How powerful women in history informed Olivia Williams’ role in ‘Dune: Prophecy’

As a seasoned actress with decades of experience under my belt, I find myself continually astounded by the wisdom and youthful exuberance that Olivia Williams brings to every set she steps foot on. Her ability to embody characters as diverse as Tula Harkonnen or Emily Watson’s confidante in “Dune: Prophecy” is nothing short of remarkable.

Olivia Williams openly acknowledges that she wasn’t very knowledgeable about the “Dune” universe prior to landing her role in “Dune: Prophecy,” the HBO prequel series inspired by Denis Villeneuve’s hit movies.

She admits frankly, “I’m completely clueless about it.” However, being the mother of two teenagers, she often keeps up with Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya’s work to maintain conversations with her kids. So, imagine discussing ‘Euphoria’ with a 15-year-old – it can get quite intense!

56-year-old Williams is comfortably seated on a couch at London’s Charlotte Street Hotel, sipping coffee and making an effort to avoid coffee crumbs spoiling her attire. She had just finished a yoga instructor training session earlier in the day, where she led her first sequence. She finds learning to teach as fulfilling as she did starting acting at a young age. “I simply yearned to step onto the stage,” she explains. “I can appreciate being part of the audience, but I prefer being the one putting on the show.

Playing the character Tula Harkonnen in “Dune: Prophecy,” a series occurring 10,000 years prior to Villeneuve’s “Dune” film, didn’t necessarily demand Williams to delve extensively into the lore of Frank Herbert’s novels. Instead, the show was inspired by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s 2012 novel “Sisterhood of Dune,” but Alison Schapker, the showrunner, has broadened the characters and events to present familiar tales in a new and innovative manner. In an interview over Zoom, Schapker explains that they have great reverence for what’s found within the novels, enabling them to explore the impact of the past and present across a single lifetime.

These six episodes primarily focus on Tula and her elder sister Valya (Emily Watson), who lead an enigmatic group called the Sisterhood. This secretive organization aims to govern the Imperium, but they face resistance from Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong), Empress Natalya (Jodhi May), one of his soldiers Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), and a rebellion led by Keiran Atreides (Chris Mason). Since these events take place before those in “Dune,” Williams found it beneficial to be separated from the established lore.

Williams explains that since his character is unaware of future events, he had to portray this individual amidst people possessing remarkable abilities. He collaborated with Emily on this, but their research was less formal and more about visiting the National Portrait Gallery in London to study Tudor paintings of Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots. They conversed about powerful sisterhoods and families, whether they hail from a future of 10,000 years or a past of 700 years.

Watson mentioned later over the phone that during the Tudor era, there was an extreme level of suspicion and secrecy,” he said. “The leaders held immense power and had many secrets, publicly presenting one image while secretly engaging in complex schemes behind closed doors. That’s what we mainly discussed.

In late 2022, Budapest served as the location for filming “Dune: Prophecy”, and it was during these weeks that Williams became part of the series. Originally, Shirley Henderson had been cast as Tula, but due to creative adjustments that slowed down production, she was replaced by Williams. Interestingly, both Williams and Watson were already acquainted, having the same agent and similar acting histories. Despite never working together before, they had yet to feature in a joint project. As Schapker puts it, their shared methodology towards their craft created an electrifying spectacle when observed.

Williams remarks that she and Watson are practically sisters, having known each other for just as long as she’s known her biological sibling. They both were part of the Royal Shakespeare Company during the ’90s, yet they hadn’t collaborated before. The idea of working together in this project was thrilling to her.

Watson mentions that we’ve had numerous discussions about how back when we were in our twenties, we never imagined we’d end up here. We used to think that this would be a field with decreasing rewards and we would just be playing old characters. This assumption was largely due to the lack of compelling roles for women around our age, especially in film. However, things have changed now as there are such roles available.

Born and raised in London, Emily Williams initially embarked on her acting journey on the stage, later landing the role of Jane Fairfax in ITV’s 1996 version of “Emma,” featuring her co-star from “Dune: Prophecy,” Mark Strong as George Knightley. Her popularity soared after a streak of successful movies such as “The Postman” directed by Kevin Costner, “Rushmore” helmed by Wes Anderson, and “The Sixth Sense” by M. Night Shyamalan. Williams describes this era in Hollywood as reminiscent of the “final days of the Roman Empire.” The glitz and glamour of premieres and press events were a stark contrast to her early days as a theater actress, with frequent transitions from one luxurious hotel to another.

She recalls with enthusiasm that during “The Postman,” we set a remarkable record for press junkets. At the time, she was an out-of-work actor living in Camden Town’s basement. Suddenly, she found herself jetting around the globe on Kevin Costner’s plane for promotional activities. Making a film means you have to foot the bill for anything you consume from the minibar, but during press junkets, they cover the costs. To this day, she still has the nail brush she got from The Ritz in 1997.

Since then, Williams has continuously graced both film and television screens, taking on roles of varying dimensions and scales. She’s been drawn to intriguing parts across different platforms, not only for her passion for acting but also to avoid idleness, as someone with a theater background.

Williams shares, “I don’t shy away from work, and I find joy in venturing into unconventional projects.” He adds, “I accept roles that ignite my passion. At times, this approach pays off marvelously. For instance, ‘An Education’ and ‘The Father,’ which some questioned my involvement in, were minor parts in exceptionally crafted films that eventually earned Oscar nominations.

2022 saw the return of Williams to popular culture on “The Crown,” taking on the role of Camilla Parker Bowles during the last two seasons. Although her part was relatively modest, she made it stand out, infusing Camilla with a vibrant spirit that echoed through the finale. She even utilized a robe from “The Postman” for Camilla’s dressing gown in one scene. Williams’ energetic performance proved particularly beneficial to Dominic West, who portrayed Prince Charles.

West comments, “She’s incredibly skilled at creating something significant from minimal resources.” He adds, “Camilla had a unique ability to convey much with just a glance. Her humility and generosity were rare traits. Unlike some co-stars where competition might arise, there was never any rivalry with Olivia. She always focused on making the scene work and often helped me out, which was truly remarkable.

As a movie reviewer, I must say that during the production of “Dune: Prophecy,” a strong sense of leadership and generosity was evident all around. Denis Villeneuve, our director, along with his team, including Zendaya, made it their mission to ensure everyone’s well-being. As leaders on set, they recognized that it was their responsibility to ensure everyone felt seen and supported. Zendaya, in particular, demonstrated exceptional skills in this regard.

Despite the expansive scope of “Dune: Prophecy,” which moves between two timelines to narrate the story of the Harkonnen sisters, Schapker aimed for it to remain as authentic as possible. The intricate sci-fi environment serves primarily as a setting for a family conflict, where one sister, Valya, has historically held more power than the other. However, these power dynamics are starting to shift.

Initially, her younger character is significantly overshadowed by her dominant and intimidating elder sister, according to Williams. However, she yearns for a chance to prove herself or take on responsibilities, and she possesses an exceptional past.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d admit that I’m struggling to disclose all the details about the series, but in a peculiar way, I can’t help but hint at it. The suspense is killing me too, but the intrigue and anticipation make it all worthwhile, so I guess we’ll keep hanging around!

Schapker verifies that they delve into the transformation seen in many families, particularly focusing on the moment when your younger sister emerges as a formidable figure. She explains, “In our exploration, we aimed to bring Tula out of the shadows and uncover the intricacies of this sibling relationship.

The series emphasizes the significant role women play within the Imperium, and this was the aspect that drew Villeneuve into the films. Not often do we encounter complex female characters in science fiction narratives, especially across various age groups. For Williams, however, the Sisterhood – which eventually transforms into the Bene Gesserit – serves to highlight the challenges involved in granting women authority.

Williams states, “At its core, it remains quite conventional and male-dominated, as these influential females are secluded from males and essentially reside within a convent-like environment.” He adds, “Though secluded, there’s a hidden strength beneath the surface.

She finds it deeply enigmatic and potentially alarming that the Sisterhood decides to remain celibate and avoid male company.

Williams remarks, “When men aren’t around, what secret activities do women engage in?” He finds it intriguing and entertaining to imagine this. Regrettably, he implies, it’s unfortunate if there are any hidden happenings that men might not eventually discover or manage.

Williams remarks, “When men aren’t around, what exactly are women doing?” He finds it intriguing and entertaining to speculate about this curiosity. (Paraphrased by Mistral AI)

Despite having acted for several decades and appearing effortlessly comfortable on camera, Williams admits she consistently approaches set like a newcomer. It wasn’t until her role in “Counterpart,” which aired from 2017 to 2019 on Starz, that she began questioning whether this habit might not be accurate.

She shared, “Someone approached me and commented, ‘It’s truly a privilege to collaborate with someone so seasoned,'” she chuckled. “Suddenly, it dawned on me, ‘Wow, I’m the matriarch of this production. I’m the eldest here!’ Occasionally, such moments occur and I am reminded that I have extensive experience, but it still catches me off guard.

Even though Williams may feel differently internally, she projects an image of being well-prepared and in command on stage.

As a passionate cinephile, I always relish diving into each new project to gauge its pulse. I appreciate it tremendously when directors share their vision with me, as it’s an essential part of my role to translate that vision into reality – be it channeling the essence of Olivia Williams or embodying the spirit of Tula Harkonnen. However, there are instances where the director asks, “What do you want to bring to this project?” In those moments, I’m ready with ideas and suggestions to contribute to the creative process.

Watson finds Williams exceptionally intelligent, a fact clearly demonstrated throughout each scene they filmed together.

Watson remarks, “She’s similar to a dog persistently holding onto a toy; she delves deeply into a text, debates it passionately. It’s invigorating, and having such a partnership where we both grasp the task at hand and know how to uncover information is delightful.

Moving forward, Williams is now part of the third installment of Ryan Murphy’s Netflix anthology show titled “Monster,” which centers around serial killer Ed Gein for its upcoming season. She expresses her ambition to delve deeper into theater roles, but laments that securing funding for the arts isn’t a top priority in the U.K.

She expresses her concern about British theater being something exclusive to those who can afford it. “I can manage it financially,” she explains, “but there are exceptionally talented actors who are theater artists and cannot. I have ‘Dune: Prophecy’ as a safety net, but for the majority of the cast, that’s their primary source of income. Keeping it operational at such high costs is essentially ruining it.

Regarding a potential second season of “Dune: Prophecy,” Williams states, “The sets haven’t been dismantled yet.” She would definitely return if given the chance.

She expresses, “I often find myself questioning, ‘Is this endeavor valuable? Is the sacrifice of being away from my family justified?'” she explains. “Budapest is charming, the salary is pleasant, and the costumes are delightful. However, what truly matters is whether the acting is rewarding? Does this opportunity align with where I am in my career? I have aspirations to achieve more. I don’t wish to simply pass time. And in this case, it was definitely worthwhile.

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2024-11-07 20:17