In Anya Chalotras hands, Yennefer of Vengerberg commands authority inThe Witchers third season.
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Chalotra lets Yennefers guard fall away.
For the first time, she figures out what her true purpose is.
There are so many special effects in this show, so much lore, so many locations.
I go back to all the quotes Ive pulled from the book that really mean a lot to me.
Ive also learned that on the day, everything changes.
You are not in control of anything.
You have to be prepared to be open.
Ive got to do enough prep to be freer to play.
We were wondering how we were going to come back from the betrayal at the end of season two.
This very, very clever young girl has learned to trust nobody.
Why would she trust Yennefer?
Why would she lean on herto be a mother figure, let alone a teacher?
And we realized that through teaching, she could become more maternal.
Yennefer really brings her into her world, and she doesnt bring many people in.
It was a difficult road to go on because we had a limited amount of time to do it.
My brother, for instance, educates me a lot.
Hes quite responsible for a lot of things, and hes younger than me.
Its not about age Yennefer is like 100 years old.
I laughed when she says to Ciri during training, Im not angry, Im disappointed.
Everyone knows what it feels like to hear that.One hundred percent.
And Yennefer follows with, You didnt think about the consequences.
We all wrote, Youve gotta think about the consequences.
Thats how important that is to me.
Can you talk about filming that last scene with MyAnna Buring?I knew we were coming to that.
In that ending, Yennefer is fully able to step into a position of responsibility.
Shes always relied on Tissaia.
MyAnna means so much to me.
She was there day one.
Id spend time with her family in Budapest.
She gives so much.
That loss is huge for the show and huge for Yennefer.
These women work together, although they dont really like each other all the time.
And Yennefer absorbs these relationships after Tissaias death.I agree.
Only when Tissaia goes can Yennefer accept responsibility.
Shes always caused chaos complete chaos because theres always been someone else to pick up the pieces.
Shes known that theres someone else in this world who will be there for her.
When shes with Geralt in that final scene, what does she say?
I need you to say that youll still be with me, youll still be there.
That means a lot because Tissaias gone.
Who has Yennefer got now?
Can she do it?
Your reading of these letters becomes the narration of the season.
I know youve done some voice acting.
What was that experience like?I love those letters.
You get to see the real Yennefer, the Yennefer everyone loves.
It was lovely to be able to speak them.
I enjoy voice work a lot, I lose myself completely.
I dont care about what I look like or whats onscreen.
Youre not working with the camera or anyone else youre by yourself in this little room.
Then you’re free to perfect that.
The ball at Aretuza is so much fun.
The structure of the whole thing was exciting: How are we gonna make this work?
What are you wearing?
Yennefer was in her element Iwas in my element playing this scene.
I was very nervous, because a lot of it weighed on Yennefers scheming and plotting.
It was hard standing in heels.
The wig was very heavy.
The dress was beaded and extremely heavy.
But that all added to it.
I love heavy costumes or things I can workwithto find the weight of the scene.
I was glad that I did, and I was happy watching that back.
When war erupts after the ball, Yennefer and Ciri are being chased by the fire mage Rience.
He catches the sword you threw and decapitates Rience.
Are you doing that throw yourself?
Do you enjoy stunt work?I love stunt work.
I love working with my body to make something.
Ive always wanted to do more of it.
Theyre so fun, and Wolfie [supervising stunt coordinator Wolfgang Stegemann] is just adored.
This season wouldnt be the same without him.
How was the throw executed?I throw it, it lands on the floor.
Thank goodness the camera turns away from my face, because Im like,Oh, that was embarrassing.
And then someone throws it to Henry fast, and fortunately, it looks cool.
Theres nothing more humiliating.
And my face is so determined!
Yennefers movements when shes doing magic incorporated Indian dance this season.
Did that idea come from you?The stunt team came to me to ask.
They wanted to elevate Yennefers magic, and they first thought of Indian dance,kathak.
Of course, I jumped at the opportunity.
Im culturally very familiar with it.
I grew up on Bollywood films.
Youve previously saidthat Yennefers fearlessness is what you relate to most.
Is that still the case?Im definitely fearful of many things.
I suppose I meant resilience.
Everything Yennefers been put through, I feel like Ive been put through.
Im always searching for something more complex.
Not in a greedy way; even with Yennefer, I dont think its in a greedy way.
Its hunger and curiosity.
This is Henrys last season.
I couldnt wait to film it because I loved that moment in the books.
Jaskier and Ciri are mimicking us as we argue far away.
We had to improvise an argument, and we didnt get anything out.
We just laughed the whole time.
We were just saying gobbledygook.
The character was born there, and I really want to stay true to that.
I have a job to do withthisYennefer, and I also have to honor that material in the scripts.
When a season is out is when Im most interested in the feedback.
But ultimately, you have to take it for what it is.
What are you looking forward to next season?Im looking forward to Ciris journey.
Freyas got so much to give this character, and were all gonna sit back and watch.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and was conducted prior to the SAG strike.
