Freida Pinto biography
Date of birth : 1984-10-18
Date of death : -
Birthplace : Mumbai, India
Nationality : Indian
Category : Arts and Entertainment
Last modified : 2023-10-18
Credited as : Bollywood actress, model, Slumdog Millionaire
0 votes so far
Freida Pinto: From "Slumdog Millionaire" to Global Stardom
Freida Pinto, the renowned Indian actress and model, achieved international acclaim for her remarkable career, with a significant breakthrough in the 2008 Academy Award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire." She not only won the hearts of audiences worldwide but also a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for her role as Latika. Let's explore the journey of this talented actress.
Early Life and Education
Born into a Mangalorean Catholic family in Mumbai, Freida's parents, Sylvia and Frederick, had a profound impact on her upbringing. Her mother, Sylvia, is the principal of St. John's Universal High School (Goregaon), and her father, Frederick, holds a senior position as the branch manager at the Bank of Baroda. Freida's older sister, Sharon, is an associate producer for the NDTV news channel. Pinto's dream of becoming an actress began at the young age of five. She attended Carmel of St. Joseph School in Malad, Mumbai, and pursued a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with a major in English Literature, alongside minors in Psychology and Economics at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. During her time at St. Xavier's, she also delved into acting by participating in plays and amateur theater. Her journey into the world of entertainment continued as she joined Elite Model Management and embarked on a successful modeling career, which lasted two and a half years.
Modeling and Television Career
Before Freida's illustrious film career took off, she gained recognition as the anchor of the international travel show, "Full Circle," which aired on Zee International Asia Pacific from 2006 to 2008. Additionally, her striking presence was felt in television and print advertisements for renowned products and brands such as Wrigley's Chewing Gum, 'koda, Vodafone India, Airtel, and DeBeers. Her modeling career allowed her to shine on runways and magazine covers. To further enhance her acting skills, she sought training at The Barry John's Acting Studio in Andheri under the guidance of theater director Barry John.
Slumdog Millionaire and Global Recognition
In 2008, Freida Pinto made her feature film debut in the critically acclaimed "Slumdog Millionaire," where she portrayed the character of Latika, the love interest of the film's protagonist, Jamal, played by Dev Patel. The movie received widespread acclaim and accolades. Notably, at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, it secured the Cadillac People's Choice Award. At the 2009 Golden Globe Awards, "Slumdog Millionaire" clinched four awards, and Pinto herself earned a nomination for 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role' at the 2009 BAFTA Awards. Her remarkable performance was further acknowledged when she won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, alongside other cast members from the film.
Transition to Hollywood
Following her global success in "Slumdog Millionaire," Freida Pinto ventured into Hollywood, starring in films like Woody Allen's "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" (2010) and the science fiction movie "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011). Her ability to adapt to diverse roles and her unwavering dedication to her craft were evident in every character she portrayed on screen.
Continued Success and Philanthropy
Pinto's career continued to flourish with her appearances in various films, including "Trishna" (2011), "Day of the Falcon" (2011), and "Immortals" (2011). Alongside her successful acting career, Freida Pinto actively engaged in philanthropy. She collaborated with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf to support their philanthropic organization, the Agassi Foundation. Their annual fundraiser, "The 15th Grand Slam for Children," aimed at raising funds for the education of underprivileged children. Pinto's commitment to charitable causes mirrored her success in the entertainment industry.
Personal Life and Recent Projects
In more recent years, Freida Pinto continued her cinematic journey with projects such as "Desert Dancer" (2014), where she played the role of Elaheh, a heroin-addicted character. She invested significant effort in dance training and rehabilitation to prepare for this challenging role. Her unwavering dedication and captivating performance were evident, even in a film with mixed reviews. Pinto's first film of 2015 was Terrence Malick's "Knight of Cups," featuring a star-studded ensemble cast. Her contribution as Helen, a model, was notable for her ability to act without a script. Pinto also worked on a documentary titled "Unity" (2015) as one of the narrators, emphasizing the importance of education for girls around the world.
In January 2021, it was announced that Pinto would play the lead in a biopic of the SOE agent Noor Inayat Khan, based on the book "Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan" by Shrabani Basu. More recently, she and her Freebird Films company secured a first look TV deal at Entertainment One. In her personal life, after a six-year relationship, Pinto separated amicably from her partner in December 2014.
Pinto became engaged to photographer Cory Tran in November 2019, and they married in 2020 at the Honda Center. In November 2021, they welcomed their son into the world, marking a new chapter in Freida Pinto's life.
Selected filmography of Freida Pinto:
Films:
2008 Slumdog Millionaire
2010 You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger; Miral
2011 Rise of the Planet of the Apes; Trishna; Day of the Falcon; Immortals
2013 Girl Rising
2014 Desert Dancer
2015 Knight of Cups; Unity; Blunt Force Trauma; Black Knight Decoded
2016 Two Bellmen Two; Past Forward
2017 Yamasong: March of the Hollows
2018 Love Sonia; Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
2019 Only
2020 Love Wedding Repeat; Hillbilly Elegy
2021 Intrusion ; Needle in a Timestack
2022 Mr. Malcolm's List
2023 North Star
Television:
2006 Full Circle
2015 India: Nature's Wonderland
2017 Guerrilla
2018 The Path
2020–2022 Mira, Royal Detective Queen
2021 Spy Princess
TBA Surface
