By Mallory Mattingly
Actors Paras Patel and Elizabeth Tabish joined Movieguide®’s Jeremy Carroll to discuss how they have transformed over the years on the set of THE CHOSEN.
“For me, when I first booked the role, I was feeling a lot of the emotions that Lilith was feeling, so that was a very easy thing to get into,” Tabish said. “And then Season 2, I was in a kind of better place, and I was worried about having to get back to that dark place. I almost feel like I was hurting myself to get there and to play that sort of hurt.”
“Over the past few years, getting to work with these incredible actors and learn from them and trust them during these scenes has changed my method of performing,” she continued. “I’ve realized you don’t have to hurt yourself to play hurt — you can act, you can play, and you can trust the things your co-stars are giving you. That’s probably the biggest change for me.”
Things were a little different for Patel, who admitted that he wasn’t familiar with his character when he got started.
“From Season 1, I didn’t really know the world or anything that I was getting into, so I always wanted to do my best,” he explained. “In the subsequent seasons, as Matthew got stronger and found his own path, so did I. I feel more confident and just able to be free.”
Patel echoed Tabish, sharing how his castmates helped him truly step into the role.
“When you have co-stars you trust — I remember when we did the scene where Mary relapses in Season 2. We knew each other well, but as scene partners, we didn’t,” he recalled. “I remember when we rehearsed in my hotel room, and we just read it once, and we were like, ‘Oh, I trust you. I can’t wait to see what you do on the day.’ That’s kind of how we work, and that’s how the rest of our cast works. All of us want to make this better; all of us want to do the best we can, so we just trust each other, and it’s magic.”
THE CHOSEN cast kicked off their Season 5 press tour a few weeks ago and even made a stop in India, a special place for Patel.
“The Gateway of India is one of the most popular and iconic landmarks in Mumbai, and it was the backdrop for our welcoming here in India!” he began an Instagram post.
“I also thought this would be a great moment to wear something to showcase my Gujarati background fused with some Chosen teal fish to merge together two things I am immensely proud of,” he added. “The state of Gujarat, where my family is from, is known for its colorful and rich textiles and this Nehru Jacket piece embodies just that. Just like I bring a bit of Paras into Matthew, it was important for me to add some Chosen elements into my traditional wear here, with some style.”
Related: ‘Forever Grateful’: THE CHOSEN Cast Reflects on Show’s Impact
THE CHOSEN: THE LAST SUPPER Part 1 debuted in theaters across the nation on Friday and will be available over the course of the next several weeks. Part 2 will arrive on April 4, and Part 3 comes April 11.
Read Next: When You Can See THE CHOSEN: LAST SUPPER on the Big Screen
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