Why anyone would want to live in Westeros sounds insane (and morbid), but to those that fantasise about it, Jessica Henwick suggests that Dorne is probably the best city to do so.
Looking very clean and angelic in her flowy Issa pants, white top, maroon suede pumps and barely-there make-up, the 22-year-old shows no affinity with Nymeria Sand, the aggressively poised, whip-lashing warrior she plays on the popular series Game Of Thrones. Drop her into the streets of Bangkok and it's more likely that people would mob her on the pretence of being a lookalike of actress Mai Davika — but Henwick is something else. The very first East Asian to be cast in Thrones.
In Singapore last week to promote the season finale which aired yesterday, Henwick mentions how playing a character from this free-loving city was a draw for her.
"Westeros is a very dangerous place to be a woman because it's based on medieval England and historically, it was a patriarchal society," says the Singaporean-Brit actress. "But Dorne is interesting because it's not. It's a new country and place with different ideals. A woman has just as much right to rule as a man does so my experience in coming to character was very different— I needed to keep in mind that I would never take getting put down."
And not taking any BS is indeed what her confident and composed character exudes. Unlike her other two illegitimate sisters (Obara and Tyene), who in total make up this season's highly-hyped Sand Snakes, she is not constantly trying to prove herself, nor has any bastard drama — being the daughter of a fighter mother.
"Being a bastard in Dorne is just a tag. It doesn't define the person or the way they've grown up, unlike in Westeros, where the word is considered an insult," she explains.
As one of the three faces of the Sand Snakes package out to avenge the death of their father, Prince Oberyn, Henwick acknowledges that they may seem similar, but she reckons it is her whip — a first in the series — that more or less allows her to stand out.
The tall brunette has all the acting muscles needed from six years in the TV and theatre business to help her with a Dornish (aka Hispanic) accent, but also a physical background that helped her helm the 2.5m bullwhip.
"All of us were injured over the course of six months. I think Rosabell [who plays Tyene] has a scar actually. It was hard [to learn] but it's kind of like riding a bike. I guess you never really forget how to use it after you know how."
Considering all the parts and weapons she could have gotten, her family found it apt that she got this role, especially with her inclinations.
"I do love this weapon," she laughs. "It's funny because before I got the show, I had this phone app which made whip sounds [when you flicked your hand] and I would use it on my brother!"
Her first day on set shooting her debut scene in Episode 4 was a little more intense.
"I got to set and they said 'Here's a bullwhip. There's an actor in the sand. Here's 12 live scorpions. Don't kill the scorpions, injure the actor, don't break the cameras and don't injure the crew'. Then the crew brought out these riot shields to protect themselves."
Nevertheless, Henwick gleefully shares her experiences on working with the cast.
"I didn't use a stunt double for those whole four days that we shot the fight scene. Nikolaj got tired and had to use a stunt double," she giggles. "I think Nikolaj and Jerome came in with very low expectations of what we would be able to do. I think we kind of proved ourselves to them and they were pleasantly surprised!" Off the screen, she is genuinely close to Keisha Castle-Hughes (Obara) and Rosabell Laurenti Seller (Tyene), as if there were her real sisters.
"Keisha's the most fun to work with, I love her to bits," she tells, before some older-sis sentiments start kicking in, regarding Tyene's stripping sequence in Episode 7. "I was standing behind her in the scene and didn't see her breasts. It was kind of shocking to watch it [on TV]. It was weird because she's like my little sister and to hear people talking about it was a weird thing."
To those wondering what it's like filming a nude scene, she reveals: "The person who gets naked sets the tone. If they're quiet when they're doing it then the whole set will be very quiet, whereas if the person is joking and having a good time, then everyone feels at ease. Rosabell was very comfortable with it and it didn't feel any different from any other work day, really. It felt like she was doing her job." Starring in Game Of Thrones is sure to open to more doors for Henwick but for now, the rising actress is fine with having no expectations and just "riding it out". She's also plain happy that other Asians, Asian actors and those of ethnic minorities have reached out to say, "Oh my gosh finally".
"I've been very fortunate to get wonderful roles that aren't defined by ethnicity, but it's hard for an Asian actor in England. One of the biggest issues is the lack of awareness, only Asians would know about the misrepresentation and underrepresentation. I'm happy that I'm a part of a movement to change that."
Unlike Nym, Henwick is quick to smile in real life, as she imagines what she'd like to see go down with her character.
"A fight between Brienne and Nymeria," she muses. "I don't want to meet Reek... don't think that would be particularly good for me. And I don't want my character to meet Cersei, that would end badly!"
As a bookworm and avid fan of shows as much as being a cast member, Henwick parts with her two gold coins on who will sit on the throne in the future.
"I think the Iron Throne is going to become redundant because of the White Walkers and it will end in democracy instead. The throne will be taken apart maybe. Who knows?"
But in terms of how to survive? "Have dragons," she laughs. "That's how to survive!"
