I don’t just want to be the pretty girl, says Freida Pinto
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ star opens up on her career choices, her ex Dev Patel and US president Donald Trump
PHOTO: FILE
She is currently starring in Guerrilla, a gritty six-part drama about racial struggle and the Black Power Movement in 1970s London, reports The Daily Mail.
And now, the stunning Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto has now revealed that she decided she “did not want to play the pretty girl” and insists on roles which she considers “worth her time.” Speaking to Red magazine 32-year-old actor, said she wants to be seen for more than her appearance.
Freida said that before filming for Guerrilla, being seen as a pretty face was preventing her reaching her potential. “I enjoyed the films I made, but my full potential wasn’t explored. I didn’t want to play the pretty girl. I was fed up of playing those little roles. I didn’t relate to them,” she said. “I have no problem with supporting characters, but I wanted one worth my time, that moved the plot around.”
The Immortals starlet also spoke about her ex Dev, 27, who is now dating his Lion co-star Tilda Cobham-Hervey. The pair met on the sets of Danny Boyle's hit back in 2008 and went on to date for nearly six years.
Dev Patel spotted in LA with his new girlfriend
But despite the break up, the former couple have remained friends. Freida claims that she is 'proud' of her super successful ex. “At the end of the day, he’s a fellow actor and my friend. I’ve seen the hard work he’s put in and seeing it pay off [by winning the BAFTA] is the most beautiful thing,” she said. “How could I not feel proud? He was fantastic in Lion.”
Freida, who has previously said the pair broke up after she had a 'quarter life crisis,' said she learned a lot from the relationship. “People come and go and everyone teaches you something. You need to embrace the good and bad, the ugly and beautiful. I’m not a love guru. I don’t have any tips on how to keep a break-up friendly. Just be open and honest.”
And what about the impact of the six year age gap between the former couple? She responded, “When you’re in a relationship, you’re in a relationship. You’re in it because you love the person. Things like age and wealth, none of it matters. You make it work, that’s it.”
Freida discussed the new series she stars in, which is set in London in 1971. Her co-stars include James Bond favourite Idris Elba and his fellow British star Babou Cessay. The trio addresses hot topics like race, identity and political violence in drama.
Dev Patel attends Oscars with mum and everyone's loving it
According to Freida, she did everything she could to get the part opposite her acting idol Idris. “I said, ‘No-one else can play this part. It is going to be me.’ Idris is fearless, and I want to work with fearless people,” she said. “He’s generous with his talent. When he’s on set, everyone is enamoured by him, but he never acted starry.”
Freida, who currently lives in the US, is not just passionate about playing earthy, substantial roles on screen, but takes great interest in current events too. She said that with Donald Trump in charge, America does not feel like the same country to which she emigrated. “I am opinionated about the things I believe in. Sometimes people who don’t like confrontation find it hard to be around me,” she confessed. “But what’s happening right now isn’t just political, it’s inhumane. It’s divisive. I have friends in the Muslim nations affected by the travel ban. I was accepted after arriving from India and being in one film. This is not the US I came to.”
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.
And now, the stunning Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto has now revealed that she decided she “did not want to play the pretty girl” and insists on roles which she considers “worth her time.” Speaking to Red magazine 32-year-old actor, said she wants to be seen for more than her appearance.
Freida said that before filming for Guerrilla, being seen as a pretty face was preventing her reaching her potential. “I enjoyed the films I made, but my full potential wasn’t explored. I didn’t want to play the pretty girl. I was fed up of playing those little roles. I didn’t relate to them,” she said. “I have no problem with supporting characters, but I wanted one worth my time, that moved the plot around.”
The Immortals starlet also spoke about her ex Dev, 27, who is now dating his Lion co-star Tilda Cobham-Hervey. The pair met on the sets of Danny Boyle's hit back in 2008 and went on to date for nearly six years.
Dev Patel spotted in LA with his new girlfriend
But despite the break up, the former couple have remained friends. Freida claims that she is 'proud' of her super successful ex. “At the end of the day, he’s a fellow actor and my friend. I’ve seen the hard work he’s put in and seeing it pay off [by winning the BAFTA] is the most beautiful thing,” she said. “How could I not feel proud? He was fantastic in Lion.”
Freida, who has previously said the pair broke up after she had a 'quarter life crisis,' said she learned a lot from the relationship. “People come and go and everyone teaches you something. You need to embrace the good and bad, the ugly and beautiful. I’m not a love guru. I don’t have any tips on how to keep a break-up friendly. Just be open and honest.”
And what about the impact of the six year age gap between the former couple? She responded, “When you’re in a relationship, you’re in a relationship. You’re in it because you love the person. Things like age and wealth, none of it matters. You make it work, that’s it.”
Freida discussed the new series she stars in, which is set in London in 1971. Her co-stars include James Bond favourite Idris Elba and his fellow British star Babou Cessay. The trio addresses hot topics like race, identity and political violence in drama.
Dev Patel attends Oscars with mum and everyone's loving it
According to Freida, she did everything she could to get the part opposite her acting idol Idris. “I said, ‘No-one else can play this part. It is going to be me.’ Idris is fearless, and I want to work with fearless people,” she said. “He’s generous with his talent. When he’s on set, everyone is enamoured by him, but he never acted starry.”
Freida, who currently lives in the US, is not just passionate about playing earthy, substantial roles on screen, but takes great interest in current events too. She said that with Donald Trump in charge, America does not feel like the same country to which she emigrated. “I am opinionated about the things I believe in. Sometimes people who don’t like confrontation find it hard to be around me,” she confessed. “But what’s happening right now isn’t just political, it’s inhumane. It’s divisive. I have friends in the Muslim nations affected by the travel ban. I was accepted after arriving from India and being in one film. This is not the US I came to.”
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.