The third time is a charm for Linfield sophomore Aparna Parthasarathy. That’s the number of auditions it took for her to earn a role on the NBC drama Grimm. The supernatural drama is based in Portland where it also shoots its episodes.
Set your DVR: KGW viewers can catch Aparna’s episode on Saturday, May 3, at 2:07 a.m. Yes, that is not a mistake! Due to the Blazers playoff game Friday night, Grimm was rescheduled for 2:07 a.m. on Saturday morning. The show normally airs at 9 p.m. on Fridays. Check your local listings.
“My first audition was for a non-speaking role, which got cut from the script,” Parthasarathy said. “I’m glad it did! This guest star role allowed me to really explore a character and hone my craft.”
Parthasarathy, whose stage name is Aparna Brielle, has been acting in the Portland area since her high school days. In addition to Grimm, she auditioned for the TNT drama Leverage when it shot in Portland.
Today, she juggles the challenges of being a full-time student with audition opportunities in Portland. She’s chosen to be a marketing major at Linfield in part to help her with the self-promotion aspects that invariably come with being an actor. After graduation, she plans to head to Hollywood to continue her acting career.
“To be an actor, you have to work from life experiences. Going to college at Linfield has definitely aided that process — through classes and by getting involved with the community, I’ve learned so much about myself that I think has really helped with my work,” Parthasarathy said. “Not to mention I really feel I’ve had a great education outside of the acting world, so far.”
Parthasarathy is the second Linfield connection to Grimm. Back in 2011, Linfield nursing graduate Jorge Juliano ’09 appeared on the pilot episode, which was shot at Good Samaritan Hospital in the critical care unit where Juliano works.
