Interview by Hayden Peyrard & Jana Letonja

Rising actress Aparna Brielle will be starring in the upcoming Netflix series ‘Fubar’ opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro. The series is coming out on 25th May. Aparna is best known for her roles in the cult comedy series ‘A.P. Bio’ and Netflix’s ‘Boo, Bitch’.

You star in Netflix series ‘Fubar’. Tell us more about how did you get cast in this series? 

‘Fubar’ is a show about a father and a daughter, who each find out the other is in the CIA. I had to audition for the role before I got to meet with the showrunner and the rest is history.

How would you describe your character Tina? Do you yourself in her in any way?

Tina’s an NSA analyst on loan to the CIA. She’s smart and good at what she does, but she’s a small fish in a pond full of CIA legends. It’s a lot for her to prove her own mettle and get in with the gang, so to speak. Every character I play definitely has elements of me in them, but with Tina being such a mystery character, I find she’s been teaching me more about myself.

What stood out to you the most from the set of ‘Fubar’? Can you share any anecdotes with us from filming? 

‘Fubar’ lives in the world of action, which I haven’t done before, so every day was a trip. I’d show up to do my job and see people having a coffee while rigged fifty feet up in the air. In that sense, every day was an adventure. I didn’t know what to expect each morning.

You are starring in the series opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. How was it to be on set alongside such a veteran in the industry? 

Very surreal. You never know what to expect with a legend like Arnold, but he’s such a team player and an incredibly funny human being. He made me, and everyone else, feel right at home, which in my book takes serious skill. 

Prior to ‘Fubar’, you were starring in NBC/Peacock’s cult comedy series ‘A.P. Bio’ and Netflix’s series ‘Boo, Bitch’. Which project that you’ve worked on so far has been your favorite?

Honestly, it’s hard to pick a favorite. I know how lucky I am to get to do what I do. I don’t take any experience for granted. Each of these experiences was so rewarding in its own right and taught me so much. But I think ‘Fubar’ might be one of my all-time favorite experiences. It’s so different to anything I’ve done and allowed me to really get out of my comfort zone as an actress. I love a challenge.

Do you have a process when switching from one character to another? Do you find it difficult to let go of a character to be able to portray a new one?

I’m not sure that I have a specific process. Each character I play is so different and I have time between each one to transition into the next. It’s always tough letting go of a character though. I like to think they all live in me somewhere.

You’ve had an extensive career as a professional dancer. Tell us more about it. Which dance styles were your specialties? Do you miss dancing?

I’ve done every dance form under the sun, ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, modern. But I’ve been a professional Bharatanatyam dancer since I was 9. It’s a 3.000 year old dance form that originated in South Indian temples. It shaped my life in so many ways and I wouldn’t be the person I am without it. Dance directly led to me finding my acting career and I do miss it every day.

How do dance and acting compare? What are some of the biggest similarities between the two?

They are both arts that take you to another place. They both allow the artist and the audience to create a truly special and even sacred connection for the time that’s shared through performance. Film and TV create an added layer of distance compared to theater or dance, but we still get to connect and work off the energies of the other actors, our crew and eventually our audience too.

How did you acting career begin? What made you passionate about it?

I always loved getting to play in my own imagination. Everyone’s said I’ve had my head in the clouds for as long as I can remember. I started in dance, then in theater and I just loved getting to play. I like to joke that I’ve spent my adulthood looking for every opportunity to be a kid, expressing myself and my creativity in its purest form.

Aparna, when you are not filming, what are somw of your favorite things to do?

I love adventuring to new places and meeting new people. I’m a big fan of DIY projects and recently created a fake built-in bookshelf for my office. Gardening, listening to old vinyls, learning new things. I just started rock climbing, which has been fun. Honestly, I like the idea of doing whatever stimulates my creativity and allows me to be as present as possible in this big, beautiful world.

Photography SERGIO GARCIA