Freida Pinto

Acting Appreciation

Freida Selena Pinto, an Indian actress born on October 18, 1984, in Bombay (now Mumbai), has primarily made her mark in American and British cinema.

Her passion for acting ignited at the age of five, when she would frequently dress up and imitate actors. It was Sushmita Sen's triumph in the 1994 Miss Universe competition that fueled her desire to pursue a career in entertainment.

Freida's educational journey took her to Carmel of St. Joseph School in Malad, North Mumbai, and later to St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, in Fort, South Mumbai. At St. Xavier's, she majored in English literature with minors in psychology and economics, also engaging in amateur plays during her time there.

Post-graduation, she briefly explored modeling and television presentation. In 2005, she initiated her modeling journey by joining Elite Model Management India, featuring in numerous television and print advertisements for renowned brands.

 

Freida began auditioning for films and television shows, and was eventually chosen to host Full Circle, an international travel show aired on Zee International Asia Pacific. In 2007, she got her big break when director Danny Boyle picked her out in the audition process to play the female lead, Latika, in Slumdog Millionaire (2008). She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.  

Following the success of "Slumdog Millionaire," Freida ventured into art house productions, notably Woody Allen's "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" (2010) and Julian Schnabel's "Miral" (2010). However, her major commercial success came with "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011) and Michael Winterbottom's "Trishna" (2011), propelling her to widespread acclaim.

In 2018, Freida's performance in the Indian drama "Love Sonia" garnered a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Indian Film Festival in Melbourne. Despite being credited with breaking stereotypes for Indian women in foreign films, she has remained a relatively lesser-known figure in Indian cinema, predominantly focusing on humanitarian causes and women's empowerment.

Freida actively advocates for women's rights, engaging in various initiatives. From participating in Gucci's "Chime for Change" campaign to joining the "Girls' rights summit" in London, she consistently champions progress and change for women, underscoring her commitment to empowering females. In 2016, she announced her involvement with the nonprofit organization "We Do It Together," aiming to finance feature films, documentaries, and television shows dedicated to women's empowerment.

by Albert L Ortega 2011

in Armani Exchange by Michael Buckner

By Dusan Reljin, Styled by Samira Nasr (ELLE, November 2011)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2951768/bio/?ref_=nm_ql_1

https://wwd.com/eye/people/gallery/eye-freida-pinto-10377651/88th-academy-awards-backstage-28-feb-2016/

https://www.elle.com/culture/news/a34550/freida-pinto-interview/