You probably know her as the chaotic, superpower-mimicking Lila Pitts from The Umbrella Academy. Or maybe you caught her as the kick-ass Lena in Polite Society. But honestly, Ritu Arya has been grinding in the industry way longer than most people realize. She didn't just appear out of thin air when Netflix called.
Before she was trading blows with the Hargreeves siblings, she was actually studying the stars—literally. She has a degree in astrophysics from the University of Southampton. Can you imagine? Most of us can barely handle basic algebra, and she’s out here calculating orbital mechanics before heading to the Oxford School of Drama. It’s that weird, brilliant background that makes her performances feel so grounded, even when she's playing an android or a secret agent.
The Breakout: How Lila Pitts Changed Everything
If we're talking about Ritu Arya movies and tv shows, we have to start with the big one. When she joined the cast of The Umbrella Academy in Season 2, she wasn't just another supporting character. She was a grenade thrown into a room full of emotional glass.
Lila Pitts was messy. She was a villain, then a love interest, then a tragic daughter, and finally a member of the family. Arya played that complexity with a sort of "I don't care" attitude that masked a massive amount of trauma. Watching her go toe-to-toe with Diego (played by David Castañeda) was basically the highlight of the later seasons.
The show wrapped up its fourth and final season in late 2024. For a lot of fans, it felt like the end of an era. But for Ritu, it was clearly just a launchpad.
From Medical Dramas to Sci-Fi Synths
Most people don't know that she got her start in British soaps. It’s the classic UK actor pipeline. She played Dr. Megan Sharma in Doctors from 2013 to 2017. She even got a British Soap Award nomination for it.
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Then there was Humans. Remember that show about the "Synths" (the creepy lifelike androids)? She played Flash, a synth who starts to develop consciousness. It was a small-ish role, but it showed she could do that robotic-yet-human transition perfectly.
Then came the guest spots. She popped up in:
- Sherlock (The Sign of Three)
- The Tunnel
- Doctor Who (as Gat, which was a huge deal for Whovians)
- The Stranger
It’s funny because if you go back and re-watch these shows now, you’ll have that "Wait, is that Lila?" moment every five minutes.
Breaking Into Hollywood: Red Notice and Barbie
In 2021, she moved into the big leagues with Red Notice. It’s a massive Netflix blockbuster starring The Rock, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot. Arya played Inspector Urvashi Das. Honestly? She was the only one who felt like an actual adult in that movie. While the big stars were riffing and doing their usual thing, she was the relentless Interpol agent actually trying to catch them.
Then, she landed a role in the Barbie movie. Yes, Ritu Arya is a Barbie. Specifically, Journalist Barbie. It wasn't the biggest role, but being part of a literal cultural phenomenon is a massive flex. It proved she could fit into a Greta Gerwig world just as easily as a gritty superhero world.
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Why Polite Society Is Her Best Work (Seriously)
If you haven't seen Polite Society, go watch it. Right now.
She plays Lena Khan, a girl who drops out of art school and gets engaged to a guy who is definitely too good to be true. Her younger sister, Ria, decides to "save" her by staging a massive heist. It’s a mix of Jane Austen and John Wick.
Arya is incredible here because she plays the "disappointed older sister" role so realistically. You can feel her character’s burnout and loss of ambition. It’s a very different energy than her usual high-octane roles, and it's probably her most "human" performance to date.
The New Era: Paris Has Fallen and Beyond
As of 2024 and 2025, Arya has moved into leading lady territory. She starred in Paris Has Fallen, which is a TV spin-off of the Has Fallen film franchise (the ones where Gerard Butler usually saves a president).
She plays Zara Taylor, an MI6 operative. It’s a gritty, high-stakes espionage thriller that really lets her lean into the action-star persona she’s been building for years. She worked with real spies to prepare for the role, which explains why she looks so natural holding a weapon and cleared rooms like a pro.
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The Full List: Ritu Arya Movies and TV Shows
Sometimes you just need a list to check off. Here is the breakdown of her most notable work so you can binge-watch appropriately.
Major Television Roles
- The Umbrella Academy (2020–2024): Lila Pitts (The role that made her a star).
- Paris Has Fallen (2024): Zara Taylor (Her big leading action role).
- Doctors (2013–2017): Dr. Megan Sharma (The soap opera roots).
- Humans (2016–2018): Flash (The robot era).
- Feel Good (2020): Lava (A great, messy dramedy on Netflix).
- Sticks and Stones (2019): Becky (A psychological thriller about bullying).
Key Movie Appearances
- Polite Society (2023): Lena Khan (The must-watch indie).
- Barbie (2023): Journalist Barbie.
- Red Notice (2021): Inspector Urvashi Das.
- Last Christmas (2019): Jenna.
- Daphne (2017): Rachida.
What’s Next for Ritu Arya in 2026?
Looking ahead, the industry buzz is all about her moving into more producing roles. She’s already shown she has the range to handle everything from slapstick comedy to heavy sci-fi.
There have been rumors about her joining another major franchise—possibly something in the MCU or a return to prestige British drama—but for now, she seems focused on projects that allow for more South Asian representation without being stereotypical. She’s spoken openly about how she wants to take up space and have a voice in an industry that didn't always have room for people who looked like her.
Honestly, whether she’s playing a drummer (she actually plays drums in real life for the band KIN) or an assassin, you know it's going to be interesting.
If you want to dive deeper into her work, start with The Umbrella Academy for the fun, then hit Polite Society for the heart. By the time you get to Paris Has Fallen, you'll realize she's basically the next big action icon. Check her out on social media too; she’s surprisingly low-key for someone who’s been in two of the biggest movies of the decade.
Actionable Insights for Fans
To truly appreciate her range, watch her roles in this specific order:
- Doctors (Early 2017 episodes): To see her raw talent before the Hollywood gloss.
- The Umbrella Academy (Season 2): To see the "Lila" charm that everyone fell in love with.
- Polite Society: To see her carry a film with emotional depth and physical stunt work.