in May 2005, and she is 21 years old in July 2026.
Her ethnicity is mixed English and Indian. British Vogue describes Tharia as the daughter of a British psychologist mother and an Indian father who works in science. That background, plus her South London theatre training, is central to her public profile as a young actor and writer.
Mia Tharia quick facts
| Full name | Mia Laura Tharia |
| Age | 21 in July 2026 |
| Born | May 2005 |
| Birthplace | Balham, South London / Wandsworth, London |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | Mixed English and Indian heritage |
| Profession | Actress, writer, theatre-maker |
| Estimated net worth | About $200,000 in 2026 |
| Known for | Phoenix Rise, September Says, The Listeners, Klara and the Sun |
Mia Tharia age
Mia Tharia was born in May 2005, which makes her 21 years old in July 2026. Older profiles that still call her 19 are using 2024 interview context and have not been updated after her 2025 and 2026 birthdays.
The age question matters because Tharia has already reached a level of industry attention that many actors do not reach until much later. By 21, she had a BBC teen-drama role, a Cannes-selected feature debut, a BBC One thriller part opposite Rebecca Hall, and a major Sony/3000 Pictures sci-fi film role opposite Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams.
Mia Tharia ethnicity and parents
Mia Tharia is of mixed English and Indian heritage. British Vogue identifies her mother as British and working in psychology, and her father as Indian and working in the science sector. Those details line up with the public picture of Tharia as a South London performer with both British and Indian family roots.
Tharia grew up in Balham, South London. Her public interviews focus more on acting, youth theatre, writing, and film than on private family details, so this page avoids adding unsupported parent names, sibling claims, religion, or relationship claims.
Mia Tharia net worth in 2026
Mia Tharia's net worth is best estimated at about $200,000 in 2026. A realistic range is $100,000 to $300,000 because she is still early in her career and her exact acting salaries, agency fees, taxes, and private savings are not public.
The estimate is based on a practical early-career actor profile: recurring BBC television work, an independent feature debut, a BBC One miniseries, and a major studio film role that is expected to raise her global visibility. It is not realistic to treat her like an established Hollywood millionaire yet, but it is also too weak to leave readers with no number when her career has already moved beyond student theatre.
| Estimated 2026 net worth | About $200,000 |
| Practical range | $100,000 to $300,000 |
| Main income sources | Acting roles, film/TV contracts, theatre and writing work |
| Likely future upside | Higher after Klara and the Sun reaches cinemas in October 2026 |
Why Mia Tharia is getting attention
Tharia is not just another young actor with one credit. She has moved quickly through youth theatre, British television, Cannes, and a large international film. British Vogue profiled her in November 2024 as the star of Klara and the Sun, and Screen International named her one of its UK and Ireland Stars of Tomorrow for 2024.
Her 2024 was especially important. Her feature film debut, September Says, premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. In the same year, she appeared in the BBC One thriller The Listeners, playing Ashley, the teen daughter of Rebecca Hall's character.
Movies and TV shows
| Year | Title | Role / note |
| 2018 | Curfew | Early short-film credit |
| 2023-2024 | Phoenix Rise | Polly Shah in the BBC Three teen drama |
| 2024 | September Says | July; feature debut, premiered at Cannes |
| 2024 | The Listeners | Ashley, opposite Rebecca Hall |
| 2026 | Klara and the Sun | Josie, opposite Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams |
Phoenix Rise introduced Tharia to British TV audiences. September Says, directed by Ariane Labed and adapted from Daisy Johnson's novel Sisters, gave her a festival-level film breakthrough. The Listeners gave her a sharper television role in a prestige BBC One project.
Klara and the Sun
Klara and the Sun is now a 2026 release, not a 2025 release. Fandango lists the U.S. release date as Friday, October 23, 2026, with Taika Waititi directing and Mia Tharia playing Josie. The cast also includes Jenna Ortega as Klara, Amy Adams as Chris, Aran Murphy as Rick, Steve Buscemi, Natasha Lyonne, Simon Baker, and others.
The film is based on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel about an Artificial Friend named Klara. In the film's public synopsis, Klara meets Josie, and the two immediately sense a connection. For Tharia, the role is important because Josie is not a side detail in the story; she is the human girl at the emotional center of Klara's journey.
British Vogue reported that Tharia auditioned for Taika Waititi, forgot her lines, improvised, and soon found herself filming in New Zealand with Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams. That anecdote has become one of the most repeated stories about her rise because it shows the quality casting teams are responding to: instinct, confidence, and emotional presence under pressure.
Early life and training
Tharia grew up in Balham, South London, and attended Chestnut Grove Academy. She joined Brixton Youth Theatre and Burnt Orange Theatre Company, both of which helped move her from auditions and local performance into professional opportunities.
She also has a writing side. Vogue says she spends time at the BFI watching unusual films and has been working on a play that began after a Royal Court residency. That makes her profile broader than acting alone: she is developing as a performer and a writer at the same time.
Recognition
- Screen International Star of Tomorrow: named in 2024 after her rapid movement from youth theatre to Cannes and major film work.
- Vogue festival attention: covered as a rising actor around September Says and Klara and the Sun.
- Variety Brit to Watch: listed among British talent expected to draw wider industry attention in 2025.
- Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge: won the Wandsworth regional final in 2020 with a speech titled "Warrior, Not Worrier."
Is Mia Tharia on Instagram?
Mia Tharia's widely listed Instagram handle is @mialauratharia. The same middle-name spelling also helps distinguish her from similarly named performers and social profiles.
Bottom line
Mia Tharia is 21 years old in July 2026, her full name is Mia Laura Tharia, and her ethnicity is mixed English and Indian. Her net worth is best estimated at about $200,000 in 2026, with a practical range of $100,000 to $300,000. The key career point is that she has already moved from Phoenix Rise and September Says into Klara and the Sun, a major 2026 Sony film with Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, and Taika Waititi.