Archie Panjabi has arrived
Departure star is quietly becoming South Asian actress others look up to
Departure
Season finale airs Thursday, Global
Season 1 of the aviation suspense drama Departure is preparing for landing. The series, which stars Archie Panjabi as a transport safety investigator and Christopher Plummer as her mentor, will wrap up its inaugural batch of episodes Thursday on Global. Production on season 2 is currently underway.
Born in London, England, to Pakistani parents, Panjabi won an Emmy for her role as Kalinda in The Good Wife — it was the first acting Emmy for someone of Asian ancestry. Postmedia spoke with her last year before the pandemic delayed the première of Departure.
Q A lot of fans noted the leather jacket you wear as Kendra on Departure is similar to the leather jackets you wore as Kalinda on The Good Wife. Was that intentional?
A On Departure we dress up in conservative, almost funeral-like outfits — which is right because of the subject matter. But when Kendra's not working, I thought it would be nice for viewers to get a little window into her personality. So we decided that if we had to choose one item of clothing, what would that be? And we went for the red leather. It was nice to get that in, and of course a lot of people commented on how similar the look was to Kalinda's. It wasn't intentional, and looking back it does look like a nod to the character.
Q In addition to starring in Departure, you're also an executive producer — did that allow you to have more feedback and input?
A Normally that would be the case, but on this job I felt like it was a team, so any one who wanted to have input, they were able to. Because of that title, though, it allowed me to get scripts earlier and push forward ideas and suggestions. Creatively it was very fulfilling.
Q I read that you were once told Indian actresses couldn't make it in Hollywood. How do you feel about that statement now?
A When I was 11 years old and looked at Hollywood, and I wanted to aspire to be like someone who looked like me.
Sadly, I still look at Hollywood and film and feel there still isn't an actress with a South Asian background who has really made a mark because I don't feel there are enough roles. I'm not seeing those changes so far.
Q You've done a lot of work for women's rights — has that always been a passion of yours?
A Children and women for sure. I've been drawn to those causes, particularly polio, which I've been an ambassador for the past seven years, I think. They just appeal to me more than anything else.
Q Do you see yourself doing more producing, directing or writing in the future?
A All three. I think a lot of actors are going down that route. They want to be involved in the creative process and take that risk. I feel like when Departure came along, that was where my head was at and I've been trying to make that happen.
Q Who do you look up, in terms of their career on the screen?
A Some Indian women say they look to me, but I don't really have anybody — and have never looked to someone in Hollywood and said that's what I'd like to be.
Q You get to be a trailblazer, then!
A I've got to start writing, haven't I?