BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL
FREYA ALLAN AND ANYA CHALOTRA STAR IN A NEW FANTASY DRAMA…
Based on the series of novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, fantasy drama The Witcher follows monster-hunter
Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) – but it’s more often the people rather than the creatures Geralt meets which pose the biggest threat. We caught up with Freya Allan, who plays Ciri, Princess of Cintra, and Anya Chalotra – Yennefer of Vengerberg – to find out more.
What can you each tell us about your characters?
Freya Ciri is a survivor. To play a strong female character that doesn’t show it just through violence is great.
Anya Yennefer is a sorceress – when we meet her in the books, she’s transformed, but in the series we look at how her transformation happens, and her discovery of her powers. She’s stubborn and
strong-willed, and uses her charm to manipulate people.
Did you have to do a lot of green-screen acting?
Anya It’s so bizarre! I suppose you become a child again and use your imagination to its fullest. We had a lot of fun.
Freya I didn’t get to do much! There was a bit where the world looks as if it’s cracking, but that was the only bit of imagining I had to do.
Did you have any earlymorning calls?
Anya Yes, I did – Yennefer was sometimes in for three hours, which enabled me to really get into the character.
Freya I had some, although it depended on what we were filming. But I actually quite liked getting up when everyone else was still in bed!
Are you looking forward to seeing the finished series?
Freya I don’t know if I’d say I’m excited about my own parts! But I’m looking forward to seeing everybody else’s, as I did a lot of scenes on my own, away from other actors.
Anya I hate watching myself, so I’m very nervous about the series coming out. But then I’m my own worst critic!