IN CONVERSATION WITH GAIA WISE

interview by JANA LETONJA

Gaia Wise will next be voicing the female protagonist Héra Hammerhand in Warner Bros’ highly anticipated 'The Lord of The Rings: The War of the Rohirrim', which will be released in the UK on 13th December. Next year, Gaia will also be seen starring alongside her mother, Emma Thompson, in Brian Kirk’s action thriller 'The Fisherwoman'.

You'll be voicing the female protagonist in 'The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim'. 'What drew you to the role of Héra Hammerhand?

The writing drew me in from the start. The way that Phoebe and Arty created this powerful young woman was something that I hadn't seen in the Tolkein universe before and I loved her character arc. She begins as a relatively carefree girl and is forced to mature into a leader whilst remaining true to her morals and values.

How did you prepare for voicing Héra, a warrior with such a rich family legacy and emotional depth?

The script held a lot of the information that I needed to gain an insight into the Hammerhand family and the emotion surrounding the timeline of the film. I used Eowyn's tenacity and courage as a baseline, since Héra is her ancestor and a true shield maiden of Rohan.

What were the challenges of bringing such a complex character to life through voice acting alone?

Once I was in the studio, I was able to really explore where I wanted Héra to sit in my body and my register. Having Phillipa, Arty, Phoebe and Kenji with me was invaluable as I could bounce ideas off them throughout the process. Kenji is a legend within the anime world and so he was incredibly helpful, especially during the fight sequence. Héra is an extraordinarily soulful character and when I was truly comfortable it was easy for me to reach down and pull her out. She will live in me forever I think.

The film is set around 200 years before 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. How do you think the world of Rohan has evolved during that time?

I think that it will definitely feel a bit more archaic than the trilogy, but the spirit of Rohan and the Rohirrim hasn't changed. They are warriors who are prepared to defend their home and their people with their lives. Their courage never fails them.

With 'The War of the Rohirrim' being a prequel, how did you connect your portrayal of Héra to the established characters from 'The Lord of the Rings' universe?

As I mentioned, I used Eowyn as a foundation for Héra since they are ancestors. Like Eowyn, Héra  will not buckle under authority figures who deem her more incapable because she is a woman and a princess. Eowyn's unwavering commitment to defend her people mirrors that of Héra.

Next up, you’ll also be starring alongside your mother, Emma Thompson, in 'The Fisherwoman'. What’s it like working together on such an intense thriller?

It was an unforgettable experience. To be able to support one another during such an intense work period was wonderful and I will never get tired of watching my mother. She is a huge inspiration to me.

As a young actress with such diverse roles, how do you choose which projects to take on? What do you look for in a script or character?

Good writing is important, but I genuinely love what I do and feel incredibly privileged whenever I am given an opportunity to learn and grow as an actor.

Growing up with a mother like Emma Thompson, did you always know you wanted to be an actress, or did it take time for you to discover that path?

I would be lying if I said that I'd ever wanted to do anything else. I was exposed as a child to acting and film sets, and loved watching the process unfold. I feel incredibly lucky to get to call such wonderful actors 'family'.

Besides 'The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim' and 'The Fisherwoman', what’s coming up next for you? Are there any particular types of roles you’d like to explore in the future?

I am always excited when given a new project to work on. I am relatively new to acting and am aware that I still have many more strings to add to my bow. Theatre is something that has always called to me, so I would love to be given an opportunity to learn in that particular field.

TEAM CREDITS:
photography DAVID REISS
styling SARAH-ROSE HARRISON
hair CHAD MAXWELL
makeup AMANDA GROSSMAN