Interview with Priyanka Bose

Hello, dear Priyanka! I'm so happy to have you on our interview! What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

— Hello! I think I always dreamt of having a good life. I just always loved people and knowing things and got curious about weird stuff and arts and craft and thanks to my parents we lived all over india and not one hobby class wasn’t explored by me. Of Course there were many dynamic situations that made me really adaptable to changes as a young adult and slowly got exposed to performances and culture. I knew I wanted to act and so my quest slowly would be to gradually transition into who I am right now, I suppose. Travel and meet people.

At the beginning of the interviews, I ask our traditional question: at what point in your life did you decide to become an actress? What was the reason for this decision?

— Like I said, the art and cultural aspect of my education has been a part of my conditioning since childhood and what I was exposed to and what I got curious and aspirational about as I went along. A lot of the Indian films, like in every childhood, were influencing our downtime. It's only later as my parents opened the world to art cinema when my interest grew more towards what was happening world wide. I wanted to perform all my life. Acting gives me joy. I love the craft now and have so much more respect. I decided to move to Mumbai, from New Delhi, where i grew up, to pursue something which isn't a family business, neither did i have access to anyone at all, things are obviously very different now, because of social media.

You have a very rich filmography! For example, the worldwide popular TV series «The Wheel of Time», «Torden», «Lion», «The Good Karma Hospital» and others. Could you please share with us which project was the most memorable for you?

— All of my work has a special place in my life. Especially the ones that didn't release, or backfired and I counted my failures as I went along. (Laughs) But honestly some things i chose have been extraordinary collaborations. I still feel I haven't scratched the surface. The wheel of time so far has been a ride. I have been typecast so much in my country of origin where i also work, that when WOT was offered, i was finally relieved that i could try something new but also get to retain some authenticity from where I come from. Also working and chilling in my downtime in europe isn't too shabby. In five years some of the cast members are like my homies now. Taylor is joined to my hip for instance.

Besides starring in film projects, you are also a theater actress. What is your favorite thing about acting on stage?

— I wish I had more access to theatre, I loved it. But film as a medium is something I love too. Stage anything is possible. So much body and there's so much well written text out there.

We know that the voice acting field is also on the list of your cinematic performances. Would you like to keep working in this area?

— Yes, I want to experience everything. And why unfollow one vocation in the pursuit of the other. Everything is welcome.

Now let's get closer to «The Wheel of Time»! Are there any funny behind-the-scenes stories from the set that you can share with us?

— Well Taylor should tell you this story, but i'd probably kill him. I lost my passport just before boarding a flight for a trip that Taylor organized for me and Anthony, the actor who played Ivon. It was pretty dramatic and I had the whole Prague airport looking for it. They were so helpful. And so was the Indian embassy. Only these two left without me for the holiday. It was hilarious, I did end up going the next day and spent some adventurous quality time with myself. But yep I'll never forget. Maybe I'll write a blog to help space cadets like me.

If fantasy worlds could actually exist, who would you want to be: Aes Sedai, a Dragon, a human or someone else?

— An Aes Sedai always what is even a human.

Have you read «The Wheel of Time» book series to better understand the worldbuilding of this universe?

— No, it's a lot. But you know what the book nerds are giving me so much. The fans of the books and series are helping me build this character more than they know.

I love to find connections between actors I've interviewed before and those I'm currently interviewing. I recently got to interview Taylor Napier, and when I asked him about his favorite scene in the show, he said: «if I don't say any scene that I filmed with Priyanka Bose (Alanna), which is almost all of them at this point, she'll disown me. Any moment I get to be with her is memorable and amazing and she's perfect in every way». What was your favorite moment from the set?

— Being memorable and amazing for Taylor Napier was a lot of work. I mean I loved working with him. What can I say, we fought so much and I love him. Marcus and I had a great scene in Slovenia, so epic. I remember all of us were chilling and we looked around surrounded by these white peaks and realised, this is it and we are happy. Yeah quite something.

Over the years of acting, have you formed a special way of preparing for roles?

— Music helps. I'm mostly consumed by it, the prep. So I don't flounder, I get too nervous. Also, once I'm prepared then I can just relax when making adjustments while shooting. I have to viscerally feel everything while I prep otherwise it’s not real. Even for fantasy, actually mostly for fantasy, because it is not real so it was important to really believe everything. But that’s my approach to everything to do. The ease cannot be imagined. Like if I’m dying – I’m really dying. You have to create that world within first and then everything follows.

How do you feel about improvisation on set?

— Again, not a forte, not on this shoot for sure, if action was involved. I like structure, everyone's style on the show was so different from each other that I was happy not improvising. But yeah it totally depends on the scene. Yeah all play during rehearsals for sure.

What genres do you enjoy working in the most?

— I'll tell you what I would like to explore, dark comedy. I love grunge in films. I love the hyper genre that experiments with form, a little. I like fantasy. Anything is possible. I love drama. Action is always so much fun.

If you could play any existing character, who would you choose and why?

— Lanfear, I mean who doesn't want to play a baddie.

Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your spare time?

— I love to sleep, read, water paint, do yoga and workout. I also like to cook but cannot be expected to. Now I have a new garden, I've never had a legitimate garden before, it's my new obsession.

Favourite movie?

— There's this indian film called «All we imagine as light» it's my favorite at the moment. All time classic «Pather panchali», again Indian. I also like «All of Us Strangers» and «Life of Pi».

Favorite TV series?

— I'm biased, obviously «The Wheel of Time», «The white Lotus», «Fleabag».

Favorite game?

— I'm terrible at them because I want to win all the time. But i love crazy 8’s.

Favorite book?

— I'm currently reading «The lying life of Adults», its cool.

Favorite color?

— All shades of purple.

Your favorite singer/band?

— Chopin, Bach. I also listen to a variety of Jazz.

Your favorite song?

— On my youth - WAYV.

Three recent songs you've added to your playlist?

— I recently downloaded the soundtrack of «The Wheel of Time» if that counts.

What's your house from Game of Thrones?

— House Tyrell I would think.

Marvel or DC?

— Marvel.

What's your Hogwarts House?

— Gryffindor.

Do you have an idol and if you do, who is it and why?

— Maybe Jackie Chan.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

— Defiant, sensitive, moody.

What superpower would you like to have and why?

— Time manipulation. Because I can travel and I’m curious about everything. It’s the why I’m always troubled by. Maybe that’s why.