Being an Asian Glaswegian has only enhanced Kiran Sonia Sawar’s career so far. “I think I get more parts because of where I’m from, rather than less. It makes me more memorable, it’s a rarity rather than a hindrance” the 24 year-old smiles.

You may recognise her already, having graduated from The Oxford School of Drama recently, winning Best Actress at the National Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards for her harrowing portrayal in BBC3’s Murdered By My Father, or as Aladdin in the Oxford Playhouse panto.

Now back, this time in Brideshead Revisited, it seems she can’t keep away from our fair city.

“I know,” she laughs, “but I do love it here. And I had to do the panto. It made me braver because there’s no on harsher critic than children and I was going mad after Murdered By My Father and needed to take my mind off it with some good old-fashioned fun.”

The harrowing tale of forced marriages and honour killings, was something Kiran admits she over-immersed herself in, researching the topic thoroughly and watching case studies on YouTube before taking on the role. “It wasn’t hard to find examples,” she points out, “but I don’t have the maturity or experience yet to keep these parts at arms length, so it all felt incredibly real and quite traumatising.

“It was certainly the hardest part I’ve ever played and was emotionally and physically draining. It really got to me,” she admits.

Did she expect to win an award for it? “No way,” she shrieks, “I left the house in a black sack until my housemate hauled me back and made me wear a red dress of hers, which was lucky because the male winner was Dev Patel so I’m glad I made the effort.”

Here now of course to discuss her role in Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, another sharp turn in a career that is anything but predictable, Brideshead revisited is hardly typecasting though.

“No, and it’s a dream to be cast in such a classic piece. There are as many risks, just in different ways because this is a really stripped back version, devised and created by the ensemble, so it’s clear, concise, detailed story-telling without too many other distractions.

Like Rupert Everett punting? “I never saw the film version,” she says, reminding me of our age difference

Look through her CV and one she can’t help but notice the subject matter: Unspeakable Crimes For Human Rights, 2050: The Future We Want (United Nations, Geneva), Forced Marriages amongst others.

“Political drama is where my heart lies, what makes the most sense to me and what I find the most rewarding, and if it helps other young people then that’s a bonus.

“If the stories really need telling, young people should be telling them.”

“But I have also been in panto and an all female Cyrano De Bergerac, which was as entertaining,” she adds.

Kiran loved The Oxford School of Drama, hand-picking it for the small class sizes and it’s ‘fantastic vibe’.

“It was a half-way house for me. Going straight to London would have been too much.”

Kiran was born in Australia before moving to Glasgow where she was sent to a catholic school so had very few Asian friends.

“My parents are the difference between me and other girls in my culture.

“They are the ones who let me make these choices. So many girls don’t get to do that. Because there is a big Asian community in Glasgow and the film dealt with issues that were so taboo, about the need to control women.”

“So as second generation, (my grandmother came from Pakistan) my parents didn’t exactly encourage me, but they supported me and when I won my award my mother cried with pride.

“She was a great singer and dancer when she was my age but her parents wouldn’t let her pursue that, so it means a lot that mine let me. “

And what of the fame that accompanies so much success? Is it something she’s attracted by? “Not really, I think it makes you jaded so it’s important to have a good support system, like my sister.

“I took her to the awards and she said. ‘You were terrible up on stage but then I’m not here to massage your ego’,” Kiran recalls, howling with laughter.

And with that Kiran is off to catch a train to Brighton, before adding: “I’m excited about the future and just looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into something else.” Of that there is no doubt.

Brideshead Revisited, Tuesday 14 to Saturday 18 June, Oxford Playhouse

01865 305305 or www.oxfordplayhouse.com