White Dress: Nadine Merabi: £345: www.nadinemerabi.com
Eye of the storm earrings: Celeste Starre: £130: www.celestestarre.com

Amrita Acharia is a Nepalese-Ukrainian actress. As a child she lived in Ukraine, Kathmandu, England, and Norway. She eventually moved back to England after graduation to pursue her career of acting. She Is known for her roles in "Game of Thrones," "The Sister," "The Good Karma Hospital," "I am Yours," and more. Recently, she has been working on a period drama television series, "The Serpent Queen." The series is based on Leonie Frieda's book "Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France." Amrita plays the role of Aabis and stars with Samantha Morton, Charles Dance, and Adam Garcia.

**Left:**
Brown mini dress with embroidered pocket in leather: Maison Makarem: $650: www.maisonmakarem.com
Gold Earrings: PD Paola: £62: www.pdpaola.com
**Right:**
Black fringed suede jacket: Maison Makarem: $650: www.maisonmakarem.com

What or who inspired you to pursue acting?
I'd say it was a considered accident. Having grown up very academic and structured, one could say it was a retaliation against the more traditional choices I thought I'd make. Among other things, I wanted to be a doctor, writer, psychologist, sculptor, tattoo artist and a designer. Maybe acting was a way to have it all. The inspiration to pursue it was the possibility of creating to provoke and inspire, and a space where imagination can only thrive.

Tell us about The Serpent Queen?
It is Justin Haythe's contemporary and vivid adaptation of Leonie Frieda's book, "Catherine de Medici." The show intercuts between two timeframes and brazenly recounts the story of Catherine de Medici's rise to power and the brutal and manipulative games she is willing to play to get there. She was one of the most ruthless women of her time, and the show entices you in by breaking the fourth wall and daring you to question her choices. The Serpent Queen is dark, funny and pacey, and navigates the politics of the French court with a no holds barred realism.

What helped you to relate to and connect with your character, Aabis?
Aabis is an outsider much like the rest of Catherine's posse. She is from the Ottoman empire, and, as a woman of color, already different by appearance. Having moved around a lot, embracing my differences and adapting to an environment, adopting parts of other cultures and calling new cities home and new faces friends has always been part of my life. As such, I could say "otherness" was a way of connecting with Aabis, who similarly comes from elsewhere. What was interesting to explore with her was her acute awareness of the danger she is always in--of losing her position and safety at court, of falling out of favor, and how to navigate where loyalties should lie.

What is one of your favorite memories from filming "Game of Thrones?"
It was the opportunity to work with so many directors early on in my career and being able to see all the work behind the scenes, especially in terms of costume and set that brought everything to life. I can't point to one single moment as it was such a huge show with such incredible locations and people involved.

**Left:**
Black fringed suede jacket: Maison Makarem: $650: www.maisonmakarem.com
**Right:**
White Dress: Nadine Merabi: £345: www.nadinemerabi.com
Eye of the storm earrings: Celeste Starre: £130: www.celestestarre.com

What actress, actor, or director have you been dreaming of working with?
I've just watched "Nope" recently, so at the moment, I'd say Jordan Peele. I love creators who push the boat out and aren't afraid of doing something unpredictable.

What are your goals for the future?
To contribute to a properly diverse and inclusive way of storytelling that depicts real and nuanced stories, rather than regurgitating old stereotypes and keeping within "safe" boundaries. I think it’s important that generations to come feel their stories count and matter and that they are represented realistically within artistic expression.

**Left:**
Drawstring open back waistcoat: Syra J: £339: www.syra-j.com
All the way side zip tape jeans: Syra J: £378: www.syra-j.com
Sunken Treasure Earrings: Celeste Starre: £130: www.celestestarre.com
Diamond Ring: PD Paola: £71: www.pdpaola.com
Sigment Ring: PD Paola: £71: www.pdpaola.com
White Shoes: Maxine: £320: www.maxineshoes.com
**Right:**
Wrap detail green dress: Rowley Hesselballe: £399: www.rowleyhesselballe.com
I am Fierce Ring: Celeste Starre: £150: www.celestestarre.com
Sunken Treasure Earrings: Celeste Starre: £130: www.celestestarre.com

In terms of acting, I'd like to branch out into different genres and types of roles: action, thrillers, or a comedy would be great to act in next. It would be very up my street to explore a role that requires physical training or a physical transformation. After all, that is the beauty of acting: transforming into someone else totally different from you for a short while. Creatively, I've started directing and writing, and will be pursuing those avenues. I'm developing a film at the moment with my writing partner Max Krupski, so the initial goal is a feature film directorial debut.

After taking a break over covid, it’s also been great to resume miy and, my co-host, Sagar Radia's podcast, '"Rule, Not The Exception," which has just released its third season. It's our passion project and we hope it will go from strength to strength as we have more conversations with inspiring voices within the industry and beyond. Otherwise, I'd like to invest more time in my hobbies, learn a different language, spend time with my cat and family, and keep trying to grow things on my allotment! Oh, and travel. Always travel.

Social Media.
Instagram: @amritaacharia1

Black fringed suede jacket: Maison Makarem: $650: www.maisonmakarem.com

CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Photographer: David Reiss
Talent: Amrita Acharia
Fashion Stylist: Harriet Byczok at The Only Agency
Hair: Sophie Sugarman
Makeup: Andriani Vasiliou at Stella Creative Artists
Tearsheets: Daniel López, Associate Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview: Camille Guidry, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
*There are no animal feathers in this shoot.