March 17, 2025 • 37 mins
What if you could step inside the mesmerizing worlds of fantasy and thriller, guided by the very stars who bring them to life? On this episode of Pop Culture Weekly, we explore the enchanting realm of Prime Video's "The Wheel of Time" Season 3 with insights from showrunner Rafe Judkins and actor Natasha O'Keefe. Discover how they navigate the labyrinth of adaptation, honoring Robert Jordan's epic while crafting compelling television. Our conversations with cast members Rosamund Pike, Josha Stradowski, Daniel Henney, Sophie Okonedo, Ceara Coveney, and Ayoola Smart reveal their journeys in embodying characters with deep histories and fan expectations, offering a peek into the alchemy of transforming beloved book characters for the screen.
From fantasy to a gripping thriller, we shift focus to the enticing world of "Black Bag." Acclaimed actors Cate Blanchett, Naomie Harris, and Tom Burke take us behind the scenes of this stylish film, sharing their unique experiences and challenges. Cate Blanchett opens up about joining the project on trust, Naomi Harris discusses breaking molds with her non-traditional psychiatrist role, and Tom Burke dives into his layered character, exploring the universal messiness of life. Their insights illuminate the dynamic storytelling and creative freedom that drive the film's narrative, promising a cinematic experience rooted in suspense and intrigue.
Join us as we bring you face-to-face with the magic of storytelling through the eyes of those who create it. Whether you're a fan of epic fantasies or edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this episode provides a captivating journey into the heart of two imaginative projects. Be prepared to hear firsthand accounts of the artistic processes and the collaborative spirit that fuels these captivating worlds, leaving you eager to witness their stories unfold onscreen.
Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming: https://www.deathandgrief.show/Chapter-One-The-Diagnosis-AKA-WTF/
---------------
Get all the Pop Culture Weekly podcast info you could want including extra content, uncut interviews, photos, videos & transcripts at: https://podcast.popcultureweekly.com
Watch celebrity interviews at: https://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon/videos
or Pop Culture Weekly YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@popcultureweekly
Read the latest at http://www.PopCultureWeekly.com
Follow Kyle on:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon
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TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@kyle2u
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@popcultureweekly
Website: http://www.kylemcmahon.me
From fantasy to a gripping thriller, we shift focus to the enticing world of "Black Bag." Acclaimed actors Cate Blanchett, Naomie Harris, and Tom Burke take us behind the scenes of this stylish film, sharing their unique experiences and challenges. Cate Blanchett opens up about joining the project on trust, Naomi Harris discusses breaking molds with her non-traditional psychiatrist role, and Tom Burke dives into his layered character, exploring the universal messiness of life. Their insights illuminate the dynamic storytelling and creative freedom that drive the film's narrative, promising a cinematic experience rooted in suspense and intrigue.
Join us as we bring you face-to-face with the magic of storytelling through the eyes of those who create it. Whether you're a fan of epic fantasies or edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this episode provides a captivating journey into the heart of two imaginative projects. Be prepared to hear firsthand accounts of the artistic processes and the collaborative spirit that fuels these captivating worlds, leaving you eager to witness their stories unfold onscreen.
Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming: https://www.deathandgrief.show/Chapter-One-The-Diagnosis-AKA-WTF/
---------------
Get all the Pop Culture Weekly podcast info you could want including extra content, uncut interviews, photos, videos & transcripts at: https://podcast.popcultureweekly.com
Watch celebrity interviews at: https://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon/videos
or Pop Culture Weekly YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@popcultureweekly
Read the latest at http://www.PopCultureWeekly.com
Follow Kyle on:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kmacmusic
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@kyle2u
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@popcultureweekly
Website: http://www.kylemcmahon.me
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In this episode of pop Culture Weekly, I interview the
cast of a Wheel of Time from Prime Videos season
three of the show, plus two time Academy Award winner
Kate Blanchett and Naomi Harris and Tom Burke discuss their
new film Black Bag.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Welcome to pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon from iHeartRadio
your pop culture news, views, reviews, and celebrity interviews on
all the movies, TV music, and pomp culture you crave weekly.
Here's Kyle McMahon.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Nick ne Nick, Hello, and welcome to pop Culture Weekly
with Kyle McMahon. I of course I am Kyle McMahon.
I am so thankful that you are here for another
episode of pop Culture Weekly.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
This is a great episode.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
No co host on our rotating panel of co host
today because it's all interviews.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
We have a lot of interviews.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Today, the first set revolving around season three of Prime
Videos Wheel of Time, which is such a great series
such so uh, it's really great for fantasy fans drama.
I'm really enjoying it and season three is an awesome
addition to you know, the story and the series. So
(01:20):
we also have the cast of Black Bag, the new
Steven Soderberg movie, which is really good. I don't know
if you saw my review, but you can go to
popculturewekly dot com and check it out.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I love this movie. It is so good.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
So I speak with Kate Blanchett, the two time Academy
Award winning Kate Blanchett, as well as Tom Burke and
Naomi Harris all about that. So we're gonna jump right
into it with all of these interviews.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
First up, The Wheel of Time.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
So The Wheel of Time, which season three just premiered
on Prime Video. It is a very high fantasy series
based on the beloved book series by Robert Jordan, and
it's set in this sprawling world where magic exists, but
it's only wielded by certain women, which is a cool twist.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
The story follows Morain Damadrid, who's played by Rosamond Pike,
who I freaking love, and she embarks on this quest
to find the Dragon Reborn, which is a prophesied figure
who will either save the world or destroy the world.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So the series is packed with political intrigue, all these
really cool epic battles, and very deep character arcs, and
it's got a really diversed cat diversed, diverse cast, including
Ronda Althor who's played by Joseph Strodowski, who I love
and we'll be speaking with him soon, and so much more,
(02:53):
and they all are navigating their fates in this world
that is basically on the brink of war. Will of
Time was developed by the showrunner, Rafa Jenkins, who I
also speak with. And you know, the critics have loved
the series. It's been praised for its stunning visuals, its
immersive world building, and really strong acting performances. So season
(03:17):
one was kind of the introduction to the world and
all of its characters, and season two expanded on that
lore and really brought up the stakes. And now with
season three adapting loosely, you know, based on the Shadow
Rising book, fans can expect even more deep storytelling, bigger battles,
(03:39):
and an exploration of the series' most beloved themes, which
are basically destiny, power, and the balance between light and shadow,
you know, good and evil. So it's an epic ride
for longtime fans of the books and fans of the series.
It's really really Season three is just awesome. So let's
start off with the interviews with the Wheel of Time.
(04:03):
Season three cast. First up, let's speak with Rafa Judkins,
the show runner, and actor Natasha O'Keeffe. So, Natasha takes
on the enigmatic and pivotal role of Landfier, who is
one of like the most complex villains in the books
in the series, and alongside her we have the show
runner himself, as I've been saying, Rafa Judkins. So they
(04:26):
you're going to give us exclusive insight into the making
of season three, the adaptation process, and what's to come.
So let's jump right in with Natasha O'Keefe and Rafa Judkins. So,
first of all, congratulations on the success of the series
and season three kind of takes everything up a notch
and you know, dives deeper and bigger.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
And I wonder what that you know, in this kind
of pre release moment, what that excitement feels like for you.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I Mean, it's always crazy before the series comes up
because we I've put so much into it over so
much time that it's there's this moment when like the
rest of the world's about to see it that feels,
you know, it feels like the culmination of more than
on other series I've worked on, where you make it
pretty quickly to when it airs. You know, we were
(05:18):
in the writer's room on this season in twenty twenty,
I think, And so you know, like to think of
the amount of time it takes for a show like
this to get to air, you have it's a really
exciting feeling more than anything else. That's kind of like
letting everyone else into our little secret. Yeah fly yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
And we're for you know, both of you, how much
did you it's for me? It's it's interesting as a
viewer and a fan that it's got to be. There's
got to I feel like there's or I don't want
to put this into your minds if it isn't. So
now I'm like nervous to say, but is there is
(06:02):
there any heaviness or responsibility you feel to having a
work that's so celebrated that you're you know, translating into
a different form.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I mean I always feel that because I really love
the book series. So you know, you feel kind of
the joy and weight of responsibility at all times of like,
you know, it's so incredible that we get to do
this and have this rich world that we can dive
into and bring to life, But you also have a
responsibility to do the very best job you can with it.
(06:38):
And so yeah, I mean I think we feel both
of those things all the time. And every person on
the show has a different interaction with the world of
the books and the world of the show and how
they they view it. But you know, we really do
feel a responsibility to do something great with it.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
God absolutely, Yeah. I mean if I thought too much
about it, I also might be feeling a little bit stunted.
So there's this kind of like fine line that I
personally walk as the actor that I I must go
(07:15):
with instinct and from what is given to me these
marvelous scripts and the sets and everything in the costume,
all the gifts that I'm given as an actor. And yeah,
but it is a responsibility I do understand. But if
I think too hard about it.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Yeah, you can't let it squash things. Yeah, across all departments,
we all feel that way of like you know, you
can feel sometimes where it's if it starts to squash
on what you need on a TV shows, You need
everyone to feel like they're able to put their most
into it, and the shows that it's best when everyone's
bringing themselves to their part two. Like now, the character
(07:52):
of Landford yes, she existed in the books, but now
in the show she is Natasha, you know, like pieces
of Natasha are in the character. We write the character
differently because of you. Like that is how TV should work,
and so it's at its best when it does work
that way, and you see the people who make it
in the show too.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I love Oh, I'm so sorry. I love that.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
Essence of the essence of the actors.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Oh yeah, sprinkling, Yeah, they fold into the characters.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I love that. It's so interesting to hear both of you,
you know, obviously in two different roles, if you will,
but for the same series. So I love hearing that contrast.
Thank you both so much. I can't wait for everybody
to see season three of The Wheel of Time exclusively
on Prime video. Thank you, thank you, Thanks so much.
(08:47):
Natasha o'keefan right for Judgkins.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Love the insight into the series and where it's going
in season three and how it got here.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
To season three. Will of Time is just so great,
all right?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Next up, Daniel Henny and Sophie Okendo. Daniel is the
ever stoic and deadly warder named lan Mandra Goren and
Sophie Oknito is the commanding and wise Swan Sanche. So
their characters share a complicated relationship with Morain, so you
(09:22):
can guess that season three is sure to bring some
new challenges and.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Maybe even some shifting allegiances. Here they are, Daniel Henny
and Sophio Condo.
Speaker 7 (09:32):
First of all, thank you both for speaking with me.
I really appreciate it. How are you doing, Kyle, I'm well,
thank you. Congratulations on this series in general. But season
three really, you know, is kicking it up even more.
What is it like for both of you to be
on such a you know.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Giant series, I mean big and kind of every way epic.
Speaker 8 (09:58):
It's incredible. I mean, it's grown so much since we
started in twenty nineteen. It's our sixth calendar year now
on the show, and we've gone from having basically seven
to eight actors to almost three hundred. The show shoots
in multiple units, so I mean we were shooting in
South Africa simultaneously shooting in the Czech Republic. It's really
(10:18):
incredible to be a part of something so big, and
not to mention the amazing sets and the amazing talent.
It's just it's it sounds cheesy, but it's really a
dream come true?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
And how about for you?
Speaker 9 (10:30):
Yeah, I was like, you know what, I couldn't really
know how big it was because I when I started,
I was coming in and out. I also don't do
any social media or anything, so I'm not really keeping.
I didn't really look on the internet rep so I'm
not really keeping. I didn't have that influence. And then
when I came back and then there's a lockdown, there's
things that everything was very separate. And then I came
(10:52):
back for this season, I was like, this is massive.
And obviously also people come up to me and talk
about it a lot and people ask about it, so yeah,
it's really it's and I hadn't realized how big it
had become. And then this year I was just like,
this is fantastic. I mean just going wandering through the
huge like where they were based in Prague, and going
(11:14):
through the studios and just see each room with a
different character costume that sets people doing things in different parts,
and it was like a kind of whole world and
this was just one location just for so yeah, I
didn't go to South.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Africa, So yeah, amazing.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
And for you, had you read the novels before or
any of the novels, either before you had been cast
or when you had been cast.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
I didn't read them before, and I haven't read them now.
Speaker 8 (11:41):
Okay, I had not read them before. I'm still reading now,
but I've read quite a bit now. I was a
fantasy fan, but I hadn't heard of the Wheel of
Time growing up in Michigan and know why. But as
soon as I was cast, I jumped in and it
helped a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (11:57):
I was just I can just outgrow through the scripts
and understand it. And I've got Raith there and everyone
explaining everything, and then I understand the nuggets of the character.
Speaker 6 (12:07):
But I was like, I'm going to get lost till
I go down.
Speaker 8 (12:10):
It can be a slippery slope.
Speaker 9 (12:11):
Yeah, but that's when I did go on the internet.
But because people have like posted stuff like, I got
some people explaining the world to me.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
So that was like some of the fans. Yeah, quite helpful. Actually,
I find it interesting. I'm sorry, yeah, now he's Oh,
I find it interesting the contrast between the two of
you in that regard. Uh, you know, just two actors
that have chosen kind of different ways. I wonder, you know,
is is that how you typically are in your careers.
(12:42):
Like in in one instance, you can go and you
kind of have a bible, if you will, in some
ways from having the novel, so you can kind of
see where in this version your character is going where
you know. On the other hand, you can also just
be like, you know what, No, I want to do
this character my way in this story.
Speaker 10 (13:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (13:03):
I think that I've done quite a few things from novels,
and I found for me personally, it's just been helpful
to you. The script is my bible of the character
because I get I get.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
To this is the way my brain works. I can't.
Speaker 9 (13:16):
I can concentrate on one thing at a time so
that and I can understand it drives the character. And
then often i'm cast maybe against how the original author
thought of them. So I don't I don't want to
bog myself down with that. I just want to have
the essence of what's in the script.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
But that's what I go for.
Speaker 9 (13:32):
That's just my own personal choice.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
I kind of drop all that away and just I
fun want to get there. I love that. Thank you
both so much. I did I cut you off? Oh okay, Oh,
thank you both so much. I really appreciate it. I
can't wait for everybody to see Wheel of Time season
three exclusively on Brian Video. Thank You, Thank You.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Daniel Henny and Sophia Conido love speaking with them about
the Wheel of Time. Up next, Kira Coveney and Aula Smart.
So Kira who brings Elaine Track into life, and Aulas Smart,
who was set to make her mark as the book
fan favorite Avienda. These two fierce women are central to
(14:17):
RAN's journey, and their own destinies are pretty epic themselves.
Let's jump right into talking about these iconic roles, training
and all of that.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Here they are, Kira Coveney and Aula Smart. So tell me.
I got to start with, had you read the books
or any of the books at all before you took
on the rules?
Speaker 11 (14:42):
I hadn't read the books before taking on the rules.
But I have two older sisters and both of them
am are longtime fans of the book, so I grew
up with them reading them over and over again at
my house as I was growing up, so they were
very much part of my life. I hadn't actually got
them until I was cast, and now I phrase like five, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
I hadn't.
Speaker 12 (15:08):
I hadn't read them myself, and it was so interesting
having been cast and then speaking to people in my
life and realizing how many people had read the books
and what an important part of their life the texts were.
But yeah, I once I was cast to dived straight
into ie.
Speaker 6 (15:22):
Of the world.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
But yeah, and did you find that as you're you know,
once you took the role, did you find that you
had you know, I feel like when there's a pre
existing you know, content that this is based on, do
you get kind of like fangirlish as you're seeing who's
going to be your character, you know, play out throughout
(15:46):
the books.
Speaker 12 (15:48):
Yeah, it's pretty cool. It's it's really cool to have
a text that that's already there and a character that's
already like flashed out and you you don't have that
work to do it. It's more just finding how how
they exist within you or how you can bring them
to life. But yeah, it's amazing and the way that
(16:11):
they're written and the strengths and flaws that they have.
It's it's really interesting to just kind of like dissect
them on the page and think about how that how
that will kind of look.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yeah, and how about for you?
Speaker 11 (16:26):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
I think it's.
Speaker 11 (16:30):
It's always so exciting when you get to I think
with the books, because you know the information is there
if you want it, and so to know the like
the arc of a character or like the kind of
general ark of a character, there's such a gift beforehand.
But then also to see where that gets cut in
(16:51):
with the writers and this version of the story and.
Speaker 9 (16:54):
Kind of.
Speaker 11 (16:57):
Every episode or when you first get to read them,
that's like what you you don't know exactly, even though
you have the books, you still don't know what it
is exactly that's in store for you. I think over
the season, which is really exciting. But then when you do,
you immediately have this huge amount of source material to
reference and kind of play with and add with and
(17:19):
give you an understanding. I think where the where the
writers and the source material recross over it. There's you know,
there's times where it is exactly like it is in
the books, and you can kind of go back and
then there's like a whole chapter you can read and
you have for free all of these thoughts on ideas
and like circumstances. And then sometimes it's you know, an
(17:41):
amalgamation of other things, or it's like you know, this
kind of or like new new stuff, and it's like
a really yeah, beautiful kind of navigation of both.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, yeah, I love that and actually that's my time.
Thank you both so much. I really appree.
Speaker 6 (18:00):
She ate it, and so please take one more question. Apologies,
Oh no, no, thank you, take one more question.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Thank you. So, finally, what are you most looking forward
to for you know, I gotta I got to watch
a couple of the first episodes of season three. What
are you looking forward to people seeing themselves in season three?
Speaker 12 (18:23):
I think I'm really excited for the audience to see
the new worlds that we explore. I think they're really exciting.
They're really different and not like anything we've seen on
the show before. So yeah, I'm really excited to show
(18:44):
everyone where they went.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 11 (18:47):
Yeah, So I think there's so much exciting and new
stuff coming from all of the characters this season. I
think it's I think it's a great, great, great season.
I'm just excited for everyone to see you at Chris.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yes, me too. Thank you both for speaking with me
the Wheel of Time season three exclusively on Prime Video.
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Kira Coveny and a Less Smart All right, so we're
gonna take a quick break, pay the bills, and when
we come back, I speak with Rosamund Pike and Joseph Stradowski,
and then later in the show two time Oscar winning
actress Kate Blanchett, Naomi Harris, and Tom Burke, who discussed
(19:34):
their film Black.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Bag be Back in sixty What all right?
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Thank you for supporting our sponsors, which helps me bring
the show to you every single episode.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
I love you for that. I love them for that.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Let's dive in to the last of our Wheel of
Time interviews. The wheel weaves as the wheel wills, and
now the wheel has woven. Two incredible guests to Pop
Culture Weekly. Joining us is the luminous Rosamond Pike, who
brings the powerful and enigmatic Moraine d'amored to life, and
(20:18):
Josah Stradowski, the rising star who embodies the dragon reborn
himself rand Al Thor. Love Love Love these two actors.
Rosamund made her breakthrough film role as Miranda Frost and
Die Another Day Anyway, and she was also in Pride
(20:39):
and Prejudice, Wrath of the Titans, Jack Reacher, The World's End,
and of course, Gone Girl, which earned her a nomination
for Golden Globe Award, British Academy Film Award, and the
Academy Award for Best Actress. She won a Primetime Emmy
for her role in State of the Union, that comedy
mini series back in twenty nineteen. And Zosha Stradowski all
(21:04):
the way from the Netherlands, of course, played in Grand
Turismo as Nicholas Kappa, numerous films and movies over in
the Netherlands, and now as Ron Althor in The Wheel
of Time. So let's jump into my interviews with Rosamund
Pike and Josha Stradowski.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Thank you both so much for speaking. Thank you very much.
I appreciate sports well. Thank you. First of all, congratulations
on the series and season three, which I got to
catch a few episodes of, and I'm excited now I'm like, okay,
I want the rest. But what's it been like for
you both to be on such a big, huge epic series,
(21:47):
you know, filming in different countries and you know, in
in world, you know, in the in the series, being
kind of all over the place as well.
Speaker 13 (21:57):
It's I mean, for me, really really amazing. I'm I'm
a Dutch. I'm Dutch by the way, and so I
come from dutch Land, and that scale I've never seen
anything like it before. I remember twenty nineteen when I
(22:18):
walked onto the set for the first time, I just
couldn't believe how many people that were there, Like it
felt it felt like theater. You know, you do one
rehouse on there's like three on are four and sometimes
five hundred people watching you, and you're like, this is
this is insane? Can we sick? Can we please send
them away? But then in the essence, it's it's still home.
(22:40):
It's still like in like back home. It's just there
is a camera and in this case there might be
a couple more or during or whatever, but you do
respond in a way that you think is the essence
of your character, and you listen to the other person
and that's still the same.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
I love there.
Speaker 6 (23:03):
It's been an amazing thing to be part of. I mean,
they're wonderful, wonderful stories, rich and everybody has something interesting
to do, which always leads to a fulfilling creative experience,
you know, whether that's the people making the knives or
the people working on the leather, or the actors who
all have fantastic characters. And this season, now that we're
in the world, we broaden out the storylines and amazing
(23:25):
new characters are coming in. You know that attract really
high caliber actors because the parts of Juicy interesting, complicated.
You know, it's great stuff. And you know, we've got
inspirational costume designer, set designer, home makeup team who are
just we're all working in harmony. It's become a family
(23:47):
and we're kind of flying now right now.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
And it's been so long. I mean, you guys, it's
been what six years now since you started on this.
Speaker 6 (23:56):
Twenty nineteen September, so five years, five.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Years, and we're you know, we're getting season three now,
which is exciting from you know, from a viewer standpoint.
Have have either of you read the books at all
or any of the books or did you kind of
go in blind on purpose or tell me about that.
Speaker 13 (24:17):
Both we've both read read most most of it, right.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
Yeah, you've read all of it. Yosha's read all fourteen books.
I've I've read five of them. I've and I've recorded
four of them for audiobook, so I'm pretty I know
them very well. But Yosha knows beyond.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
What I know. And Yosha was that as was that
like as a fan or was that when you got.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
The role or no, when I got the role.
Speaker 13 (24:49):
Yeah, I when we were auditioning, everything was very secretive,
so it felt very special. But they had some kind
of weird name for my character and I looked it
up and I couldn't rid Harn. They called him as
I remember still, and I just couldn't find him online.
So I thought, okay, whatever, and then it felt really important.
(25:12):
And then and then after a whole day of auditioning
in London, they called me up and they said, okay,
the name character is is Rand. And then I looked
him up on Google and it said like the central
one of the central figures, the hero of the antagonists
and do the chosen one. And I was like, all right, yeah,
(25:33):
that's quite let me start reading. So I immediately started
reading and it was great, you know so much as
an actor, that's that's what you wish for, so much
source material. And I took him. I took it really seriously.
It's fat as but I was reading it as it
was real.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I love that. I can't wait. I wish it was real.
I could join in that world with you guys. Thank
you both so much I can't wait for it. Everybody
to see season three of the Wheel of Time exclusively
on the Prime Video. Thank you, guys, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Josha Stradowski and Rosamund Pike love love, love these two
love the Wheel of Time. If you haven't checked it
out yet, check it out on Prime Video right now.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
It's so great.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Start with season one obviously, because there's a world building
and backstory and lore and some amazing battles.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
And when you get to season.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Three, hit me up because it is really good. Ups
the stakes, as you've heard in these interviews. So all right,
that is it for now for the Wheel of Time.
Next up, we are shifting gears to talk about one
of the most anticipated thrillers of the year, Black Bag.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
I told you about my review. My written review is.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Up on podcast dot popculturewekly dot com under reviews or
popculturewekly dot com whatever, And I loved it.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
I love this movie.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
It is like reminds me of one of those like
old you know, big fifties Hollywood who done it?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
It's really great.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
It follows Michael Fastbender, whose beloved wife Catherine is suspected
of betraying the nation. They're both intelligence British intelligence agents,
so George played by Fastbender, has to face the ultimate test,
loyalty to his marriage or loyalty to his country. It
(27:30):
is really, really great, and it's, you know, this gripping
espionage drama thriller, and it's packed with secrets and betrayals
and really powerhouse performances. So we're diving deep into it
with three of the film's incredible stars. We have the
legendary Kate Blanchett, whose command of the screen is literally unmatched.
(27:52):
She brings elegance and intensity to every role she does.
She's one of the most versatile actors of our time.
She's delivered unforgettable performances and everything from Blue Jasmine, which
I absolutely love, to Tar Carol to of course, Gladriel
in The Lord of the Rings, one of my favorite
film franchises of all time. I'm obsessed with the Lord
(28:15):
of the Rings. And of course she has won an
Academy Award. It's an Oscar not just once, but twice,
which made her the only actor to ever win an
Academy Award for portraying an Academy Award winning actor. I
thought that was just a fun fact. She's one of
only four actresses to win the Academy Award for Best
(28:36):
Actress after winning Best Supporting Actress. And she's the only
actress and only one of six total in actors total
in Oscar history to be nominated twice for playing the
same role in two different films, once for Elizabeth and
again for Elizabeth the Golden Age. She's been nominated for
an Academy Award eight times already. Films have grossed over
(29:02):
nine point eight billion at the worldwide box office, her
highest grossing obviously including The Lord of the Rings trilogy
and The Hobbit Trilogy, but she was also in the
Curious Case of Benjamin Button I Love that movie, and
Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I
love that movie. Thor Ragnarok, I love that movie, Ocean's Eight, Cinderella,
and on and on and on. She is, you know,
(29:23):
one of the best of the best, So anyway, I
speak with Kate Blanchett as well as the always brilliant
Naomi Harris, whose magnetic performances in films like Moonlight and
No Time to Die About Movie have made her a
force to be reckoned with and rounding out our trio today,
is the immensely talented tom Burke, who continues to captivate
(29:43):
audiences with his complex and layered characters like in Strike
and the Souvenir. So buckle up, let's hop right in here.
They are Naomi Harris, Tom Burke, and Kate Blanchett.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Thank you all for joining me. I really appreciate it. Hi, Hey,
con So, first of all, I love the film it is.
It reminds me of like those old who'd done it,
and it's so stylish and slick and such just a
great thriller. So kudos to you all for that. Keat,
if I may start with you, Etherne, I heard that
(30:20):
you took the role without having read the entire script.
Is that accurate? Yeah?
Speaker 14 (30:26):
Well, nameI and I were going to make a different
film with Stephen actually, and that was it's a really
quite a complicated one to make.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
And he had a slot.
Speaker 14 (30:35):
Because he's he's worked to work, he back, he back
works to work. I can't speak English, he works back
to back. So he then had this script that David
Kirp had written. It was perfect, and then he said
are you free? And I said, well I was going
to work with you, so yeah, absolutely, what do you
want me to do? Who am I playing? Who's going
to be in it? And all of those things were
very deliciously answered, So it was an impossible thing to
(30:58):
say no to love that.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
And Naomi, your character as a psychiatrist, you know you
it's an interesting, I think role for an actor. How
do you kind of dive behind the psychology of playing
somebody that deals with psychology while you work with.
Speaker 10 (31:19):
A clinical psychologist, which was really really helpful. Although one
of the first things she said when she you know,
read my scenes was no therapist would behave like that
at all. But I actually really loved that.
Speaker 15 (31:33):
It gave me even greater insight into who Zoe my
character is, because she's somebody who is so unorthodox in
her methods.
Speaker 10 (31:40):
She knows the rule book.
Speaker 15 (31:41):
She's so intelligent that she knows how she should behave
and she knows what works. But ultimately she throws all
of that out of the window because she's like, I'm
just going to do what's effective. All that matters to
me is that my spies complete their mission missions and
maintain their mental health. And so she's and she defined
her moral compass is defined by her own set of
(32:03):
weird beliefs And I really like that because then you
get to create a character on your own terms completely.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
I love that. And Tom, your character is messy, I
think it is one word to put it in and complicated,
as as all of the characters are. How do you
find inspiration when doing something you know? You don't strike
me as a super messy life type of person. How
(32:32):
do you find uh that that space to be in to,
you know, play a role like this. I think.
Speaker 16 (32:43):
Everyone's been in some place like that at some point
in their life. And yeah, so it's a very Yeah,
he's very human to me.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Mm hmm. And do you do you feel that you
know as you're as you're doing this, are you able
to I always find it interesting, you know, different types
of actors in the way they approach things. Some are
just kind of go all in in their role and
that kind of consumes their life for that period. Are
(33:14):
you able to kind of separate the character from you
at the end of the shooting day?
Speaker 13 (33:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 16 (33:21):
Yeah, but there's a yeah, there's a there's a magical
lift in anything. But if you're playing somebod who's been
spiked with a drug that is also an invented drug,
that you know, is whatever we want it to be.
And I say to Stephen in the midst of setting
up for that same by the way, what you know,
(33:43):
do you think this mights me go loud or quiet
or hot or cold or you know what?
Speaker 2 (33:48):
What?
Speaker 16 (33:48):
What's what's the kind of flavors of it? He and
he just said the words pure id. That's you know,
that's quite a freeing thing to be told, right, just
go for pure it.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah. Well, and it comes across grade from all of you. Kate,
you know, as you were reading the script, and really
for all of you, it's so as a viewer, I'm
like at the edge of my seat the entire time,
what's going to happen next? Who's going to say? What?
What's going to go on? Do you have that same
excitement reading the script or do you like read it
(34:26):
from a place of where my character is going to
be coming from.
Speaker 14 (34:31):
I think I'm a really good audience and so I
read a script incredibly quickly at first, because I'm desperate
to know what happens like an audience is. And that's
that's how I know in the end what the audience
experience will be, particularly when you know that it's going
to be a director like Soderberg. Shooting it, you've got
a sense of how the narrative will unfold, But then
(34:54):
I have to go back and then I just do
that narcissistic dive where I just view it all from
her perspective. And so, because it's in an ensemble piece
like this, it's really important to know what your function
is and so which piece of the story you're responsible
for conveying when and in when my character, because I mean,
(35:14):
everyone's a suspect, but I knew she was also a suspect,
so there had to be sort of an unknoble remove
to the way. I think I played her, at least
that's what I did. Maybe another actor would do it differently,
but yeah, so that that came out of the sort
of second read. But I loved the first read, like you,
I wanted to know exactly what you know, how.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
This would end right right? I love it. I can't
wait for everybody to see a black Bag. Thank you
all so much, Thank you, Thanks, I have a great.
Speaker 13 (35:44):
Day, It's sure.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Kate Blancher, Naomi Harrison, Tom Burke love black Bag, Love
Kate Blanchet.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
I love all three of those actors, but guys, I
just talked to Kate Blanchett. This is like on my
bucket list, so I can cross it off. Two time
Academy Award winning actor Cate Blanchett one of the greatest
actors of our time. I can't believe it. In any event,
Black Bag is out right now. I love it.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Go see it.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
If you want to spy, thriller, ah, you know, espionage, drama,
anything like that, well acted, intelligent, any adjectives like that.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Go see Black Bag. It is well worth your time.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
And Steven Soderberg, like, how can you go wrong with
Steven Soderberg such an awesome you know, director creative?
Speaker 2 (36:33):
All right, that is our show for this week.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Of course, we have awesome stuff coming up for you
to continue to.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Check it out. Check out the YouTube.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
I've been really uploading a lot of stuff up there,
especially some older interviews that the videos were never up.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
So now we're going through that. I am. I did
break my kneecap trying to dunk, which sucks.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
So you know, if you don't see me as often
as usual for the next two months, I can't drive,
which has been, as you know, like torture for me.
So that's what's going on, But hang in there with me.
I'll be posting a lot more to YouTube and the
blog on pop podcast dot popculturewekly dot com. Those are
(37:16):
all in the show notes. I will see you next episode.
All right, I love you.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
We thank you for listening to pop Culture Weekly. Here
all the latest at popcultureweekly dot com.
Speaker 9 (37:33):
It's a blagg black beg.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Okay, okay,
In this episode of pop Culture Weekly, I interview the
cast of a Wheel of Time from Prime Videos season
three of the show, plus two time Academy Award winner
Kate Blanchett and Naomi Harris and Tom Burke discuss their
new film Black Bag.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Welcome to pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon from iHeartRadio
your pop culture news, views, reviews, and celebrity interviews on
all the movies, TV music, and pomp culture you crave weekly.
Here's Kyle McMahon.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Nick ne Nick, Hello, and welcome to pop Culture Weekly
with Kyle McMahon. I of course I am Kyle McMahon.
I am so thankful that you are here for another
episode of pop Culture Weekly.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
This is a great episode.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
No co host on our rotating panel of co host
today because it's all interviews.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
We have a lot of interviews.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Today, the first set revolving around season three of Prime
Videos Wheel of Time, which is such a great series
such so uh, it's really great for fantasy fans drama.
I'm really enjoying it and season three is an awesome
addition to you know, the story and the series. So
(01:20):
we also have the cast of Black Bag, the new
Steven Soderberg movie, which is really good. I don't know
if you saw my review, but you can go to
popculturewekly dot com and check it out.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
I love this movie. It is so good.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
So I speak with Kate Blanchett, the two time Academy
Award winning Kate Blanchett, as well as Tom Burke and
Naomi Harris all about that. So we're gonna jump right
into it with all of these interviews.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
First up, The Wheel of Time.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
So The Wheel of Time, which season three just premiered
on Prime Video. It is a very high fantasy series
based on the beloved book series by Robert Jordan, and
it's set in this sprawling world where magic exists, but
it's only wielded by certain women, which is a cool twist.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
The story follows Morain Damadrid, who's played by Rosamond Pike,
who I freaking love, and she embarks on this quest
to find the Dragon Reborn, which is a prophesied figure
who will either save the world or destroy the world.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So the series is packed with political intrigue, all these
really cool epic battles, and very deep character arcs, and
it's got a really diversed cat diversed, diverse cast, including
Ronda Althor who's played by Joseph Strodowski, who I love
and we'll be speaking with him soon, and so much more,
(02:53):
and they all are navigating their fates in this world
that is basically on the brink of war. Will of
Time was developed by the showrunner, Rafa Jenkins, who I
also speak with. And you know, the critics have loved
the series. It's been praised for its stunning visuals, its
immersive world building, and really strong acting performances. So season
(03:17):
one was kind of the introduction to the world and
all of its characters, and season two expanded on that
lore and really brought up the stakes. And now with
season three adapting loosely, you know, based on the Shadow
Rising book, fans can expect even more deep storytelling, bigger battles,
(03:39):
and an exploration of the series' most beloved themes, which
are basically destiny, power, and the balance between light and shadow,
you know, good and evil. So it's an epic ride
for longtime fans of the books and fans of the series.
It's really really Season three is just awesome. So let's
start off with the interviews with the Wheel of Time.
(04:03):
Season three cast. First up, let's speak with Rafa Judkins,
the show runner, and actor Natasha O'Keeffe. So, Natasha takes
on the enigmatic and pivotal role of Landfier, who is
one of like the most complex villains in the books
in the series, and alongside her we have the show
runner himself, as I've been saying, Rafa Judkins. So they
(04:26):
you're going to give us exclusive insight into the making
of season three, the adaptation process, and what's to come.
So let's jump right in with Natasha O'Keefe and Rafa Judkins. So,
first of all, congratulations on the success of the series
and season three kind of takes everything up a notch
and you know, dives deeper and bigger.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
And I wonder what that you know, in this kind
of pre release moment, what that excitement feels like for you.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I Mean, it's always crazy before the series comes up
because we I've put so much into it over so
much time that it's there's this moment when like the
rest of the world's about to see it that feels,
you know, it feels like the culmination of more than
on other series I've worked on, where you make it
pretty quickly to when it airs. You know, we were
(05:18):
in the writer's room on this season in twenty twenty,
I think, And so you know, like to think of
the amount of time it takes for a show like
this to get to air, you have it's a really
exciting feeling more than anything else. That's kind of like
letting everyone else into our little secret. Yeah fly yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
And we're for you know, both of you, how much
did you it's for me? It's it's interesting as a
viewer and a fan that it's got to be. There's
got to I feel like there's or I don't want
to put this into your minds if it isn't. So
now I'm like nervous to say, but is there is
(06:02):
there any heaviness or responsibility you feel to having a
work that's so celebrated that you're you know, translating into
a different form.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I mean I always feel that because I really love
the book series. So you know, you feel kind of
the joy and weight of responsibility at all times of like,
you know, it's so incredible that we get to do
this and have this rich world that we can dive
into and bring to life, But you also have a
responsibility to do the very best job you can with it.
(06:38):
And so yeah, I mean I think we feel both
of those things all the time. And every person on
the show has a different interaction with the world of
the books and the world of the show and how
they they view it. But you know, we really do
feel a responsibility to do something great with it.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
God absolutely, Yeah. I mean if I thought too much
about it, I also might be feeling a little bit stunted.
So there's this kind of like fine line that I
personally walk as the actor that I I must go
(07:15):
with instinct and from what is given to me these
marvelous scripts and the sets and everything in the costume,
all the gifts that I'm given as an actor. And yeah,
but it is a responsibility I do understand. But if
I think too hard about it.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Yeah, you can't let it squash things. Yeah, across all departments,
we all feel that way of like you know, you
can feel sometimes where it's if it starts to squash
on what you need on a TV shows, You need
everyone to feel like they're able to put their most
into it, and the shows that it's best when everyone's
bringing themselves to their part two. Like now, the character
(07:52):
of Landford yes, she existed in the books, but now
in the show she is Natasha, you know, like pieces
of Natasha are in the character. We write the character
differently because of you. Like that is how TV should work,
and so it's at its best when it does work
that way, and you see the people who make it
in the show too.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I love Oh, I'm so sorry. I love that.
Speaker 6 (08:19):
Essence of the essence of the actors.
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Oh yeah, sprinkling, Yeah, they fold into the characters.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I love that. It's so interesting to hear both of you,
you know, obviously in two different roles, if you will,
but for the same series. So I love hearing that contrast.
Thank you both so much. I can't wait for everybody
to see season three of The Wheel of Time exclusively
on Prime video. Thank you, thank you, Thanks so much.
(08:47):
Natasha o'keefan right for Judgkins.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Love the insight into the series and where it's going
in season three and how it got here.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
To season three. Will of Time is just so great,
all right?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Next up, Daniel Henny and Sophie Okendo. Daniel is the
ever stoic and deadly warder named lan Mandra Goren and
Sophie Oknito is the commanding and wise Swan Sanche. So
their characters share a complicated relationship with Morain, so you
(09:22):
can guess that season three is sure to bring some
new challenges and.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Maybe even some shifting allegiances. Here they are, Daniel Henny
and Sophio Condo.
Speaker 7 (09:32):
First of all, thank you both for speaking with me.
I really appreciate it. How are you doing, Kyle, I'm well,
thank you. Congratulations on this series in general. But season
three really, you know, is kicking it up even more.
What is it like for both of you to be
on such a you know.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Giant series, I mean big and kind of every way epic.
Speaker 8 (09:58):
It's incredible. I mean, it's grown so much since we
started in twenty nineteen. It's our sixth calendar year now
on the show, and we've gone from having basically seven
to eight actors to almost three hundred. The show shoots
in multiple units, so I mean we were shooting in
South Africa simultaneously shooting in the Czech Republic. It's really
(10:18):
incredible to be a part of something so big, and
not to mention the amazing sets and the amazing talent.
It's just it's it sounds cheesy, but it's really a
dream come true?
Speaker 2 (10:28):
And how about for you?
Speaker 9 (10:30):
Yeah, I was like, you know what, I couldn't really
know how big it was because I when I started,
I was coming in and out. I also don't do
any social media or anything, so I'm not really keeping.
I didn't really look on the internet rep so I'm
not really keeping. I didn't have that influence. And then
when I came back and then there's a lockdown, there's
things that everything was very separate. And then I came
(10:52):
back for this season, I was like, this is massive.
And obviously also people come up to me and talk
about it a lot and people ask about it, so yeah,
it's really it's and I hadn't realized how big it
had become. And then this year I was just like,
this is fantastic. I mean just going wandering through the
huge like where they were based in Prague, and going
(11:14):
through the studios and just see each room with a
different character costume that sets people doing things in different parts,
and it was like a kind of whole world and
this was just one location just for so yeah, I
didn't go to South.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
Africa, So yeah, amazing.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
And for you, had you read the novels before or
any of the novels, either before you had been cast
or when you had been cast.
Speaker 5 (11:38):
I didn't read them before, and I haven't read them now.
Speaker 8 (11:41):
Okay, I had not read them before. I'm still reading now,
but I've read quite a bit now. I was a
fantasy fan, but I hadn't heard of the Wheel of
Time growing up in Michigan and know why. But as
soon as I was cast, I jumped in and it
helped a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (11:57):
I was just I can just outgrow through the scripts
and understand it. And I've got Raith there and everyone
explaining everything, and then I understand the nuggets of the character.
Speaker 6 (12:07):
But I was like, I'm going to get lost till
I go down.
Speaker 8 (12:10):
It can be a slippery slope.
Speaker 9 (12:11):
Yeah, but that's when I did go on the internet.
But because people have like posted stuff like, I got
some people explaining the world to me.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
So that was like some of the fans. Yeah, quite helpful. Actually,
I find it interesting. I'm sorry, yeah, now he's Oh,
I find it interesting the contrast between the two of
you in that regard. Uh, you know, just two actors
that have chosen kind of different ways. I wonder, you know,
is is that how you typically are in your careers.
(12:42):
Like in in one instance, you can go and you
kind of have a bible, if you will, in some
ways from having the novel, so you can kind of
see where in this version your character is going where
you know. On the other hand, you can also just
be like, you know what, No, I want to do
this character my way in this story.
Speaker 10 (13:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (13:03):
I think that I've done quite a few things from novels,
and I found for me personally, it's just been helpful
to you. The script is my bible of the character
because I get I get.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
To this is the way my brain works. I can't.
Speaker 9 (13:16):
I can concentrate on one thing at a time so
that and I can understand it drives the character. And
then often i'm cast maybe against how the original author
thought of them. So I don't I don't want to
bog myself down with that. I just want to have
the essence of what's in the script.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
But that's what I go for.
Speaker 9 (13:32):
That's just my own personal choice.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
I kind of drop all that away and just I
fun want to get there. I love that. Thank you
both so much. I did I cut you off? Oh okay, Oh,
thank you both so much. I really appreciate it. I
can't wait for everybody to see Wheel of Time season
three exclusively on Brian Video. Thank You, Thank You.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Daniel Henny and Sophia Conido love speaking with them about
the Wheel of Time. Up next, Kira Coveney and Aula Smart.
So Kira who brings Elaine Track into life, and Aulas Smart,
who was set to make her mark as the book
fan favorite Avienda. These two fierce women are central to
(14:17):
RAN's journey, and their own destinies are pretty epic themselves.
Let's jump right into talking about these iconic roles, training
and all of that.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Here they are, Kira Coveney and Aula Smart. So tell me.
I got to start with, had you read the books
or any of the books at all before you took
on the rules?
Speaker 11 (14:42):
I hadn't read the books before taking on the rules.
But I have two older sisters and both of them
am are longtime fans of the book, so I grew
up with them reading them over and over again at
my house as I was growing up, so they were
very much part of my life. I hadn't actually got
them until I was cast, and now I phrase like five, Yeah.
Speaker 6 (15:07):
I hadn't.
Speaker 12 (15:08):
I hadn't read them myself, and it was so interesting
having been cast and then speaking to people in my
life and realizing how many people had read the books
and what an important part of their life the texts were.
But yeah, I once I was cast to dived straight
into ie.
Speaker 6 (15:22):
Of the world.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
But yeah, and did you find that as you're you know,
once you took the role, did you find that you
had you know, I feel like when there's a pre
existing you know, content that this is based on, do
you get kind of like fangirlish as you're seeing who's
going to be your character, you know, play out throughout
(15:46):
the books.
Speaker 12 (15:48):
Yeah, it's pretty cool. It's it's really cool to have
a text that that's already there and a character that's
already like flashed out and you you don't have that
work to do it. It's more just finding how how
they exist within you or how you can bring them
to life. But yeah, it's amazing and the way that
(16:11):
they're written and the strengths and flaws that they have.
It's it's really interesting to just kind of like dissect
them on the page and think about how that how
that will kind of look.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yeah, and how about for you?
Speaker 11 (16:26):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
I think it's.
Speaker 11 (16:30):
It's always so exciting when you get to I think
with the books, because you know the information is there
if you want it, and so to know the like
the arc of a character or like the kind of
general ark of a character, there's such a gift beforehand.
But then also to see where that gets cut in
(16:51):
with the writers and this version of the story and.
Speaker 9 (16:54):
Kind of.
Speaker 11 (16:57):
Every episode or when you first get to read them,
that's like what you you don't know exactly, even though
you have the books, you still don't know what it
is exactly that's in store for you. I think over
the season, which is really exciting. But then when you do,
you immediately have this huge amount of source material to
reference and kind of play with and add with and
(17:19):
give you an understanding. I think where the where the
writers and the source material recross over it. There's you know,
there's times where it is exactly like it is in
the books, and you can kind of go back and
then there's like a whole chapter you can read and
you have for free all of these thoughts on ideas
and like circumstances. And then sometimes it's you know, an
(17:41):
amalgamation of other things, or it's like you know, this
kind of or like new new stuff, and it's like
a really yeah, beautiful kind of navigation of both.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, yeah, I love that and actually that's my time.
Thank you both so much. I really appree.
Speaker 6 (18:00):
She ate it, and so please take one more question. Apologies,
Oh no, no, thank you, take one more question.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Thank you. So, finally, what are you most looking forward
to for you know, I gotta I got to watch
a couple of the first episodes of season three. What
are you looking forward to people seeing themselves in season three?
Speaker 12 (18:23):
I think I'm really excited for the audience to see
the new worlds that we explore. I think they're really exciting.
They're really different and not like anything we've seen on
the show before. So yeah, I'm really excited to show
(18:44):
everyone where they went.
Speaker 6 (18:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 11 (18:47):
Yeah, So I think there's so much exciting and new
stuff coming from all of the characters this season. I
think it's I think it's a great, great, great season.
I'm just excited for everyone to see you at Chris.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yes, me too. Thank you both for speaking with me
the Wheel of Time season three exclusively on Prime Video.
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Kira Coveny and a Less Smart All right, so we're
gonna take a quick break, pay the bills, and when
we come back, I speak with Rosamund Pike and Joseph Stradowski,
and then later in the show two time Oscar winning
actress Kate Blanchett, Naomi Harris, and Tom Burke, who discussed
(19:34):
their film Black.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Bag be Back in sixty What all right?
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Thank you for supporting our sponsors, which helps me bring
the show to you every single episode.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
I love you for that. I love them for that.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Let's dive in to the last of our Wheel of
Time interviews. The wheel weaves as the wheel wills, and
now the wheel has woven. Two incredible guests to Pop
Culture Weekly. Joining us is the luminous Rosamond Pike, who
brings the powerful and enigmatic Moraine d'amored to life, and
(20:18):
Josah Stradowski, the rising star who embodies the dragon reborn
himself rand Al Thor. Love Love Love these two actors.
Rosamund made her breakthrough film role as Miranda Frost and
Die Another Day Anyway, and she was also in Pride
(20:39):
and Prejudice, Wrath of the Titans, Jack Reacher, The World's End,
and of course, Gone Girl, which earned her a nomination
for Golden Globe Award, British Academy Film Award, and the
Academy Award for Best Actress. She won a Primetime Emmy
for her role in State of the Union, that comedy
mini series back in twenty nineteen. And Zosha Stradowski all
(21:04):
the way from the Netherlands, of course, played in Grand
Turismo as Nicholas Kappa, numerous films and movies over in
the Netherlands, and now as Ron Althor in The Wheel
of Time. So let's jump into my interviews with Rosamund
Pike and Josha Stradowski.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Thank you both so much for speaking. Thank you very much.
I appreciate sports well. Thank you. First of all, congratulations
on the series and season three, which I got to
catch a few episodes of, and I'm excited now I'm like, okay,
I want the rest. But what's it been like for
you both to be on such a big, huge epic series,
(21:47):
you know, filming in different countries and you know, in
in world, you know, in the in the series, being
kind of all over the place as well.
Speaker 13 (21:57):
It's I mean, for me, really really amazing. I'm I'm
a Dutch. I'm Dutch by the way, and so I
come from dutch Land, and that scale I've never seen
anything like it before. I remember twenty nineteen when I
(22:18):
walked onto the set for the first time, I just
couldn't believe how many people that were there, Like it
felt it felt like theater. You know, you do one
rehouse on there's like three on are four and sometimes
five hundred people watching you, and you're like, this is
this is insane? Can we sick? Can we please send
them away? But then in the essence, it's it's still home.
(22:40):
It's still like in like back home. It's just there
is a camera and in this case there might be
a couple more or during or whatever, but you do
respond in a way that you think is the essence
of your character, and you listen to the other person
and that's still the same.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
I love there.
Speaker 6 (23:03):
It's been an amazing thing to be part of. I mean,
they're wonderful, wonderful stories, rich and everybody has something interesting
to do, which always leads to a fulfilling creative experience,
you know, whether that's the people making the knives or
the people working on the leather, or the actors who
all have fantastic characters. And this season, now that we're
in the world, we broaden out the storylines and amazing
(23:25):
new characters are coming in. You know that attract really
high caliber actors because the parts of Juicy interesting, complicated.
You know, it's great stuff. And you know, we've got
inspirational costume designer, set designer, home makeup team who are
just we're all working in harmony. It's become a family
(23:47):
and we're kind of flying now right now.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
And it's been so long. I mean, you guys, it's
been what six years now since you started on this.
Speaker 6 (23:56):
Twenty nineteen September, so five years, five.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Years, and we're you know, we're getting season three now,
which is exciting from you know, from a viewer standpoint.
Have have either of you read the books at all
or any of the books or did you kind of
go in blind on purpose or tell me about that.
Speaker 13 (24:17):
Both we've both read read most most of it, right.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
Yeah, you've read all of it. Yosha's read all fourteen books.
I've I've read five of them. I've and I've recorded
four of them for audiobook, so I'm pretty I know
them very well. But Yosha knows beyond.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
What I know. And Yosha was that as was that
like as a fan or was that when you got.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
The role or no, when I got the role.
Speaker 13 (24:49):
Yeah, I when we were auditioning, everything was very secretive,
so it felt very special. But they had some kind
of weird name for my character and I looked it
up and I couldn't rid Harn. They called him as
I remember still, and I just couldn't find him online.
So I thought, okay, whatever, and then it felt really important.
(25:12):
And then and then after a whole day of auditioning
in London, they called me up and they said, okay,
the name character is is Rand. And then I looked
him up on Google and it said like the central
one of the central figures, the hero of the antagonists
and do the chosen one. And I was like, all right, yeah,
(25:33):
that's quite let me start reading. So I immediately started
reading and it was great, you know so much as
an actor, that's that's what you wish for, so much
source material. And I took him. I took it really seriously.
It's fat as but I was reading it as it
was real.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I love that. I can't wait. I wish it was real.
I could join in that world with you guys. Thank
you both so much I can't wait for it. Everybody
to see season three of the Wheel of Time exclusively
on the Prime Video. Thank you, guys, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Josha Stradowski and Rosamund Pike love love, love these two
love the Wheel of Time. If you haven't checked it
out yet, check it out on Prime Video right now.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
It's so great.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Start with season one obviously, because there's a world building
and backstory and lore and some amazing battles.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
And when you get to season.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Three, hit me up because it is really good. Ups
the stakes, as you've heard in these interviews. So all right,
that is it for now for the Wheel of Time.
Next up, we are shifting gears to talk about one
of the most anticipated thrillers of the year, Black Bag.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
I told you about my review. My written review is.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Up on podcast dot popculturewekly dot com under reviews or
popculturewekly dot com whatever, And I loved it.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
I love this movie.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
It is like reminds me of one of those like
old you know, big fifties Hollywood who done it?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
It's really great.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
It follows Michael Fastbender, whose beloved wife Catherine is suspected
of betraying the nation. They're both intelligence British intelligence agents,
so George played by Fastbender, has to face the ultimate test,
loyalty to his marriage or loyalty to his country. It
(27:30):
is really, really great, and it's, you know, this gripping
espionage drama thriller, and it's packed with secrets and betrayals
and really powerhouse performances. So we're diving deep into it
with three of the film's incredible stars. We have the
legendary Kate Blanchett, whose command of the screen is literally unmatched.
(27:52):
She brings elegance and intensity to every role she does.
She's one of the most versatile actors of our time.
She's delivered unforgettable performances and everything from Blue Jasmine, which
I absolutely love, to Tar Carol to of course, Gladriel
in The Lord of the Rings, one of my favorite
film franchises of all time. I'm obsessed with the Lord
(28:15):
of the Rings. And of course she has won an
Academy Award. It's an Oscar not just once, but twice,
which made her the only actor to ever win an
Academy Award for portraying an Academy Award winning actor. I
thought that was just a fun fact. She's one of
only four actresses to win the Academy Award for Best
(28:36):
Actress after winning Best Supporting Actress. And she's the only
actress and only one of six total in actors total
in Oscar history to be nominated twice for playing the
same role in two different films, once for Elizabeth and
again for Elizabeth the Golden Age. She's been nominated for
an Academy Award eight times already. Films have grossed over
(29:02):
nine point eight billion at the worldwide box office, her
highest grossing obviously including The Lord of the Rings trilogy
and The Hobbit Trilogy, but she was also in the
Curious Case of Benjamin Button I Love that movie, and
Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I
love that movie. Thor Ragnarok, I love that movie, Ocean's Eight, Cinderella,
and on and on and on. She is, you know,
(29:23):
one of the best of the best, So anyway, I
speak with Kate Blanchett as well as the always brilliant
Naomi Harris, whose magnetic performances in films like Moonlight and
No Time to Die About Movie have made her a
force to be reckoned with and rounding out our trio today,
is the immensely talented tom Burke, who continues to captivate
(29:43):
audiences with his complex and layered characters like in Strike
and the Souvenir. So buckle up, let's hop right in here.
They are Naomi Harris, Tom Burke, and Kate Blanchett.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Thank you all for joining me. I really appreciate it. Hi, Hey,
con So, first of all, I love the film it is.
It reminds me of like those old who'd done it,
and it's so stylish and slick and such just a
great thriller. So kudos to you all for that. Keat,
if I may start with you, Etherne, I heard that
(30:20):
you took the role without having read the entire script.
Is that accurate? Yeah?
Speaker 14 (30:26):
Well, nameI and I were going to make a different
film with Stephen actually, and that was it's a really
quite a complicated one to make.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
And he had a slot.
Speaker 14 (30:35):
Because he's he's worked to work, he back, he back
works to work. I can't speak English, he works back
to back. So he then had this script that David
Kirp had written. It was perfect, and then he said
are you free? And I said, well I was going
to work with you, so yeah, absolutely, what do you
want me to do? Who am I playing? Who's going
to be in it? And all of those things were
very deliciously answered, So it was an impossible thing to
(30:58):
say no to love that.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
And Naomi, your character as a psychiatrist, you know you
it's an interesting, I think role for an actor. How
do you kind of dive behind the psychology of playing
somebody that deals with psychology while you work with.
Speaker 10 (31:19):
A clinical psychologist, which was really really helpful. Although one
of the first things she said when she you know,
read my scenes was no therapist would behave like that
at all. But I actually really loved that.
Speaker 15 (31:33):
It gave me even greater insight into who Zoe my
character is, because she's somebody who is so unorthodox in
her methods.
Speaker 10 (31:40):
She knows the rule book.
Speaker 15 (31:41):
She's so intelligent that she knows how she should behave
and she knows what works. But ultimately she throws all
of that out of the window because she's like, I'm
just going to do what's effective. All that matters to
me is that my spies complete their mission missions and
maintain their mental health. And so she's and she defined
her moral compass is defined by her own set of
(32:03):
weird beliefs And I really like that because then you
get to create a character on your own terms completely.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
I love that. And Tom, your character is messy, I
think it is one word to put it in and complicated,
as as all of the characters are. How do you
find inspiration when doing something you know? You don't strike
me as a super messy life type of person. How
(32:32):
do you find uh that that space to be in to,
you know, play a role like this. I think.
Speaker 16 (32:43):
Everyone's been in some place like that at some point
in their life. And yeah, so it's a very Yeah,
he's very human to me.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Mm hmm. And do you do you feel that you
know as you're as you're doing this, are you able
to I always find it interesting, you know, different types
of actors in the way they approach things. Some are
just kind of go all in in their role and
that kind of consumes their life for that period. Are
(33:14):
you able to kind of separate the character from you
at the end of the shooting day?
Speaker 13 (33:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 16 (33:21):
Yeah, but there's a yeah, there's a there's a magical
lift in anything. But if you're playing somebod who's been
spiked with a drug that is also an invented drug,
that you know, is whatever we want it to be.
And I say to Stephen in the midst of setting
up for that same by the way, what you know,
(33:43):
do you think this mights me go loud or quiet
or hot or cold or you know what?
Speaker 2 (33:48):
What?
Speaker 16 (33:48):
What's what's the kind of flavors of it? He and
he just said the words pure id. That's you know,
that's quite a freeing thing to be told, right, just
go for pure it.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Yeah. Well, and it comes across grade from all of you. Kate,
you know, as you were reading the script, and really
for all of you, it's so as a viewer, I'm
like at the edge of my seat the entire time,
what's going to happen next? Who's going to say? What?
What's going to go on? Do you have that same
excitement reading the script or do you like read it
(34:26):
from a place of where my character is going to
be coming from.
Speaker 14 (34:31):
I think I'm a really good audience and so I
read a script incredibly quickly at first, because I'm desperate
to know what happens like an audience is. And that's
that's how I know in the end what the audience
experience will be, particularly when you know that it's going
to be a director like Soderberg. Shooting it, you've got
a sense of how the narrative will unfold, But then
(34:54):
I have to go back and then I just do
that narcissistic dive where I just view it all from
her perspective. And so, because it's in an ensemble piece
like this, it's really important to know what your function
is and so which piece of the story you're responsible
for conveying when and in when my character, because I mean,
(35:14):
everyone's a suspect, but I knew she was also a suspect,
so there had to be sort of an unknoble remove
to the way. I think I played her, at least
that's what I did. Maybe another actor would do it differently,
but yeah, so that that came out of the sort
of second read. But I loved the first read, like you,
I wanted to know exactly what you know, how.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
This would end right right? I love it. I can't
wait for everybody to see a black Bag. Thank you
all so much, Thank you, Thanks, I have a great.
Speaker 13 (35:44):
Day, It's sure.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Kate Blancher, Naomi Harrison, Tom Burke love black Bag, Love
Kate Blanchet.
Speaker 1 (35:55):
I love all three of those actors, but guys, I
just talked to Kate Blanchett. This is like on my
bucket list, so I can cross it off. Two time
Academy Award winning actor Cate Blanchett one of the greatest
actors of our time. I can't believe it. In any event,
Black Bag is out right now. I love it.
Speaker 2 (36:13):
Go see it.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
If you want to spy, thriller, ah, you know, espionage, drama,
anything like that, well acted, intelligent, any adjectives like that.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Go see Black Bag. It is well worth your time.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
And Steven Soderberg, like, how can you go wrong with
Steven Soderberg such an awesome you know, director creative?
Speaker 2 (36:33):
All right, that is our show for this week.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Of course, we have awesome stuff coming up for you
to continue to.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Check it out. Check out the YouTube.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
I've been really uploading a lot of stuff up there,
especially some older interviews that the videos were never up.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
So now we're going through that. I am. I did
break my kneecap trying to dunk, which sucks.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
So you know, if you don't see me as often
as usual for the next two months, I can't drive,
which has been, as you know, like torture for me.
So that's what's going on, But hang in there with me.
I'll be posting a lot more to YouTube and the
blog on pop podcast dot popculturewekly dot com. Those are
(37:16):
all in the show notes. I will see you next episode.
All right, I love you.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
We thank you for listening to pop Culture Weekly. Here
all the latest at popcultureweekly dot com.
Speaker 9 (37:33):
It's a blagg black beg.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Okay, okay,
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