Sunetra Sarker was born on 25 June 1973 in Liverpool, England, into an Indian Bengali family. Her father was a doctor, and her mother, Bisakha, was a classical dance teacher.

She studied Information Systems for Business in Europe at Brunel University London before moving into acting. Her early exposure to performance and storytelling shaped her transition into television.

Sarker began her acting career in the late 1980s, gaining recognition in Brookside. She later starred in No Angels and became widely known for her role as Dr Zoe Hanna in Casualty (BBC).

She expanded her career with roles in Ackley Bridge and appearances on shows such as Celebrity Gogglebox and Loose Women. She also narrates Trace, Track, Get My Car Back on BBC One, bringing her voice to factual entertainment.

Sarker lives in the UK with her family and continues working across acting, presenting, and narration.