'Slumdog' Star: 'Not in My Wildest Dreams'

Feb. 22, 2009 -- In tonight's 81st annual Academy Awards, "Slumdog Millionaire" is among the nominees -- some even say the favored nominee -- for best picture. ABC's David Muir recently had the opportunity to speak with the film's leading actress, Freida Pinto, 24, about her first feature film in the United States. Below is the transcript of their conversation.

David Muir: How are you feeling? Any butterflies?

Freida Pinto: A bit nervous but well excited. This is my first time at the Oscars ever. First film and first massive major awards ceremony so, very excited.

David Muir: You say this is your first Oscars, in fact it's your first real movie ever, right?

Freida Pinto: Absolutely, first movie ever. It all started two years ago with an audition process that lasted six months. I had absolutely no idea whether I was going to be in or out and after six months I was finalized as Latika. So it took me a long while to get there but it was worth every moment that I put in.

David Muir: If you had to go back in time just a year or two could you ever have imagined being in Hollywood walking down red carpet?

Freida Pinto: No, absolutely not. I don't' think so because even when I was auditioning to the film, I really didn't think it was going to be one of those films that goes to the Oscars. It was just one of those films which I knew was a special film, and that was it. It just started with it and ended at that. So I think it's a massive blessing.

David Muir: Did you ever have dreams that you would be one of these actresses picking out a dress for the Oscars?

Freida Pinto: Well, I always had dreams about wearing dresses and meeting actresses and actors who I've always admired and idolized, but I didn't think it was going to be a the Oscars.

David Muir: How difficult was it to shoot the move in those neighborhoods?

Freida Pinto: You know the most challenging part was to get people to not look into the camera because what happens is back in India, very much like in America, people are crazy about the film industry and the moment they see a camera and the moment they see a director, they actors they start looking straight into the camera. You have to include everyone in Mumbai -- there's a million people around commuting, probably going to work, going back home with these million stories written on their faces, you have include all of them and that's what makes this film really complete. So I guess it might have been a challenge but Danny Boyle, they had to take it up, he did the job.