SimplyAbuDhabi XLVII

Our 3 Questions for Freida Pinto Simply Abu Dhabi: Following up on the success of Slumdog Millionaire , what was it like for you in carving out a career in Hollywood? Freida Pinto: In 2008, Hollywood was zero per cent prepared for a person like me. And so as a minority in that industry, you needed to develop a thick skin very quickly. Speaking out can be very scary. But how else are people going to be educated if you don’t? Fast-forward to the current day, and you have a smash hit on AppleTV, Surface , which has a remarkably diverse cast for Hollywood. I hope that in 2025 we wouldn’t think that diversity is something worth pointing out. Just look at the population of London. The representation in our show simply feels authentic, rather than a case of ticking boxes. And when it comes to female-led dramas, it’s not only the case that this sort of storytelling is being normalized, it’s becoming more lucrative too – TV execs are finally starting to realise that. It seems that, since Slumdog , you have been determined to become part of the industry in order to make the necessary change – to carve out a space in Western film and television. Growing up in Mumbai wasn’t necessarily difficult but there were aspects of life that were certainly a challenge. Many of the things that people [in the west] complain about don’t strike me as difficult. It’s all about perseverance. Fortunately, I’ve learned a lot about how to stay resilient. Simply Abu Dhabi | 125