In between bites of homemade pinni, the two spar over Hilarys crumbling marriage.
But Brinder comes bearing news: Your father is sick.
Wont you come home?
Sarayu Blue in ‘Expats’.Jupiter Wong/Prime Video
In the dimmed elevator, decades-long trauma comes to light.
It felt like doing a play, Blue, 49, tellsEntertainment Weeklyof the episode.
Below, she dissects the episode.
Sudha Bhuchar, Sarayu Blue, and Jennifer Beveridge on the set of ‘Expats’.Courtesy of Sarayu Blue
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Would you rather be trapped in a morgue or an elevator?
But I have to say I would pick an elevator over a morgue.
The morgue feels terrifying.
Sarayu Blue in ‘Expats’.Jupiter Wong/Prime Video
Have you ever been stuck in an elevator in real life?
No, which is amazing.
One time I was stuck on a subway train, but no.
Sarayu Blue as ‘Expats’.Jupiter Wong/Prime Video
What about a morgue?
This is getting off to a great start.
Ive never been stuck in a morgue, no!
[Laughs]I love it.
Courtesy of Sarayu Blue
Hilarys elevator scenes are revelatory because they shed insight on why she doesnt want children.
Her relationship with her parents, especially her abusive father, is complicated and rooted in resentment.
How did you tap into the intensity the episode required?
So much of that I have to give credit to the writing.
And where it goes with her mother is so deep that it just would start bubbling up.
We see the cold-hearted, career-oriented woman depicted pretty regularly, I think.
What’s great about Hillary is she’s not career-oriented or cold-hearted.
She just likes her life.
She and David got married and both felt like, yeah, were on the same page.
I dont think we want kids.
We enjoy the life weve built together.
And suddenly that gets diverted.
David is suddenly like, I do want to be a parent.
We see women abandoning themselves all the time.
Whats beautiful about this storyline is its flipped.
She says to her mom in the elevator, What if I like my life?
I still get goosebumps saying that.
So much was given to me with this incredible script.
You filmed in an actual elevator.
Did that present any challenges, especially considering your claustrophobia?
I think if anything, it was a gift.
We all have very specific relationships with our families.
The relationship between Brinder and Hilary/Harpreet is so authentic.
What Sudha brought to that character was so real.
It felt like doing a play.
I come from a theater background.
Most of us [actors] dont get into acting to be comfortable.
You previously said you were terrified when you were offered the part.
How long did that fear live in you?
There was a pretty low-grade fear the whole time, if I’m being honest.
Because of that, I felt like, okay, they’re not going to torture me.
I’m in good hands.
I always wanted to do right by Hilary and the show.
Its so deep, and I know I cant run from it.
If I don’t tell the whole truth in every moment, the story doesn’t get served.
So the only way I can do that is by really going there.
I think the low-grade fear was always there.
I want to get your interpretation on the episodes opening and closing sequences with Hilary.
It begins with her asleep in bed and a butterfly flutters in from the window and into her mouth.
I think theres an element of Hilary becoming a butterfly.
Then theres the ending, where she opens all the windows during a big storm and greets the rain.
I love that moment.
I think she finally feels the beginning of freedom.
She’s let loose this family trauma that has lived in her.
She covered up these secrets both literally and figuratively for decades.
I think that moment is the first moment she’s meeting herself, free.
Every time we tell the truth, it’s liberating.
She finally got to say the thing to her mother.
Has your own family tuned in and weighed in on the heavier moments?
It was never critical, which I have to say was surprising.
Don’t get me wrong, she’s tough.
She will let me know!
But I think she really, really liked this show.
She’s grateful to have gotten to see me do something like this.
She is my biggest fan.
She has theI Feel Badposter taped up on the wall.
What has the general reception been like since the finale?
My jaw continues to be on the floor.
I’m really moved.
Its something I want people to feel, especially Black and brown actors, LGBTQ+ actors, disabled actors.
Expatsis available to stream on Prime Video.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
