Exclusive Interview: Sarayu Blue Talks ‘Expats,’ South Asian Representation in Three-Dimensional Characters, and More

Sarayu Blue delivers a tour de force performance in the critically acclaimed mini-series, Expats.

Set against the vibrant and tumultuous tapestry of 2014 Hong Kong, Expats centers on three American women—Margaret (Nicole Kidman), Hilary (Sarayu Blue), and Mercy (Ji-young Yoo)—whose lives intersect after a sudden family tragedy. The series interrogates privilege and explores what happens when the line between victimhood and culpability becomes blurred.

Sarayu Blue shines with her layered and nuanced portrayal as Hilary, a successful entrepreneur whose marriage is on the verge of crumbling as they struggle with infertility and infidelity.

Pop Culturalist recently caught up with Sarayu to discuss Expats, the mini-series’ celebration of South Asian representation through three-dimensional characters, and more.

PC: Thank you so much for taking time out of your day again to chat with us.
Sarayu: What an amazing full-circle moment. It’s so wonderful to see you again.

PC: Your success is so well deserved. To start, throughout the mini-series, your character is so put together, especially in the way that she presents herself to the world. But when her mother comes to town, we get to see her revert back to almost this childlike state, especially when she realizes she’s arriving earlier than expected. It feels like such a slice of life that no matter how old we get, we’re always seen as children in our parents’ eyes. Did that scene feel like a return to home for you given your incredible background in comedy? What was it like getting to collaborate with Sudha [Bhuchar] to bring that dynamic to life on screen?
Sarayu: It really did feel like a slice of life. I love that you used those words. Sometimes I joke, and I do mean it as a joke, but it’s so real that it’s triggering. [laughs] I don’t mean that in a negative way; I meant it in the best possible way. I loved working with Sudha. She’s so authentic, and she brings such specificity to Brinder. She does it with such heart and truthfulness. We’ve seen moms like that depicted before, and sometimes it’s very authentic and sometimes less so. But what’s so great about what Sudha brought to it, I immediately clicked into this childlike feeling. I felt like it was me and my mom nipping at each other and loving each other at the same time.

PC: There are so many vulnerable conversations that happened in Episode 4, from Hilary talking about societal pressures placed on women to have children to be seen as whole, as well as her connection with makeup and the impact that had on her upbringing. You brought so much nuance in the way that you approached those scenes where it’s really about the subtleties. As a storyteller, how did you create the space for yourself to tackle that episode in particular? Did you feel the weight of those words?
Sarayu: I very much felt the weight of those words. I felt a real sense of responsibility to tell that story in the most truthful way possible, which is always true, but particularly when it’s such a tender subject matter. Gursimran Sandhu, who wrote episode four, is such a brilliant writer. She put so much on the page, and getting to talk with her and see what she was visualizing and feeling for Hilary in those moments really helped flesh that out. Coming to the table with such a full human being with Brinder, the fire built itself. I had to be willing to get really vulnerable and go on that ride.

PC: It’s such a standout episode in this mini-series. You shared this beautiful post on social media about episode four and how special it’s been for you. You can feel the care and the love that you and the rest of the cast and writers brought to it and how it highlights the cultural nuances from language to food. For so many, it’ll be the first time that they’ve seen their culture and themselves celebrated on screen as three-dimensional characters. Have you had time to reflect on your contributions in blazing this trail for your community? What has this moment meant to you?
Sarayu: Well, now you’re going to make me cry. It’s been the most meaningful aspect of playing Hilary. It’s the depiction of this incredibly well-rounded human being. She’s all things like all of us. She’s vulnerable. She’s trying to keep it together and be strong. She’s controlling and petty. She’s heartbroken. She’s everything. It’s always been really important to me to see South Asians represented in such a dimensional way. That’s important for any person who’s not been seen regularly in film, television, and theater. These are the stories that I want to keep moving forward, and the ability to be a part of one and to be part of that movement forward is a dream come true.

PC: Continue to blaze that trail. This mini-series is such a celebration of women, and there’s a really subtle scene in particular where Puri tells Hilary that she’ll always be on her side. Who are the women who have shown up for you in a similar way?
Sarayu: Where do I even begin? The first one is the most important one, and that’s my mom. This is all for my mom. I often think in those moments when maybe I get frustrated or the battles feel too big, I think back to the experiences she fought all day, every day in just existing. She’s somebody who’s not only shown up for me but really has fought a lot of battles for me to have the life that I have had. So she’s the one that I think of the most.

To keep up with Sarayu, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. New episodes of Expats drop every Friday on Prime Video.

Photo Credit: Sela Shiloni