Exclusive Interview: Ritu Arya Talks The Umbrella Academy Season 3, Shaping Lila’s Arc, and More

Ritu Arya is an award-winning actress and musician who is known for her transformative performances on screen in projects including Doctors, Humans, Last Christmas, and Red Notice.

This summer, she reprises her role as wildcard Lila Pitts in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy. The action-packed series follows a family of former child heroes who must reunite to continue to protect the world.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Ritu about her career, Umbrella Academy Season 3, and how she helped shape Lila’s arc.

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts and storytelling?
Ritu: It was from school. I did GCSE drama and A-level drama and had a lot of fun. On weekends, my cousins and I would write sketches and perform them for all of my aunties and uncles. I really enjoyed doing that when I was little.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Ritu: Wow, that’s a great question. I would say drama school and the teachers there. No matter what role I’ve had, however big or small, I’ve used tools that I learned from drama school. It’s been a constant for me.

PC: You’ve had so much success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Ritu: There have been so many. I remember getting the call for Umbrella Academy and that felt amazing. I did a self-tape, and I got a call to meet Steve Blackman (our showrunner) on Zoom. I thought my character was only going to be in an episode. Then he told me that she would be included throughout the series and that she has superpowers. I wanted to fall on the floor. I was so excited. Getting that call and moving to Toronto for half a year felt life-changing.

PC: In addition to acting, you’re also a musician. What have you learned from that medium that you’ve been able to apply to your career on screen and vice versa?
Ritu: It’s a form of meditation for me. It’s healthy to enjoy doing things, especially in a profession where there’s so much out of your control. I’m in a band called KIN with two other members—Adam and Grace. As things have gotten busier, they’ve used a substitute drummer to play live shows when I’m not around. I love being in a rehearsal room with them and writing music. It makes me so happy.

PC: Fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Season 3 of The Umbrella Academy, especially with all that’s revealed towards the end of Season 2. What’s ahead for your character? What can you tease?
Ritu: Lila went through a lot. She finds out that her mom had her real parents killed. She’s traumatized by that. She’s lost, hurt, and betrayed. She’s figuring that out. She gets back with Diego, so they have their relationship tested.

PC: How did you prepare to approach those emotional moments that Lila faces in Season 3?
Ritu: It depends on the day. I like to give myself space, whether that’s meditating or listening to some music. Sometimes it’s actually not doing anything and being present in the moment. I try to play it by ear. But what I am finding is that it can be exhausting to sit in those feelings all day. When the director calls cut, it’s fun to dance around, make jokes, and play games.

PC: Steve has created an environment where he encourages each of the actors to do one take of what’s on the page and then allows you all to play. How much fun has it been for you to play a character like Lila, who in many ways is this wild card and unpredictable?
Ritu: It’s been so much fun and very liberating. I love how uninhibited she is, and I just adore her. I’m really happy how Steve is super collaborative and encourages us to build and create our characters off the page. It’s been fun to create ideas and see what fits.

For example, I suggested that when Lila meets Five for the first time that there should be a fight. She’s really bitter towards him. Luckily, Steve really liked the idea and added it in. It’s been a really fun process, having a season behind me already and knowing Lila’s character more. It’s fun to create those moments and improvise. It felt a lot more natural.

PC: You joined the cast in Season 2, and I imagine that there was a lot of pressure joining an established cast with how beloved this series is. Was there added pressure heading into Season 3 as you fleshed out this character?
Ritu: There are different pressures every time. It’s a question of whether you focus on them or not. But for Season 2 there was pressure. These are established characters. How do I live up to being new in this space? All I can do is to do my best job with what the creators have written and see what people think. I really enjoyed the process. I love playing her. There are some really cool moments this season that I love. There’s a lot more going on with the whole family. She gets to meet more of them and bond with them. That meant that I got to spend more time with everyone on set. Because it was lockdown, we became even closer.

PC: Throughout your career, you’ve brought these multilayered, dynamic characters to life on the screen. What is your process like deciding what roles you want to go out for?
Ritu: Thank you, firstly. It’s a few different things. One is that it can’t feel like a stereotype. The character has to feel real and three-dimensional. Then it can be that I’m dying to work with that director or that I just absolutely love the script and what the message is behind it. There could be a few elements as to why I might want to join a project—but definitely a character that’s well-rounded.

To keep up with Ritu, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Season 3 of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Storm Santos