Aparna Brielle Explained

Aparna Brielle
Birth Name:Aparna Parthasarathy
Birth Date:5 February 1994[1]
Birth Place:Clackamas, Oregon, U.S.
Alma Mater:Linfield College
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2011–present

Aparna Brielle (born Aparna Parthasarathy on February 5, 1994) is an American actress. She portrayed Sarika Sarkar on the NBC television series A.P. Bio.

Early life

Aparna Brielle was born in Clackamas, Oregon to Indian American Tamil couple Partha Rajagopal and Girija Parthasarathy, and was raised in the Cedar Mill area[1] of the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. She has one younger brother, Vijay.[2] As a child, she attended Valley Catholic School (then known as St. Mary of the Valley)[3] in Beaverton, Oregon. At the age of nine, Brielle was amongst the youngest Bharatanatyam dancers in the world to graduate in an Arangetram performance after a mere three years of training. She attended the Arts & Communications High School, appearing in performances such as their fall 2011 production of Godspell, still performing as Aparna Parthasarathy.[4] Brielle then attended Linfield College, where she majored in marketing.[5]

Career

In 2014, Brielle made her television debut on NBC's supernatural drama Grimm.[6] In 2015, she appeared in TNT's The Librarians and in 2016, she appeared in Fox's short-lived Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life.

In 2017, Brielle was cast as Sarika, "a career-driven student who's constantly trying to do everything right and climb the ladder" in the NBC comedy A.P. Bio, which premiered in 2018.[6] [7]

Brielle also stars as Lorna Reddy in Dead Girls Detective Agency, one of several new digital shows produced by NBCUniversal and Snap Inc. as part of their Snap Originals series.[8] The first season began airing October 22, 2018, with a new episode available for viewing every day.[9] Dead Girls Detective Agency was renewed for a third and fourth season and began airing new episodes on August 11, 2019.

In early 2019, Brielle joined Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse, playing Jihad in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, which was released on October 15 of that same year. According to Smith, the "plucky Jihad" is part of a girl gang not unlike the characters played by Shannon Elizabeth, Ali Larter, Jennifer Schwalbach, and Eliza Dushku; however, the girls are not international jewel thieves, and their specific grouping was set up as a commentary on youth and diversity being a common focal-point in Hollywood's reboots and remakes.[10]

On May 12, 2020, it was revealed that Brielle had landed the starring role of the sequel to Mallrats as Banner Bruce, daughter of Brodie Bruce (Jason Lee) and Rene Mosier (Shannen Doherty). This marks her second collaboration with Kevin Smith, who said, "I was so impressed with Aparna Brielle, I built [''Twilight of the Mallrats''] around her."[11]

In August 2021, Brielle joined the cast of Netflix's Boo, Bitch in the role of Riley, who is described as "a mean girl who disguises her meanness through calculated manipulation. Riley has made Erika’s life miserable ever since their freshman year."[12] The mini-series aired on July 8, 2022.

Netflix announced that Brielle would join the cast of their Arnold Schwarzenegger-led spy series FUBAR in April 2022. Brielle plays Tina, "an NSA analyst on loan to the CIA. Despite her youth, she is very good at her job – extremely capable and intelligent, though a bit intimidated by her new colleagues."[13]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014GrimmJennyEpisode: "My Fair Wesen"
2015The LibrariansFlirty waitressEpisode: "And The Fables Of Doom"
2016Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving LifeAttractive womanEpisode: "How to Survive Your Roommate's Girlfriend"
2018–2021A.P. BioSarika SarkarMain cast[14]
2022Boo, BitchRileyMain cast
2023FUBARTinaMain cast
2023Mech CadetsAva PatelMain cast; Voice role

Web

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013Infinite IssuesLylythMain Cast
2017Girly TalesDriver #1Episode: "People Yelling at People Yelling at People"
2018Dead Girls Detective AgencyLorna ReddyMain Cast

Notes and References

  1. News: Portland native Aparna Brielle on playing a brainy student in NBC's 'A.P. Bio' . Kristi . Turnquist . . April 5, 2018 . 2018-04-23.
  2. Web site: Can't believe my baby brother's a strapping young man. Happy 20th birthday, Vijay! You're a real adult now! . Aparna . Brielle . . September 19, 2017 . 2018-03-08.
  3. News: Cosmic Dancer: a young Indian girl channels her ancestors with a bright dance future . Clarke . Kelly . . February 3, 2004 . 2018-03-08.
  4. Web site: The Arts & Communications Magnet Academy presents Godspell . . Fall 2011 . 2018-03-08.
  5. News: Linfield student nabs guest-starring role on NBC's 'Grimm' . ldavis . Linfield News . . May 12, 2014 . 2018-03-08.
  6. News: 'Redliners': Greg Germann Joins NBC Drama Pilot; Aparna Brielle In Seth Meyers Comedy . Petski . Denise . . March 6, 2017 . 2018-03-08.
  7. News: NBC Greenlights Comedy 'AP Bio' Starring Glenn Howerton From Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels . Elizabeth . Wagmeister . . May 8, 2017 . 2018-03-08.
  8. News: Can Snapchat's Shows Keep Users From Disappearing? . Jarvey . Natalie . . October 10, 2018 . 2018-10-25.
  9. News: Snapchat Sets Slate of New Scripted Originals and Docu-Series, Doubling Down on Mobile TV . Spangler . Todd . . October 10, 2018 . 2018-10-25.
  10. Web site: Jay and Silent Bob's Girl Gang Gets a Reboot for International Women's Day. Kevin Burwick. 8 March 2019. MovieWeb.
  11. Web site: I was so impressed with @aparnabrielle, I built my next flick around her: Aparna will play Brodie Bruce's daughter Banner Bruce in the movie I hope to shoot next - TWILIGHT OF THE MALLRATS. @DohertyShannen already read the script and LOVED! Lee reading now! #QuarantineWatchParty. KevinSmith. 2020-05-11. @ThatKevinSmith. en. 2020-05-12.
  12. News: Zoe Colletti, Mason Versaw, Aparna Brielle Join Lana Condor in Netflix Comedy ‘Boo, Bitch’ . Zorilla . Mónica Marie . . August 27, 2021 . 2021-05-13.
  13. News: Netflix’s Arnold Schwarzenegger Series Adds Travis Van Winkle, Gabriel Luna, Fortune Feimster, Jay Baruchel, Milan Carter & More To Cast . Andreeva . Nellie . . April 21, 2022 . 2021-05-13.
  14. News: Edwards. Art. Oregon actress gets featured role in new NBC comedy. January 26, 2018. KGW. 2018-04-23.