IN CONVERSATION WITH PRIYA KANSARA

interview by JANA LETONJA

Priya Kansara is entering an exciting new phase of her career. After breaking out as the fearless and unforgettable lead of Polite Society and showcasing her dramatic range in Dope Girls, she now finds herself at the centre of two ambitious sci-fi projects that highlight entirely different facets of her talent. In Apple TV+‘s Star City, the expansion of the acclaimed For All Mankind universe, she steps into an alternate history space race thriller exploring life behind the Iron Curtain. Meanwhile, in Project Hail Mary, she takes on one of the film’s most unexpected roles as Mary, the AI interface aboard the spacecraft, performing live on set opposite Ryan Gosling and helping shape the film’s humour and emotional dynamics through real-time interaction. As science fiction continues to dominate screens, Priya is proving herself to be one of the most versatile and exciting young actors working today.

You’re currently part of two major sci-fi projects that couldn’t be more different. Was there something about the genre that particularly appealed to you at this stage of your career?

Sci-fi is such a fun genre to do, and I love world-building; however, I think the thing that appealed to me about both projects are the characters and the story. Project Hail Mary is ultimately about an unexpected and universe-changing friendship, and Star City really feels like a story of survival. Getting to immerse myself in those worlds is what made me want to do both projects, and whilst they are part of the same genre, they are incredibly different.

Star City expands the world of For All Mankind from a completely new perspective. What was your first reaction when you learned about the concept behind the series?

I thought it was so clever, and I couldn't wait to explore what this alt-history would look like. It was such a great opportunity to learn about the space race from the Soviet side and try to understand what that would’ve been like. I didn’t really know much about the space race apart from the first man landing on the moon, and much to my surprise, I really enjoyed digging into the history of it all. I was fascinated.

The show explores the space race from behind the Iron Curtain rather than from an American perspective. What makes that viewpoint especially compelling for audiences today?

I guess there is a lot of information out there about the American story, but so much is unknown about the space race behind the Iron Curtain. I think the audience will be excited to learn about this side of things and how things could’ve been in the USSR. 

The vibe and tone of this show really reflect the setting and circumstances of the people in Star City. It is dark, thrilling and really keeps you on the edge of your seat, something different from For All Mankind. It really feels like we are watching something we are meant to be, which I think is really exciting as an audience member.

The series blends political intrigue, espionage, and space exploration. Which aspect of that mix did you find most exciting to explore as an actor?

All of it excited me. The blend really creates a unique set of experiences for the characters, and this ends up being such a survival story for them all. Understanding how they would deal with things in really extreme circumstances was such a fun thing to dig into.

Even though I personally wouldn’t go into space, I think space exploration is fascinating, and there is so much to learn about ourselves through it. As someone who has studied science for a long time, it was definitely fun to go back to that world, especially as Lakshmi’s expertise is more biology-related.

Your storyline becomes increasingly significant in the latter half of the season. Without spoilers, what can audiences look forward to?

It’s always hard not to give spoilers. Lakshmi comes into Star City not really sure of her job. She feels she isn’t getting to do the work she really dreamed of, but the truth behind her coming is quickly revealed. We get to watch her embark on a journey she never could’ve imagined and be thrust into a world of extremes. I think the audience is going to love watching her experience it all, and as the only character who isn’t from the USSR, she really does mirror the audience's perspective.

Project Hail Mary is a completely different challenge. How did you first become involved with the role of Mary?

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller had seen Polite Society, a film I was a part of, which was released in 2023. Much to my amazement, they thought I was funny and wanted me to come on board Project Hail Mary to voice the computer. Ryan was alone a lot on set, and they all wanted to bring someone on board to help him improvise on set. My agent called me with the news, and it was a no-brainer. I was thrilled to be asked to work with them and voice Mary.

What interested you about playing an AI character, especially one that could easily have been reduced to a purely technical voice role?

Sometimes the restrictions of playing a technical role can force us to think outside the box. Mary definitely developed as we shot the film. She was initially just a computer and slowly, through the improv we were doing, Grace Ryland developed a relationship with her and named her. We truly built a character from the ground up. It was a challenge for me as I had never done voice work or much improvisation before, so I wanted to exercise new skills and learn more.

Additionally, the opportunity to work with a team like that doesn’t come around every day. I knew that this role would basically allow me to be the observer, to truly understand what was going on and to study the work around me, in particular Ryan’s performance. I felt like I was taking a masterclass every day.

What was it like developing the chemistry between a human character and an AI through live performance and improvisation?

The chemistry between Mary and Grace was something we all discovered together. I think the main thing was understanding what we wanted the computer to sound like, how advanced we wanted the system to be and how funny or human-like we wanted it to be. Once we had that foundation set, we suddenly had two characters that were more grounded, and it was then easy to improvise and bounce off each other live.

The development of chemistry was really organic. We weren’t bound by a script, and we were given the freedom to play in the scenes. Ultimately, those things gave our characters time to figure each other out and learn how to interact with one another. It was really fulfilling to truly feel like we created a character and built a relationship.

Mary’s personality is conveyed entirely through voice, timing, and interaction. What did that experience teach you about performance?

I think the main things I learnt though Mary was actually to trust myself and to do the prep work to understand the character and role.

Once I knew the parameters of Mary, it became easier to figure out what they may say in a given circumstance. With improv, it is essential that you understand their language and their way of thinking in order to come up with things to say immediately. 

I also learnt to trust my own instincts, timings and voice. It was a process of letting go and being in the moment. I had to observe and give all my focus to Ryan. In a way, it’s like surrendering and trusting that your knowledge of the character will allow you to play out the scene well.

Looking at Polite Society, Dope Girls, Star City, and Project Hail Mary, you’ve avoided repeating yourself. How intentional has that been?

I wish I could say that it was all intentional, but I really think I have just gotten lucky. As actors, we don’t often get to pick what comes our way. We audition and hope for the best. The main thing that I have been able to be intentional about is saying no. If something doesn’t feel like it really speaks to me or I don’t think I have an opportunity to learn something, then I know it isn’t for me. I have always wanted a career that was varied and exciting, and I have been so lucky that I have consistently been able to try completely different characters and genres.

Polite Society introduced many audiences to you as an action-comedy lead. Did the success of that film change the types of opportunities that came your way?

I do think that it has. I mean, I wouldn’t have been offered Mary in Project Hail Mary if it weren’t for Polite Society. It has opened so many doors for me and has definitely changed the types of opportunities that I have in the industry. I think, as a result of the film being so fresh and genre-bending, I feel like people got to see so much of what I am capable of, and it definitely is the gift that keeps giving.

Working alongside filmmakers and actors at very different stages of their careers, what have been some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned recently?

There are so many lessons I have learnt that it is quite hard to whittle them down. In terms of the work, it is so interesting and valuable to see other actors' processes. I think the understanding that it isn’t one size fits all was important to me. I thought I had to come up with myprocess, but the truth is, you figure out what works for you, and you reevaluate with every job. If every character is different, then each process has to be too.

Honestly, I think the most important lesson was to be kind. I think the thing that makes me feel so lucky in my work is that I have consistently worked with genuinely nice people. Whether it is a big or small production, whether they are new to the industry or not, I have been treated with kindness and openness, both on and off set. Now, whilst I believe I am a kind person, learning how to truly be there for others whilst working is a very specific skill.

Checking in on cast mates and understanding how to deal with the pressure on tough days, these are definitely things I witnessed and wanted to ensure I was implementing. So yeah, being kind, there is literally nothing more important.

As you enter this new chapter, what excites you most about the future, both in terms of the stories you want to tell and the kinds of characters you hope to play?

I feel like I am in the infancy of my career, and so far, everything that has happened has been completely unexpected. I have played so many different kinds of characters and have worked with such a breadth of incredible creatives. I can’t wait to see what comes next. I guess I know I am going to keep learning throughout the journey, and that is all I really want.

TEAM CREDITS:

photographer BEN PETER CATCHPOLE
hair and makeup JOLANDA COETZER
lighting and video YIGIT GUNEL