Nasreen Paracha is a fictional character from the Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge, portrayed by Amy-Leigh Hickman.
Another aspect of Nasreen's life that is explored in Ackley Bridge is her sexuality, as she navigates coming out as a lesbian in a Muslim community.
Nasreen is introduced alongside lifelong best friend Missy Booth (Poppy Lee Friar), when the pair are drinking cider on a sofa inside a skip on their street.
Nasreen's friend Alya Nawaz (Maariah Hussain) immediately disapproves of Missy, due to the way she talks and dresses.
When Missy confronts her and exposes her for drinking, the pair fight and are taken in to see headteacher Mandy Carter (Jo Joyner), who gives them a formal warning.
While at mosque, Nasreen's trainers are stolen by Sam Murgatroyd (Megan Parkinson), an Islamophobic lesbian attending Ackley Bridge College.
The pair initially survive the accident, but Nasreen is distraught when she finds Missy's dead body in her bed, who has died as a result of internal bleeding.
Angry with Anwar over Missy's death, she asks Sam to order the Murgatroyd family to attack him, but later disgusted with herself for her violent actions, she confides in Kaneez.
Radio Times described Nasreen as a "brave hearted soul", "strong and intelligent", as well as "extremely close to her best friend Missy".
[2] Hickman has talked about the impact that Nasreen being a lesbian Muslim has had, such as Asian girls tweeting her or approaching her in real life to thank her for the storyline.
[4] Hickman stated that Nasreen is "definitely ready" for a romantic relationship, adding that "someone comes into her life that is completely right for her and she ends up falling in love".
[6] When asked if she would do a third series of Ackley Bridge, Hickman stated that she would be eager to continue portraying Nasreen due to "the effect she has on girls", adding that she loves "every single story" that the programme tells.
[5] In the third series, Hickman explained that Nasreen is "on her way to bagging herself a place at Oxford University", which is "a million miles away from the town she grew up in and knows".
[6] She stated that at her character's young age, she has dealt with a lot of difficulties, including her friendships, relationships, sexuality, and religion.
It was hinted by Channel 4 that "something massively dramatic happens involving Missy and Nas" in the third series, which Hickman opined that people would be "really shocked".
Digital Spy noted that after the death of Missy, Nasreen's character development headed into a different direction, with them acknowledging that she "bridges the gap from adolescence to adulthood".