Ritu Arya gives an incredible performance as the thrill seeking assassin Lila Pitts in The Umbrella Academy. Lilas mischievous attitude cynical worldview and choppy bangs closely resemble Angelina Jolie character in Girl Interrupted and as it turns out Jolies preparation for her role influenced Aryas own process on the set of Umbrella Academy.
At first glance Girl Interrupted might seem like an odd source of inspiration for Arya. The Umbrella Academy is a playful sci fi series about time traveling superheroes while Girl Interrupted is set in the womans ward of a mental institution. In a conversation with Brief Take Arya describes her Umbrella Academy character as unhinged playful and unpredictable. This description also matches Jolies Girl Interrupted character Lisa. These very traits are what initially drew Arya to her role. I completely fell in love with Lila right away she revealed.
The actress knew that a character as special as Lila would require a unique approach. I did a lot of prep Arya admitted. I have a different process I think depending on whatever is the project. For this series Arya researched artwork that might help her to get in touch with her character. She found that Egon Schieles paintings aided her in understanding of Lilas mindset. I had put them all over my trailer. They are really weird physically and they are quite out there and I think that helped me get into character the actress recalled.
Jolie also alienated people on the set of Girl Interrupted although she took it a touch further than Arya. The actress reportedly gave the cold shoulder to her co star Winona Ryder on set. I think she needed to be able to look at me just as the character Susanna not as Winona so in a very respectful way she just kind of kept her distance Ryder explained to Total Film via Sydney Morning Herald.
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