Sarayu Rao (born March 7, 1975), also known as Sarayu R. Blue, is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her recurring role as Angela on the Fox sitcom Sons of Tucson, as well as Dr. Sydney Napur on David E. Kelley's Monday Mornings on TNT. She has also guest starred in a number of television series.

Sarayu Rao
Born (1975-03-07) March 7, 1975 (age 49)
Other namesSarayu R. Blue
EducationUniversity of Iowa (BA)
American Conservatory Theater (MFA)
OccupationActress
Years active2002–present
SpouseJonathan Blue
Parents
Websitesarayurao.com

Acting career

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Rao's first notable acting role came in the 2007 film Lions for Lambs, co-starring with Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, and Meryl Streep.[1] She has had guest roles in numerous TV shows, such as Veep, Bones, The Big Bang Theory, HawthoRNe, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Two and a Half Men. In 2010, she had a recurring role as Angela on the Fox sitcom Sons of Tucson; the show lasted one season. In 2012, Sarayu was cast as Dr. Sydney Napur, a series regular on David E. Kelley's medical drama Monday Mornings (TNT). In 2018, the actress became the lead in NBC TV series, I Feel Bad.[2] It was cancelled after season 1. In the same year, Rao was paired opposite John Cena in the Universal Pictures comedy Blockers.[3]

Personal life

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Rao was born in Madison, Wisconsin, to a Telugu family from India. Her parents are Velcheru Narayana Rao and Nidadavolu Malathi, who is a writer of short stories and articles, in Telugu and English.[4] She married Jonathan Blue, the Director of Creative Development at ReKon Productions.[5] Rao attended West High School in Madison.[6] She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in acting in 2005 from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Leela Mira
2007 Lions for Lambs Senator Irving's Receptionist
2008 My Best Friend's Girl Delia TV movie
2010 Nathan vs. Nurture Padma TV movie
2011 Outnumbered Lisa Ruth TV movie
Good News, Oklahoma Sissy Short
2012 ...Or Die Riz's Wife Short
2013 Dealin' with Idiots Opposing Team Parent
2018 Khol (open) Vidya Short
Blockers Marcie Mannes
2020 To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Trina Rothschild [8]
Happiest Season Carolyn McCoy
2021 To All the Boys: Always and Forever Trina Rothschild
2022 Hollywood Stargirl Alex
2023 A Million Miles Away Kalpana Chawla
2024 Inside Out 2 Margie Voice[9]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 Bones TV Reporter Episode: "The Man on Death Row"
2006 Related Nurse #1 Episode: "Here's a Balloon for You"
2007 Dirt Assistant Pharmacist Episode: "Pilot"
Side Order of Life Claire Philips Episode: "What Price Truth?"
The Big Bang Theory Lalita Gupta Episode: "The Grasshopper Experiment"
2008 Unhitched Doreep Episode: "Yorkshire Terrier Sucked Into the Internet"
Untitled Liz Meriwether Project Rupa Episode: "Pilot"
2009 Life Deepa Episode: "Hit Me Baby"
Hawthorne Lindsay Bernard Episode: "Healing Time"
2010 Sons of Tucson Angela Recurring cast
Outsourced Vimi Recurring cast
2011 Harry's Law Tiffany Episode: "Pilot"
In Plain Sight Sudha Kumar Episode: "Kumar vs Kumar"
Franklin and Bash Abha Jaya Episode: "Big Fish"
Un-Natural Selection Kate TV series
2011–14 NCIS: Los Angeles Dr. Susan DePaul 3 episodes
2012 Fairly Legal Allison Episode: "Start Me Up"
2013 Monday Mornings Dr. Sydney Napur Main cast
The Bridge Doctor Episode: "Take the Ride, Pay the Toll"
2014 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Dr. Jazuat Episode: "T.A.H.I.T.I."
Grey's Anatomy Pam Episode: "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
2015 Two and a Half Men Emily Episode: "Don't Give a Monkey a Gun"
Chasing Life Dr. Lin Episode: "The Ghost in You"
2016 The Real O'Neals Marcia Worthman Recurring cast: season 1
Veep Dr. Mirpuri Episode: "Mother"
Rizzoli & Isles Iris Najafi Episode: "There Be Ghosts"
2016–17 No Tomorrow Kareema Main cast
2018 Wisdom of the Crowd Defense Attorney Quinn Episode: "The Tipping Point"
Station 19 Audrey Episode: "Hot Box"
I Feel Bad Emet Main cast
2019–20 The Unicorn Anna Recurring cast: season 1
2020 Medical Police Sloane McIntyre Recurring cast
Mira, Royal Detective Various Characters (voice) 2 episodes
The Rocketeer Various Characters (voice) 3 episodes
2021 Dug Days Bird (voice) Episode: "Science"
The Shrink Next Door Miriam Recurring cast
2022 Never Have I Ever Rhyah Recurring cast: season 3
2023 History of the World, Part II Publisher Episode 1
2023-2024 Velma Diya Dinkley (voice) Recurring cast; Credited as Sarayu Blue
2024 Expats Hilary Starr Main cast
TBA Good American Family Valika Recurring role[10]

References

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  1. ^ Mason, Aiden (2 March 2018). "Five Things You Didn't Know About Sarayu Blue". tvovermind.com.
  2. ^ Saraiya, Sonia (4 October 2018). "I Feel Bad and the Uncanny Valley of On-Screen Representation". Vanity Fair.
  3. ^ "Sarayu Rao Stars Opposite John Cena in 'Blockers', Set to Headline NBC Comedy Pilot". India West. 28 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Telugu women writers" (TXT). Archive.org. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Meet ReKon Director Of Creative Development & Producer: Jon Blue". rekonproductions.com.
  6. ^ "West High Grad Plays Part In Redford's New Film". WISC-TV. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original on 11 November 2007.
  7. ^ "Un-Natural Selection - Meet the Cast". Un-naturalselection.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  8. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (4 April 2019). "Holland Taylor, Madeleine Arthur & Sarayu Blue Join 'All The Boys I've Loved Before' Sequel". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Disney and Pixar's 'Inside Out 2' Reveals New Trailer and Voice Cast". thewaltdisneycompany.com. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  10. ^ Thompson, Eliza (2024-08-25). "Ellen Pompeo's Orphan-Like Series Gets a Title". Parade. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
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