Priya Kansara Reflects on Her Role in Project Hail Mary with Ryan Gosling

Priya Kansara's Exciting Journey in Project Hail Mary

Priya Kansara, a British-Indian actress, recently shared her experience working alongside Ryan Gosling in the sci-fi hit Project Hail Mary, where she voiced the computer character Mary. Initially, she felt a wave of anxiety at the thought of collaborating with someone she greatly admired, but she found Gosling to be remarkably supportive and engaging. Kansara expressed her disbelief when her agent informed her about the opportunity to be part of this space drama directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. “The directors had seen my previous work and thought I was humorous, which is quite astonishing... I immediately said yes to the chance to work with them,” she remarked.

Known for her performances in Bridgerton and the indie film Polite Society, Kansara noted that unlike many voice actors who record their lines post-filming, she was present on set for Project Hail Mary every day. “They constructed a small sound booth for me on set, allowing me to react to Ryan in real-time, take after take, and we often improvised together. I would rehearse with him, then retreat to my booth with a screen to watch him and speak directly into his earpiece. Ryan is incredibly witty and a fantastic improviser. I was initially intimidated to work with someone I’ve admired for so long, but he made it easy and created many humorous moments,” she shared.

The film's plot centers around Ryland Grace, an American middle-school science teacher and former molecular biologist. Interestingly, Kansara shares a background in molecular biology, having graduated from University College London in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in the field. At 30 years old and born to Gujarati parents in London, she revealed that her family has always supported her acting aspirations. “My family doesn’t have a background in acting; it’s just something I loved as a child. I pursued molecular science, attended university, and worked, but I also took evening classes in drama and acting. Eventually, I decided to leave my job to focus on acting full-time,” she explained.

She fondly recalls spending Sundays watching Bollywood films with her mother, which fueled her passion for dance and performance. “That experience really shaped my love for the arts,” she added.

Now, Kansara is eager to embrace diverse experiences to enhance her acting skills. “I want to challenge myself by stepping into uncomfortable situations, as it signifies that I’m genuinely learning something new. I aspire to collaborate with more creative individuals and tell captivating stories,” she concluded.