How Did Adarsh Gourav Prepare for Playing a 10-Year-Old in ‘Alien Earth’?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Adarsh Gourav's role in 'Alien Earth' marks a significant departure from his previous work.
- His preparation involved extensive observation and playful exercises to capture the essence of childhood.
- The character's authenticity was central to his performance.
- The series serves as a prequel to the iconic Alien franchise.
- It explores themes of discovery and confrontation with existential threats.
Mumbai, Sep 8 (NationPress) BAFTA nominated actor Adarsh Gourav, who stars in Ridley Scott’s new release “Alien Earth”, shared insights on his role as a child in the sci-fi series, describing it as a unique experience: “It was unlike anything I’ve ever done before.”
The actor embraced the challenge of portraying a 10-year-old boy, stating: “Playing a child was unlike anything I’ve ever done before—it was an enriching experience that taught me to let go of control. Children live with a sense of abandon and freedom that we often lose as adults, and I wanted to bring that authenticity to the screen.”
To prepare, Adarsh dedicated significant time observing children, noting, “simply watching how they react to situations, how they ask questions, their unpredictability, even their little bursts of silliness and distraction.”
“These became the foundation of my performance.”
He further explained: “We also attended sessions with a child psychologist named April in Bangkok, where we did fun exercises—drawing, making clay sculptures, sharing our childhood stories, even meeting and interacting with our own ‘childhood versions’ through playful activities.”
Adarsh found this process to be both therapeutic and enlightening.
He remarked, “I also spent hours watching content on YouTube, particularly ‘HiHo Kids’, where children engage with individuals from various walks of life and ask the most unexpected, innocent questions. It reminded me of how children perceive the world differently.”
In conclusion, he stated: “Ultimately, when you have a script and a character graph that is so well defined, you surrender to it.”
“Playing this role has been both liberating and challenging, as it constantly reminds you to think less like an adult and more like a child experiencing everything for the first time.”
Alien: Earth is an upcoming American sci-fi horror television series created by Noah Hawley, based on the Alien franchise. This prequel is set two years prior to the original 1979 film Alien.
The narrative follows a young woman and a diverse group of tactical soldiers who, after the space vessel Maginot crash-lands on Earth, uncover a discovery that confronts them with the planet's greatest peril.
This series unfolds when a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, leading a young woman and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers to a fateful revelation that brings them face-to-face with an extraordinary threat.