“All I can do is just be me, and that’s hard enough” — Ritu Arya is on a mission to tell stories with depth, nuance, and authenticity.
Ritu Arya: In Her Own Rhythm
LONDON, April 1, 2026
The British actress, best known for her three-season run as fan-favorite Lila Pitts in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, has cultivated a career that spans film, television, theater, and music. For our interview, she came all the way from Guildford — her birthplace and what she still considers home — so we agree to hang out at Roseate House, tucked in a peaceful corner of Paddington. “Back then, I think I was the only South Asian girl at school,” Arya shares, recalling her upbringing in Surrey. When she was little, she would spend her break time at school sitting in the corridor, getting immersed in stories. “I remember [reading] an anthology of Parsley the Lion,” she says with a laugh. She would also put on sketch shows and dance routines with her cousins. “I was the oldest one, so I kind of bossed them about. They were very talented and quite artistic, but no one went into the field.”
While her initial interest was acting, Arya successfully completed a degree in astrophysics. “There was no one that was also on the physics course doing any acting, so it was an unusual combo,” she says. “While I was studying [at the University of Southampton], I was part of the Theatre [Group] and the Comedy Society. So, I think it was just really fun getting the variety — learning about the cosmos and quantum, and then, doing an improv show in Winchester at the weekends and spending the summers at Edinburgh [Festival] Fringe, doing plays there.”
In Prime Video’s Bait, a six-episode series created by Riz Ahmed, we follow Shah [Ahmed], a struggling actor who finds himself dealing with the media attention, public scrutiny, family pressure, and his own insecurities as he is in the running to become the next James Bond. “I was already a fan of Riz’s work and when I read it, it just felt really unique, funny, honest, and surreal,” Arya says. “[Bait] is his baby, and to watch him put on one hat, be this kind of leader — and then be a playful, flowing actor, it was really inspiring. It was an amazing experience and I’m really proud to be a part of it.”
Episode four — in which she stars opposite Ahmed as Yasmin, his ex-lover — has been praised for its bold single-take episode structure, engaging storytelling, and the pair’s undeniable chemistry as they embark on a journey across London’s vibrant Brick Lane. “It was just fun getting to play, because on the days we were doing episode four, we were writing and rewriting the story on that day. And there were these long one-shots, so it felt like a trapeze act. We got only three goes at it, and then halfway through it, it started raining. So, I’m just in awe that it got finished and it looks the way it does, because I had no idea how it would turn out, considering how much we were going with whatever happened.” If you wondered whether Arya has ever had an identity crisis like Shah in her own actor’s life, she laughs and states, “I haven’t run around talking to a pig’s head [voiced by Patrick Stewart in the series] just yet, but never say never.”
In person, Arya appears clear-headed and is careful about what she chooses to share. I ask her if she likes doing press. “Sometimes yes, sometimes no,” is her candid reply. Our conversation takes place the week following the Bait screening in London, where she was seen with a small camera and created her own moments of celebration. “It’s a cool experience being on the red carpet, you know? So I just thought, ‘I want to take some pictures, too’ — Rahul said he would upload the pictures from the camera,” she adds, referring to her younger brother who is also an actor and attended the event with her, while her older sibling is in business.
Arya was born to Indian parents who are worlds away from the entertainment industry. “My mom is an actuary and my dad is a landlord,” she explains. But they were always supportive of her pursuit of acting. “I think they were really, really excited for my first commercial, and then the first play I did — I think that was at the Unicorn Theatre, a play called 1001 Nights, and also Liar Liar,” she says, before laughing at the thought that her parents’ perspective may have changed as she has steadily gained recognition. “I think they’re actually less excited now because it’s become more normalized. So, although I think I’m doing more exciting things than I was at the beginning of my career. I don’t know if they think that, but they just want me to be happy.”
Ritu Arya was photographed in the Roseate Junior Suite.
Though she believes every role she’s taken on remains pivotal, The Umbrella Academy stands out as a major turning point for her. First of all, because they were filming in Canada. Then, “it was the first time I had done so many seasons of a show.” Arya closed this chapter in 2024 after five years of dedication, so when it comes to choosing a memory, “you can’t just dilute it to one moment.” What lingers in Arya’s eyes are the connections and relationships forged along the way. “I had so much fun with the cast [which also included Emmy Raver-Lampman, Genesis Rodriguez and Justin H. Min]. For me, it’s really about the small moments when you’re off-camera.”
Ritu Arya was photographed in The Hyde Garden.
Arya’s work across both dramatic and genre-defying roles has cemented her as a compelling presence and a leading force for change. She starred in the action-comedy film Polite Society — acclaimed for its layered and nuanced representation of South Asian culture — was a Pulitzer-winning journalist in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, and became a fearless MI6 agent in Paris Has Fallen. She will return as Zara Taylor to the Has Fallen franchise with Apollo Has Fallen, set to come out later in the year. To immerse herself in that role, Arya, who “loves researching,” got to interview a former spy and learn about the ins and outs of that life.
Additionally, to further showcase the range she has as an actor, Arya will lead the highly anticipated spin-off of BBC One’s legal drama The Split, The Split Up. “I’m playing a family lawyer, and I absolutely loved delving into learning all about law and divorce,” she says, describing her approach to creating characters. “Sometimes that analytical brain can get in the way — that can be for research and delving deep into the writing. But then, the skill is to really let that go and just go with your gut, your heart, and your soul when you’re doing the work.”
To Arya, acting “really is the best job in the world.” Would she want a role that involves her background in astrophysics? “Yes and I’m waiting for that,” she replies with a smile. “It could be a woman, who maybe goes into space, or maybe she could be a quantum physicist. [But ultimately], it isn’t what their job is, that draws me [to a character]. It will be the writing, the depth of the character, the psychology, the human conditioning. What flaws does someone have? How are they covering them up? What are their relationships like? That’s the stuff that draws me to a character because that’s what feels real.”
But lately, her focus has been on friends and family. “And be a human,” she concludes, pointing out that they keep her centered. “I love seeing my [two-year-old] niece, she’s the best human on this planet.” As for what she enjoys doing in her downtime, she mentions reading and watching movies. “I’ve been doing a Coen Brothers marathon, so I’ve become absolutely obsessed with them.” She pauses, then says, “If I had to pick, Barton Fink might be my favorite.” On the other end, she misses doing live comedy and even has a one-woman show in mind. “I really love being on stage. I did an improv comedy show at the Pleasant Theatre a few weeks ago and it was so much fun. Let’s see if that continues — but you know, one thing at a time.”
Bait is now streaming on Prime Video
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