acolyte It’s over, and big reveals, big connections, and a new status quo are starting to ripple through the galaxy far, far away. But while io9 has sat down with one of the dark agents who shaped the status quo, it’s only fair that we also talk to their apprentice, right?
acolyteThe season finale presents the culmination of twin sisters Osha and Mae’s long and strange journey. Their roles are essentially reversed – May’s quest for Jedi vengeance turns her life upside down, and she chooses to erase her memory to keep Osha safe, while Osha herself embraces the darkness brewing within her, replacing May as the The Stranger in the Place of the Mysterious Apprentice – The stage is set for a turbulent era Star Wars galaxy. To learn more about Osha and May’s different paths and their relationships with the dark side, especially strangers, we spoke to acolyte Star Amandla Stenberg looks back on the past.
James Whitbrook, io9: As an actor, what was it like for you on set? Not only do you get to play Osha and May throughout the series, but you also get to be in the headspace of both sisters at the same time?
Amandla Steinberg: Oh yes, this is so fascinating. When I think about their physical characteristics, I need to think about a few different things, how they might be similar in this regard, and how they might be different. First of all, I think it would be more interesting if they were very different people. I wrote a lot of backstory [for both Osha and Mae], and thinking a lot about nature versus nurture—what they might have been like at a very young age, and how ideologically they might be very different from each other, and just teasing out the subtext of those flashback events. That really helped me write these backstories.
But then I also thought about the progression of their lives and how that shaped them—I can talk about it more in a legendary way now. Thor says in the finale that they are the same person. When we get into the discussion, because, you know, there’s this history Star Wars Copy. I talked to Leslie [Headland, The Acolyte showrunner] When we got into pre-production, I said, “Okay, are they clones of each other? Does that mean I should play them as the same person?” That’s when she said, “No, this is going to be the same person.” Related to the convergence of the Force. ” [When I heard that I said] Well, it has to do with Force manipulation and midi-chlorians – I’ve heard their mysterious origin stories. I thought “Okay, so if they yes The same person, then I have the opportunity to see them as representatives of the light side and the dark side of the Force,” and their essences are constantly changing with each other, like yin and yang.
io9: I’m glad you mentioned the Brundock episodes – obviously you’re not in them, but they’re crucial to our understanding of the characters of Osha and May. Were you ever on set or interacting with Lauren and Leah while filming these episodes? [Brady, the twin actors for Young Mae and Osha]?
Steinberg: So actually, a few months before I got to London for pre-production, I flew to L.A. and I read with a couple of the twin actresses. When Leah and Lauren came in, I fell in love with them immediately. We bonded very closely, very quickly – we played together, we talked, and then I read scenes with them and gave them notes. So going into filming, we already had this relationship and I was very close to them. When we shoot, I take them out for afternoon tea and try to spend as much time with them as possible. There must be the following elements [their performances] My description is also based on this. I want them to be consistent as children and as adults. The children are so beautiful and I learn so much from them. They really inspired me and helped me create the adult versions of Osha and Mae.
io9: Looking back at the finale, I want to ask about a big moment where Osha made Sol’s lightsaber bleed. What was that moment like for you at the moment the transition happened, what was going through your head, how was Osha feeling?
Steinberg: I think it’s kind of like…a tragic victory, or a tragic victory. The first thing that comes to my mind is Anakin Skywalker, and that incredible reaction you have to your own darkness. Osha is going through so At that point: shocked, embodied, taking back her own power. I just try to balance those things. What’s important to me is that her victory is the permission she gives herself, and she earns it by finally grasping all the truth, feeling things, and engaging with her emotions. Because she is a person who has been living a very depressed life emotionally. In my opinion, this is the best representation of her turn to the dark side, but it is also a shock to her own power–we are often afraid of our own power.
io9: Building on this, we see Osha swap roles with Mae and become the Stranger’s new sidekick. Manny Jacinto has talked in previous interviews about the sensuality and seduction in Osha’s relationship with a stranger, but what was it like for you to play that relationship with him compared to playing May’s relationship with him? ?
Steinberg: It’s funny because people like the romantic or seductive aspect of their relationships. I’m not necessarily thinking positively about this part of Osha’s trajectory when I’m looking at it – I think the reason it reads so intensely is because Osha finally gets her chance. She’s completely seen, in a real way where, you know, the darkest and deepest parts of herself are being seen. I think it’s very romantic.
This combination of ideologies is also very romantic, with two people having the same view of the world. I think it just creates a deep connection between people and that’s why it feels that way. I’m glad this worked out because that was our hope. We wanted to have a romantic tension and a feeling of bonding, while also not explicitly portraying it that way – just portraying the storyline that this young woman didn’t get a chance to fully be herself and feel comfortable. Then she found a person, a place, and there she was.
acolyte Now streaming on Disney+.
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