Freida Pinto

Freida Selena Pinto (born 18 October 1984) is an Indian actress who has appeared mainly in American and British films. She was born and raised in Mumbai, India, and decided to become an actress at a young age. As a student at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, she took part in amateur plays. After graduation, she briefly worked as a model and then as a television presenter.

Pinto rose to prominence through the 2008 British drama film Slumdog Millionaire, her first appearance in a film. Her performance was well received by critics, and she won the Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. She was also nominated for various awards at the British Academy Film Awards, MTV Movie Awards, and Teen Choice Awards. Pinto has subsequently appeared in a number of British and American productions including You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Immortals (2011), Trishna (2011), and Desert Dancer (2014).

Although the Indian media has credited Pinto with breaking the stereotypical image of an Indian woman in foreign films, it criticised her for not acting in Indian films. In addition to her acting career, she engages in philanthropic activities and promotes humanitarian causes.