Exclusive - Butterfly actress Piper Perabo says keen to work in a Bollywood film: 'I'll tell Christopher Nolan to wait'

Piper Perabo and Louis Landou play a mother-and-son duo in Butterfly.

Hollywood actress Piper Perabo, known for her roles in films like Coyote Ugly, The Prestige to name a few, will be seen playing an antagonist, Juno Lund in the upcoming espionage thriller 'Butterfly'.

In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, Piper spoke highly about Indian movies, Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra and her willingness to come to India for work.

With over 25 years in the industry, Piper Perabo has carved out a diverse career for herself - from the cult hit Coyote Ugly (2000), to action-heavy series like Covert Affairs, to working with directors like Christopher Nolan in The Prestige (2006).

Asked why she hasn’t worked with Christopher Nolan again since 2006, Perabo grins and replies: "From your lips to God’s ears. I love Chris. He and his wife Emma [Thomas] are such an incredible team. I know he’s working on the Ulysses story right now, and when the schedules align, I’d be thrilled to work with him again.”

But there's one dream project she’s willing to put even Christopher Nolan on hold for.

“I would love to work in India. Honestly, tell all the Indian filmmakers, I’m available. I'll tell Christopher Nolan to wait," she laughs.

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Piper was all praise for global star Priyanka Chopra and said she recently watched Heads of State. Piper said India has a lot of talent and even thanked India for lending Priyanka to Hollywood.

Priyanka Chopra in Heads of State

Piper gushes over Priyanka Chopra: “I just saw her in Heads of State and she’s fantastic. India has so many amazing actors, we can borrow them and give them back. Thank you for lending us Priyanka, even for a little while."

Talking about her upcoming spy thriller Butterfly, Piper said it was a lovely experience shooting in Seoul with Daniel Dae Kim, Reina Hardesty, Louis Landau and others. The actress revealed that they all stayed in the same hotel for six months and bonded over industry gossip and good food.

Talking about the series, in the sleek, stylised world of Butterfly, a gripping new thriller, there's more than just guns and government secrets at play, there’s also an emotional core powered by the complex relationship between Juno, a ruthless former intelligence chief, and her emotionally entangled son Oliver played by young Louis Landau.

Louis Landau is a breakout performer bringing raw vulnerability and depth to the screen.

Watch the Exclusive interview: 

Bonding in Seoul

Set in South Korea and shot over six intense months, Butterfly centers on a family embroiled in the dangerous web of global espionage. Juno (Perabo), head of the shadowy organisation Caddis, finds herself at odds with her son Oliver (Landau), who just wants his mum's approval.

“It was really fun. Louis and I, and the rest of the cast, lived in the same hotel in Seoul for six months. We had rehearsals, dinners, so much time to really build out these characters and relationships,” Perabo says of the shoot.

Louis echoes her sentiment: "Under any other circumstance, six months in the same hotel might make you go mad. But because of the company, Piper, Daniel [Dae Kim], and the creators, it turned into this amazing, almost camp-like experience. We were constantly hanging out, having barbecue, gossiping about industry rumours."

Emotional at heart

What sets Butterfly apart in the saturated world of spy thrillers is its emotional depth.

“I think the most exciting part of the show is that it’s not just action, it’s about a fractured family. Oliver is someone who's sacrificed his agency to please his mother. I think that resonates with a lot of people, says Landau.

Perabo adds, “It’s something a lot of modern women relate to, being a boss at work and then coming home to fix scraped knees. Juno is extreme, but that duality makes her human.”

Created by the acclaimed minds behind recent genre-benders, Butterfly merges sleek espionage action with intimate, often painful family dynamics. That emotional layer, both actors agree, is what elevates the show.

“There’s wall-to-wall action but if you don’t care about the people in the fight, it’s just noise. This show lets you understand the stakes behind every punch," explains Piper.

For Louis, the emotional scenes are what make Oliver’s story special. “He’s not a typical spy hero. He’s a son—conflicted, craving approval. That’s where the real drama lies.”

Mutual admiration and generational chemistry

Piper is quick to praise her younger co-star: “Louis is highly trained, even if he’s too humble to admit it. On set, he’s a total pro. I may not know every app he uses or Instagram trend he follows, but when it comes to the work, he’s deeply serious.”

Louis beams at the compliment. “Getting to do so many scenes with Piper was the highlight. We just... clicked. She’s so generous as an actor and as a person.”

Talking about Piper, she made her debut with Whiteboyz (1999) and her breakout role was in Coyote Ugly (2000). Her notable performances have been in Cheaper by the Dozen, The Prestige, Looper, Because I Said So. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in TV show 'Covert Affairs'.

Talking about Butterfly, its a character-driven spy thriller centering on David Jung (Daniel Dae Kim), a former U.S. intelligence who comes back from the 'dead' to take back his daughter Rebecca (played by Reina Hardesty), who has now become an assassin for Caddis, which overseen by the cold but its complex head, Juno (Piper Perabo).