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‘Andor’s’ Elizabeth Dulau on Kleya’s ‘heartbreaking’ moment with Luthen

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This story contains spoilers for “Andor” Season 2, including Episodes 10 through 12.

Upon learning about the plans for her character in Season 2 of “Andor,” as shared by showrunner Tony Gilroy, Elizabeth Dulau couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh.

The actor, playing the character Kleya Marki, the enigmatic and unyielding rebel spy in “Star Wars,” expresses disbelief at what he heard, remarking, “I simply couldn’t fathom it.” His immediate reaction was, “I must hide this information for years now. How on earth will I manage to keep this secret?

In the climactic three-episode stretch of “Andor,” I play a crucial part. Once Imperial spies manage to uncover Luthen Rael’s (Stellan Skarsgård) clandestine links to the Rebellion, this antiques dealer contemplates taking his own life rather than fall into their hands for questioning. However, he fails in his attempt. It then falls upon me to wrap up his remaining business and discreetly pass on crucial intelligence to the rebels stationed at Yavin.

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In the creation of ‘Andor,’ the role of Tony Gilroy’s brothers, Dan (a writer) and John (an executive producer and editor), was crucial in completing the most recent season of the ‘Star Wars’ series.

In 2023, Dulau found out about Kleya’s storyline for Season 2, even though she wasn’t certain if she would be asked back, as Gilroy phoned to share his plan of bringing her character back to life.

Dulau expressed that he was thankful for his timely advice as it allowed him ample time to carefully consider how to approach that significant scene. He shared, ‘We aim for her to be the one taking his life, and we want this moment to be all the more poignant because she can’t say goodbye beforehand.’

In the concluding episodes of “Andor”, Kleya employs the abilities she’d developed as Luthen’s closest and most reliable ally, sneaking into a well-guarded hospital to find him. However, instead of freeing Luthen to rescue him, Kleya’s only choice is to disconnect him from the life-support systems. Subsequently, she ensures that the information Luthen sacrificed his life for reaches the Rebellion.

According to Gilroy, there isn’t a single subpar scene of her in the editing bay that we found, and he likened Dulau to Meryl Streep. He was simply astounded by her performance, using the word “unbelievable” to express his astonishment.

In her debut role post-graduation from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, “Andor” will be Dulau’s first acting gig. Initially, this opportunity presented itself as a character in an unnamed Disney+ production; however, it was hinted that it was actually for a “Star Wars” project. Since then, she has landed roles on series such as “All the Light We Cannot See,” “Gentleman Jack,” and the forthcoming “House of Guinness.

In Season 1, Kleya is intriguingly enigmatic, as Dulau points out. She appears to be significant yet remains somewhat on the edges, which leaves many unanswered questions. It’s fascinating how much of her mystery gets unraveled in this season.

It astounds her to note that, in the end, Kleya’s actions played a significant part in the Rebel Alliance acquiring the Death Star blueprints which they later used to ultimately overpower the Empire.

Dulau acknowledges the significance of Tony including him in the Star Wars storyline, saying it’s mind-blowing since it’s such an iconic piece of history. Now, he has a tiny slice of that legacy.

In a condensed and streamlined discussion, Dulau talks about Kleya and Luthen’s bond, the unwavering dedication of his character to the Uprising, and collaborating with Stellan Skarsgård.

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In simpler terms, the actor portraying Senator Mon Mothma from Chandrila discusses the evolution of the character who eventually leads the Rebellion and her powerful speech against the Emperor, as depicted in Episode 9.

In Episode 10, a lot transpired. Could you tell me about the strategy you used when it came to the climactic scene where Kleya disconnects Luthen from life support?

In simpler terms, Tony emphasized to me that he didn’t want Kleya to completely lose control during the scene. However, her breakdown occurs later since she’s still in a state of action. I aimed to portray the deep-seated love and conflict between Kleya and Luthen, a love that developed despite their better judgments. The hate stemmed from the past when Luthen, working for the Empire, destroyed the community Kleya lived in. Kleya was not a child during this event; she would recall her family members and friends. On that day, Luthen wasn’t innocent, but he did manage to save Kleya. However, we don’t know what transpired outside of his ship after the rescue.

Over the ensuing 15 years, we find ourselves safeguarding one another and repeatedly rescuing each other. Despite our better instincts, a bond of love gradually develops between us. It feels like an unseen force is constantly tugging us apart, making it terrifying to admit the truth – we’ve grown to care deeply for one another amidst this dreadful situation. In that crucial moment before I strike, I struggle to convey in just a few words how much our shared history and feelings matter.

On that fateful day, I found myself lost in thought quite frequently. Daydreaming is a significant part of my approach. I often daydreamed about the events of that day – the destruction wrought by Luther and his men upon Kleya’s people. Additionally, I imagined scenes that never happened, such as the first time Luthen made Kleya laugh or cherished moments shared between them. In my mind, these dreamt-up scenarios seemed like vivid, intrusive memories for Kleya as she strove to concentrate on her mission.

What was your initial take on Kleya and Luthen’s dynamic?

In the first season, I found myself captivated by his attentiveness to Kleya’s words. He genuinely listens to her, values her insights, and allows her a level of intimacy that he doesn’t share with anyone else. However, their relationship isn’t typical, like a father-daughter bond or boss-assistant dynamic. Instead, there’s an unusual equality, which is quite uncommon in portrayals of older men and younger women. I was intrigued by this aspect and enjoyed the challenge of confronting Stellan Skarsgård in Season 1, even though it was intimidating, it was also a lot of fun.

Discovering their past, I could understand so much about Kleya. It truly moved me to tears. If circumstances had been different, Luthen might have simply been an antiques enthusiast. As he toughens up for his duties, he unintentionally hardens the soft-hearted girl, Kleya. This revelation showed me that beneath her tough exterior lies something incredibly tender and loving. She’s so tough because she’s shielding a deep pain. She avoids forming friendships or falling in love. Instead, she becomes as lethal as possible. Yet, despite themselves, feelings of affection grow between them, and they both stand to lose these emotions. Neither one is prepared to acknowledge it.

In “Andor”, many characters make significant sacrifices. However, it’s clear that Kleya’s sacrifices have been a constant and prolonged affair.

Indeed, she declares, “I haven’t had these things recently, but I have always lacked them.” She has pared down her life, removing anything that might expose her weaknesses. Emotions such as joy, love, and friendship are some of the most precious treasures a person can possess, yet they also leave one open and susceptible. And Kleya cannot risk being exposed in this manner. She convinces herself, “I have nothing left to lose. Everything is for the Rebellion.” However, she is deceiving herself. It isn’t until Episode 10 that she realizes what she truly stands to lose – Luthen. And she is prepared to do so. She is ready to make sacrifices.

It seems like the closest Kleya has to a frenemy of sorts is Vel, but how do you see their dynamic?

In a different wording: Vel seems to affect Mon Mothma deeply, despite her being a strong-willed person. Remarkably, Vel cultivates close relationships with Mon Mothma, her cousin, and Cinta. It’s surprising for Kleya that Vel permits herself to be emotionally involved. Kleya finds it hard to comprehend such vulnerability. Yet, perhaps there is a hint of envy in Kleya’s thoughts – Vel enjoys connections and experiences that Kleya longs for too.

What was your take on Kleya’s journey to Yavin and the outcome of her and Luthen’s efforts? As it turns out, there are still some unresolved matters for her.

In my perspective, I’ve often felt that her mission was her last stand, delivering the Death Star intel to Cassian and getting it to Yavin. You understand, Cassian needed to persuade her to join him at Yavin, a place she didn’t want to go. I wasn’t sure how much more she had left to offer at that point, given her state of exhaustion. Overwhelmed by grief for Luthen and the pain his actions caused her people, she was confronting a profound realization about the man who had done such terrible things. It’s hard to process such loss, especially when it leads to the understanding of deep affection. She was grappling with the agony of this revelation about the man responsible for her people’s demise. This is the emotional turmoil she was experiencing as she implored Cassian to go without her to Yavin.

After reaching Yavin, Kleya’s brief encounter with Vel significantly altered her viewpoint. This fleeting conversation gave Kleya a glimmer of hope, suggesting a potential future for herself within that community.

In that final shot, she appears to be gazing at the people of Yavin as they carry out their daily routines, taking in the fruition of all the years they spent working together with Luthen. It seems to me this moment evokes a profound sense of accomplishment and melancholy – they’ve achieved their goal, but he will never witness its reality.

What was it like working with Stellan Skarsgård?

In the end, it was indeed Stellan who evaluated my performance during the audition. My representative phoned me to share the news that my callback had gone smoothly. She advised me, “For your final round, simply aim not to be overly anxious. Strut into that room as if you’ve been doing this for a lifetime.” Then she added, “Your final audition will take place at Pinewood Studios. You’ll be acting alongside Stellan Skarsgård, but don’t let that rattle you.” This news left me in fits of laughter – I couldn’t believe it was actually happening!

Prior to our audition, Stellan and I shared a brief coffee chat, which turned out to be a chemistry read. He wanted to avoid any coldness in our interaction since it would enhance our on-screen chemistry. In just ten minutes of conversation with him, I felt like I was walking into the room with an old friend, knowing that he was there supporting me and rooting for my success.

Stellan has had a remarkable and extensive career that spans many years, leaving me puzzled as to what this new role means for him. However, this significant project is a major deal for both of us, with Stellan playing an instrumental part in it. I’ve always eagerly anticipated sharing the screen with Stellan once more. It was like returning to a familiar place each time we worked together, as he served as my foundation throughout the entire process. He knew that this was my first job, so I could ask him all sorts of questions about what was happening, acting techniques for film, and other related matters. We had countless conversations on these topics, and he was always more than willing to share his insights. In essence, Stellan provided me with invaluable guidance and support during those early days, and I will forever be thankful for his mentorship.

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2025-05-14 05:31

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