The American fantasy series The Wheel of Time is back for an eagerly anticipated third season on Amazon Prime on 13 March. Based on Robert Jordan’s best-selling fantasy novels, the show follows Rand al’Thor, a humble farmer who discovers he is The Dragon reborn – a dangerous figure from history destined either to save or destroy the world.
Season three picks up after the defeat of the evil entity Ishamael, but the threats against the Light are still multiplying. The White Tower stands divided, the Black Ajah run free, old enemies return to the Two Rivers, and the remaining Forsaken are in hot pursuit of the Dragon… including Lanfear, whose relationship with Rand will mark a crucial choice between Light and Dark for them both.
Grazia caught up with the Australian actress Madeleine Madden, who plays Eqwene, ahead of the new season...
How does it feel to be reprising your role as Egwene? What do you love about playing her?
Madeleine Madden: Stepping back into Egwene feels like riding a bike. I may need to adjust the seat slightly when I jump on but after that, everything else comes so naturally. I feel like I’ve grown up with Egwene, she’s taught me a lot about myself. Discipline, resilience and the importance of throwing yourself into new experiences. To keep moving forward in life, despite what she’s been through.
She is such a fantastic character and someone who is constantly reinventing herself, which is so exciting as an actor. It’s been an honour to explore the world through her eyes.
What is it like working on The Wheel of Time? Do you have any fun BTS stories you can share from season three?
Working on a series of this magnitude can at times be very surreal. The world can be all encompassing and for the majority of the shoot, the only people you see and interact with are on the show. You become like a family and I’ve been incredibly blessed to have found lifelong friends on this show.
Our studios are in Prague, and we usually have one or two foreign locations and this year we shot in Slovenia and Cape Town.
How has it been working so closely with Rosamund Pike?
I’ve worked with Ros for five years now and working with her is like watching a masterclass. Whatever she does, she does it 100% whether that’s delivering a line, throwing a fantastic party or doing a cartwheel. She gives her all. We’re incredibly lucky to have her at the helm of the ship.
Where does season three pick up? The last season ended on a major victory for the forces of Light.
At the beginning of season three, we find all our heroes back together shortly after the battle in Falme. There’s a lot of unfinished business. They fall back into their old, ‘comfortable’ dynamics. Obviously, so much has happened to each of them individually and much time has passed. They have changed dramatically and are now forced to face their reality.
This season is the closest to the fourth and fifth books. I know readers of the novels will love how much we draw from the books this season and new fans will fall in love with these characters who are really coming into their own this season. It’s also visually breathtaking, and the magnificent landscapes and magic that exists in the world is unlike any other series and it’s always expanding.
The series feels like it has strong feminist undertones – is that something that drew you to the project?
The feminism in this show is intersectional and that’s so important. That is something that resonates with me but also audiences. People can really see themselves be represented in this show and especially in fantasy, a genre that historically hasn’t had the most diverse representation.
For me personally, female strength is multi-faceted. It’s great to see women feeling powerful and strong, but that doesn’t hit as hard if we don’t see women being vulnerable or challenged. That’s something I’ve been able to flesh out in Egwene and something I look for in roles, women that are complex.
What do you love about the fantasy genre?
I love fantasy. I love the total escapism you experience when you’re in Fantasy. Fantasy will always be so nostalgic for me.
Do you have any other exciting projects coming out this year?
I just shot a body horror film called SACCHARINE directed by Natalie Erika James. In the age of Ozempic and with films like The Substance, body horror feels relevant in the public psyche. What I love about this genre is it feels very female led and there’s a lot of freedom to play. We can talk about very real societal issues, such as body image and unrealistic beauty standards, but use horror tropes and techniques to emphasise the impact these things have on us.
SACCHARINE is coming out this year and I’m really eager to see how it will resonate with audiences.
The Wheel of Time season three is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Photographer: Raul Romo; Stylist: Jason Rembert; Hair: Mitchell Cantrell; MU: Mai Quynh
Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across pop culture, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things TV for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow shows with equal respect).