Sarayu Blue Is Raising Awareness for Multiple Myeloma
In the Netflix series Medical Police, Sarayu Blue dons a classic oxford and blazer combo, which, in most instances, is the unmistakable symbol of a responsible working professional. She plays the role of Sloane McIntyre, a spartan CDC agent with a background in martial arts. This is a stark contrast from her character as a storyboard artist on I Feel Bad on NBC, and her many other roles showcasing her multidimensional acting ability.
The Wisconsin native isn't all that different from her acting personas. Personality aside, Sarayu maintains an active lifestyle and has an affinity towards martial arts.
Sarayu has also partnered with the Multiple Myeloma Foundation to raise funds, combat, and spread awareness for the disease. Please read the exclusive interview below to learn more about Sarayu Blue and her work.
Where are you based?
Los Angeles
What got you interested in acting?
I started acting in high school. My first show was Pippin and I immediately felt at home on stage. I feel incredibly lucky that I still get to enjoy that feeling in my life.
You were fairly recently in the NBC comedy, “I Feel Bad.” Can you please tell us a little bit about this show and your character Emet?
“I Feel Bad” was a comedy about a woman who’s a storyboard artist at a videogame company, a mother of three, and whose parents live far too close for comfort. What people seemed most drawn to about the show was how relatable it was, and that’s what I loved about it too. Emet was far from perfect. Like so many of us, she was just trying to keep her head above water. It not only made for great comedy, it was incredibly universal. And, of course, it was particularly exciting to me to see the story told from the female perspective and with an Indian American lead.
You are also currently in The Unicorn on CBS. Can you tell us a little bit about this show? How realistic do you think it is of the current dating scene?
One of the things I was most drawn to about this storyline was how realistic it was. I loved that Anna was a woman who was secure in herself, and that she and Wade had a very real chemistry. I fully related to Wade pretending to have a girlfriend because he didn’t want to be set up. I also related to Anna walking away when she thought Wade was in a relationship. What I loved about their arc was seeing two adults with full lives navigate the dating world.
You live a very active lifestyle, obtaining a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and being a devoted yogi. Why is this important to you?
What’s most important to me is taking care of my spirit. I’m very kinesthetic and I’ve always loved being physical and connected to my body. There are times when I exercise more and times when I do less, just like all of us. But ultimately, for me, it’s about feeling strong and healthy, both physically and mentally.
What got you interested in Tae Kwon Do?
My mother dragged me to the studio and signed me up after she’d seen a demo they did at the mall. I was so mad because I wanted to take dance, but she wanted me to learn how to protect myself. It was one of the best decisions she’s ever made for me. The Tae Kwon Do studio became a second home for me and I loved it so much I went on to compete. And later on I still ended up taking dance.
What is your standard workout routine?
To be honest, I don’t have a standard routine anymore. I used to burn at a high pace and I was all about pushing. Whether it was Tae Kwon Do, dance, running, or the gym, I went hard. Eventually, I found myself getting injured a lot. I had to learn to slow down and pay much closer attention to how I used my body. Yoga is now a staple for me because it keeps me strong and aligned. Outside of that, it constantly varies and is dependent on where I’m working and what’s available to me. Unless it's a dance class, I'm not a huge class person. I’m excited by the kind of workouts that pay attention to alignment over calorie burn.
How often do you get to incorporate these skills into your acting?
I wish I got to use them much more! My dream has always been to be in an action movie. I got to do some fight scenes in “Medical Police,” which was amazing, but I look forward to the day I get to really play!
Jejune loves how active you are with the Multiple Myeloma Foundation and how you were able to recently raise money for them. Can you tell us a little bit about the Multiple Myeloma Foundation, and what inspired your work with them?
Oh thank you, but I can’t really take any credit for that. One of my best friends was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2018. He inspired me every day with his grace, humor, tenaciousness, and honesty in his fight. The first year he was diagnosed, he raised over $35k for the MMRF. The second year, I joined his team and was able to raise over $6k, and his team overall raised nearly $60k. It was inspirational to watch him not only battle this cruel disease, but at the same time spend so much of his time learning about it, and raising money to help battle the disease for others. What I learned through his journey was just how much the MMRF does to raise awareness and combat Multiple Myeloma. There is still so little known about it. So much so that often people are misdiagnosed, sometimes for years. It was incredible to see the advancements through the innovative research and work of the MMRF.
Do you have any advice for anyone diagnosed with cancer?
I can't imagine trying to give any advice. All I have is love for anyone who has to endure this horrific disease.
Do you think a cure for cancer is in the near future?
I hope so with all my heart.
What's next for Sarayu Blue in 2020?
I’m off to shoot a movie in January but I’m not allowed to say what just yet. Other than that, it’s an exciting time because a lot of the work I did for most of 2019 is coming out. My third episode of “The Unicorn” aired January 9th, “Medical Police” came out on Netflix on January 10th, and the second “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” comes out on February 12th. I can’t wait to see it all!
What is your motto in life?
Stay in the present. The rest is out of your hands. Ask for what you need, so you can succeed. Trust your feelings/gut/intuition over everyone's advice. It's ok to disappoint people, especially if it means preserving yourself.
To learn more about Sarayu Blue and her work, please follow her via the following links.
https://themmrf.org
Instagram: sarayublue
Photography credit: Courtney Lindberg Photography
