Dierdre Friel Talks Ella’s Upcoming Decision on ‘New Amsterdam’ and the Importance of Authenticity [Exclusive Interview]

When I got the chance to talk to Dierdre Friel, who plays New Amsterdam‘s resident barista Ella on the show, the conversation naturally turned to beverages.

“I think Ella probably drinks herbal tea. She seems nervous to me, so I feel like caffeine is not something she leans toward,” Friel said. As for her own cafe favorite, she said it’s usually a chai latte. “There’s something about the chai spices. I love things that have a spice to them.”

That’s the perfect answer because Ella’s storylines are usually a respite from the life-or-death stakes in the main part of the hospital. Yet, they add spice to New Amsterdam that no other medical show has. 

That’s not to say that Ella’s storylines are always light. In the middle of Season 1, she began dating Dr. Kapoor’s (Anupam Kher) son Rohan (Vandit Bhatt) — and she recently discovered she’s pregnant by him and is considering abortion. That is one of the most difficult choices a woman can be faced with. 

But Friel is not shocked that Ella is currently considering abortion.

“She gets pregnant by a guy who she may or may not have been serious about, but it could’ve only been serious up to so much of a point, right?” she said, referring to the fact that fans were still guessing if they were seriously dating or not when Rohan left. 

“So, it doesn’t surprise me that it’s something that she seriously says ‘I don’t know what I’m gonna do about it, because I have to do the right thing for myself. And I have to do the right thing if I’m going to bring a life into the world.’”

Friel couldn’t tell me anything about the choice Ella makes, but I asked her to share any advice she has for her character while she’s considering what to do.

“[I] would say to Ella that she should be quiet and listen to her own heart.”

No matter what choice she makes, it’s going to change Ella’s relationship with Dr. Kapoor. Either friends will become more like family, or she’ll disappoint Vijay by not making him a grandfather. 

It’s safe to say the two of them won’t be dating, though that was a question that loomed in the background of New Amsterdam Season 1.

Playing a character that is possibly at the center of a father/son love triangle may seem strange to some people, but Friel loved the story. “I was really excited because it was super unusual. I’d never seen anything like that [on TV],” she said.

She never even spoke with Kher about whether their characters really liked each other romantically or not. “I think in real life, sometimes you don’t know if somebody likes you or not. And I think sometimes you don’t know if you like somebody or not,” Friel noted.

“[The love triangle] wasn’t to be manipulative. It’s just sometimes how life falls together, right? That’s why I think it’s kind of cool because it’s atypical like real life is.” 

Speaking of real life, Friel is proud of how good New Amsterdam is at casting authentically. The people at the hospital actually look like people walking around New York City.

To take it a step further, when they tell a story about a specific disability or illness, they take care to hire actors who actually live with the condition. 

“Representation in the entertainment industry really matters, and having people portray stories that are their real stories is really important,” she said.

Ella was only supposed to be on the show for a couple of episodes, but thanks to Friel’s chemistry with the cast and the fan response, the role grew. “I really mean this with all my heart. I really am so grateful.”

Fans will learn more about Ella this season than they did on the last, but Friel has no expectations about her character’s future.

“I don’t have wishes that I’m like ‘I hope they do this or that’. The only thing I’ll say completely selfishly is that I hope they keep me around because I just really like this family of people.”

When Friel isn’t serving coffee as Ella at Pan De Vie this holiday season, she’ll be serving something even sweeter playing a baker named Clare in Lifetime’s upcoming Christmas movie Rediscovering Christmas. Be sure to check that out, and don’t forget to catch her on New Amsterdam, airing Tuesdays at 10/9c on NBC.

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