Who Is Miriel in ‘Rings of Energy’? ‘Lord of the Rings’ Character Defined

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September 10, 2022

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Cynthia Addai-Robinson was standing on high of a mountain within the South Island of New Zealand, an space with a 360 diploma view of the island solely accessible by helicopter, on considered one of her first days of filming The Rings of Energy when all the pieces clicked for her: She was in The Lord of the Rings. “I had this inside second of simply recognizing what I used to be about to be a part of,” Addai-Robinson says over a Zoom name from Los Angeles days earlier than the premiere of Rings of Energy. “It sounds tacky, however I used to be in Center-earth abruptly.”

Addai-Robinson performs Queen Míriel in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy, Amazon Prime Video’s prequel set 1000’s of years earlier than the occasions of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films. The collection—which value a reported $1 billion to provide, making it the costliest TV present of all time—is predicated on the appendices of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings novels, notes that define the historical past and tradition of Center-earth, the world the place the collection is ready. Míriel, who makes her debut in episode 3 of Rings of Energy on September 8, is the Queen Regent of Númenor, an island west of Center-earth impressed by the legend of Atlantis. “After I bought forged, I felt like I simply received the lottery,” Addai-Robinson says. “I felt like I used to be plucked up and positioned into Center-earth. The function of Míriel has been a little bit of a protected haven for me.”

Picture: Carlyle Routh. Design: Sasha Purdy/StyleCaster. Costume: CD Greene. Rings: Laruicci; Kavant & Sharart. Earrings: Jennifer Behr. Headpiece: Jennifer Behr.

However Míriel wasn’t the one Rings of Energy character Addai-Robinson auditioned for. She first learn for Bronwyn, a job she had helped different actor associates take a look at for earlier than she acquired the identical audition herself. She despatched in a self-tape on the finish of 2019. That tape led to a different tape which led to a studying with the director of the primary two Rings of Energy episodes,, J.A. Bayona. “At that time, I used to be pondering, ‘OK, if I’m studying for the director, I’m getting shut. This might occur,’” Addai-Robinson recollects. “It didn’t occur. It went away. I keep in mind being gutted, pondering, ‘I used to be so shut after which it was gone.’ I mourned it, and that was that.” A pair months later, Addai-Robinson was requested to audition once more, this time for a special function: Míriel. She despatched in her self-tape and the world shut down. “As soon as the pandemic began, it was the furthest factor from my thoughts,” she says. “Like everybody else on this planet, you weren’t certain what the long run was gonna maintain.” Later that summer season, after a spherical of chemistry reads over Skype, Addai-Robinson discovered she had booked the function of Míriel.

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After I bought forged, I felt like I simply received the lottery.

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She was at residence in lockdown together with her husband, director Thomas Hefferon whom she had eloped with simply weeks earlier than, when she acquired the information that she could be transferring to New Zealand in a matter of weeks and she or he couldn’t inform anybody. “I signed NDAs. We primarily left and didn’t say goodbye to any associates or household,” she says. “It was like leaving at midnight to go to the opposite facet of the world.” However for Addai-Robinson, who has been working for greater than 20 years and has starred in supporting roles in reveals like Energy and Chicago Med, Míriel, considered one of 5 foremost characters in Rings of Energy, is extra than simply one other job. “I used to be on the lookout for one thing like this. However possibly this was on the lookout for me. It’s mutual looking for each other,” she says. “I can get woowoo about destiny and timing and issues occurring after they’re imagined to, however it did really feel that method. I understand how exhausting I’ve labored to get so far. Nothing is unintended or coincidental. There’s a variety of work that went into attending to this place and this sort of function in this sort of challenge. However I really feel like I’m in a roundabout way nonetheless at the start of this journey. The journey of creating it.”

Picture: Carlyle Routh/StyleCaster. Costume: Bibhu Mohapatra. Earrings: Melis Goral. Rings: Kavant & Sharart. Footwear: Jimmy Choo.

I learn you auditioned for an additional Rings of Energy character earlier than Míriel. What was it?

It was Bronwyn. However what’s wonderful concerning the casting is everybody who inhabits their character really has the essence of that character. I can’t think about anybody however Naz (Nazanin Boniadi) in that function. You need to belief when issues in the end don’t go your method, there’s a purpose for that. I needed to have that second of all the pieces occurs for a purpose. What’s been lovely is when the function of Míriel got here to me, I didn’t know what it was going to ivolve. I didn’t know a lot concerning the character. They’d saved the entire character names a secret. They’d coded names and the auditions have been simply made-up sides. As soon as I noticed what I used to be going to get to do with Míriel, it did really feel fated. It felt like that is the function I’m imagined to play. That is the person who I’m imagined to inhabit. All of it did work out because it was meant to work out.

Had been you conscious of how in style The Lord of the Rings franchise was earlier than you turned part of it?

I had seen the flicks earlier than. I hadn’t learn the books. A part of it was I had consciousness of the literature, however I felt prefer it wasn’t as simply accessible for me. I don’t suppose anybody essentially inspired me to learn the books. What I’m most enthusiastic about with Rings of Energy is the visible illustration of the tales and characters. I’m hoping that audiences, and even that little one model of me, will get so into this, that they then return to the books. Now they really feel like they’ve some extent of entry as a result of they see a visible illustration they’ll simply establish with. The very best literature speaks to universality. However typically you want that hook, it’s worthwhile to see that feminine character that appears such as you or reminds you of somebody, and also you go, “I like that character. Now, I need to learn the books.” I do know there are a variety of adults which have grown up with these tales, and, after all, we need to give them one thing that excites them as properly. However I’ve a variety of nieces and nephews that at the moment are understanding it is a big mega epic. It makes me suppose again to after I was a child and the way hungry I’d have been to have this. How a lot I’d have needed to see that in TV and movie, particularly within the fantasy style. Not essentially simply Tolkien, however the fantasy style could be very white, male-heavy. That is about transferring this style ahead. Fantasy, and I believe Tolkien, is about inclusivity. As a result of it’s about individuals from completely different cultures coming collectively for a standard trigger.

Picture: Carlyle Routh/StyleCaster. Coat: Laruicci. Earrings: Jennifer Behr. Rings: Satya Jewellery; Kavant & Sharart. Footwear: ALDO.

Did you ever think about you’ll be in a present like The Rings of Energy?

I at all times considered myself as any person who may very well be a foremost character, and I didn’t need to place myself as somebody on the facet. Now, it wasn’t at all times as much as me. It’s usually lower than actors. Generally you’re pegged as the perfect pal when you understand you might have a lot extra to supply. There have been many alternatives I had that sense of frustration of they’re simply not even going to contemplate me. It wasn’t essentially I assumed it was at all times about my ethnicity or my race. On the finish of the day, I used to be by no means going to know, however I simply needed to at all times ensure I used to be investing within the characters and attempting to current them as totally realized human beings. The business nonetheless has an extended technique to go. However actually my time within the business, I completely have seen progress. Being in Rings of Energy, I by no means would have imagined that. Lots of people wouldn’t have imagined it. There’s that sense of progress. Each time you might have a small victory like that, it helps for the subsequent set of inventive minds who will now be capable of dream up these tales and dream them in a extra inclusive method. After I’m sitting down to observe a brand new present, particularly within the style house, my private want and expectation is to see variety.

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The fantasy style could be very white, male-heavy. That is about transferring this style ahead. Fantasy is about inclusivity.

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What has your response been to the seemingly racist and sexist criticism from some followers?

I don’t even know the place it stems from. After I take into consideration this specific model of toxicity, whether or not it’s racist or misogynistic, there’s additionally a deep cynicism and to me, that’s one of the crucial poisonous issues of all. It could unfold and it will probably make individuals lose themselves. It’s a actuality. It’s at all times been there. Nevertheless it does tie in with what Tolkien’s exploring. You need to resolve in case you’re going to let these issues overtake you or in case you’re going to have the energy to face within the face of that. It’s exhausting to be relentlessly constructive, however I discover that to be the larger energy. I believe cynicism and toxicity are fairly weak. It’s train to attempt to at all times lean towards the sunshine and concentrate on the constructive.

Picture: Carlyle Routh/StyleCaster.

How do you suppose Míriel is completely different than different Lord of the Rings characters followers have seen?

The character of Queen Regent Míriel and the entire feminine characters on this adaptation are so totally realized. They’re so complicated, considerate and—to not overuse this phrase—however robust, as a result of they’re. They perform independently of male characters. They’ve their very own full internal lives. With Tolkien and a variety of his tales, they’ve tended to be very male-heavy and about male fellowship and a variety of relationships when it comes to males regarding different males. For followers of Tolkien, we’re attending to current feminine characters with company. That, to me, is the perfect factor of all as a result of I believe that’s going to really feel recent and new, although it’s lengthy overdue.

How do you suppose The Rings of Energy is completely different from the flicks?

Most individuals are acquainted with Tolkien’s variations when it comes to the Peter Jackson movies. That’s the Third Age. For our collection, we’re setting the Second Age, which spans 1000’s of years. There’s a variety of story to cowl and to mine. With Númenor and the a part of the world I characterize, nobody has ever depicted Númenor on display screen. That is the primary time we’re exhibiting what Númenor appears to be like like. There are a variety of features of the present which can be going to be new to viewers for the primary time, and issues which can be going to be acquainted. We’re acquainted with elves. We’re acquainted with dwarves. However as a result of we’re 1000’s of years earlier than. We’re in a time of relative peace. We’re in a time of relative prosperity. There’s a lot that occurs from the place our collection begins, and the place it should in the end finish. Even in case you’ve by no means learn Tolkein or seen any of the earlier movies, you could possibly be fully new to this and you could possibly perceive and benefit from the story. It’s not a prerequisite to have seen or learn something prematurely.

Picture: Carlyle Routh/StyleCaster. Carlyle Routh/StyleCaster. Coat: CD Greene. Earrings: Kavant & Sharant. Rings: Kavant & Sharart; Ginette NY.

How do you suppose Center-earth displays the true world?

Like many individuals in lockdown, my thoughts and coronary heart—all the pieces I used to be pondering and feeling, I used to be overwhelmed. It’s a pleasant overlap with Míriel as a result of throughout the story, she’s the queen regent of the island kingdom of Númenor. It’s a society that’s at its peak, and in the end, there’s a downfall. You’ve gotten a frontrunner that’s attempting to information her individuals by way of a time of change. There’s a variety of complexity to the storyline and to this world in the identical method we’re dwelling in complicated occasions. Every thing I used to be fascinated with and feeling, I had Míriel to navigate that for myself. The factor about Tolkien’s tales and the explanation why we might even do an adaptation at this time limit is that these tales are timeless. You possibly can relate it to in the present day. On the finish of the day, the perfect tales endure as a result of they may at all times resonate. There’s at all times one thing you could possibly draw a line between what’s occurring in considered one of his tales and what’s occurring in the present day. This adaptation goes to have a world attain. There are going to be lots of people in several components of the world—with very completely different units of circumstances—who will all see one thing in these characters and worlds and be capable of perceive them and relate to them. Any parallels should not so particular as to solely relate to at least one group. Everybody will be capable of see these tales and have a direct understanding of what it’s to be scared, what it’s to be humbled, what it’s to really feel a way of guilt, what it’s to navigate a posh household relationship. These are all issues individuals perceive. That’s what offers this story its energy.

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After I’m sitting down to observe a brand new present, particularly within the style house, my private want and expectation is to see variety.

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Have you ever met any of the unique Lord of the Rings forged members?

I haven’t, however I’d like to. If you end up a part of any Tolkien adaptation, you hope that paths will cross as a result of it’s this very distinctive fellowship. It’s such intensive work we did. I keep in mind listening to tales about folks that labored on the Peter Jackson films, and it gave the impression of a equally intensive and immersive expertise. I’m certain if our paths ever cross, we may all share a pint and chuckle about all of the issues we’ve skilled. However Rings of Energy could be very a lot its personal adaptation—separate from the flicks. What’s great is all of those variations get to coexist. Individuals who love the flicks, I hope, after they see the collection, they see one thing that’s acquainted, but additionally completely different. It’s uniquely its personal factor.

Picture: Carlyle Routh/StyleCaster.

What’s a job individuals could be shocked you auditioned for?

I keep in mind I auditioned for J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, the primary film. I bought to learn for the function of Uhura with him, and I used to be an enormous J.J. Abrams fan. Nonetheless am. The actual fact I used to be going to satisfy him in particular person, I used to be attempting to strike the steadiness of I’m fangirling out and attempting to get this function and do job. That was a kind of ones the place I felt like, “OK, if I’m getting referred to as again, I’m getting in these rooms, I have to be doing one thing proper.” I keep in mind pondering, “Wouldn’t it’s wonderful to not solely be in Star Trek, however to play an iconic function like Uhura?” Nevertheless it was nonetheless early days for me. I nonetheless had an extended methods to go earlier than I had that sense of confidence and build up my resume. I used to be nonetheless very unknown.

Do you are feeling stress for Rings of Energy to dwell as much as the expectations of Lord of the Rings followers?

It’s humorous as a result of we’ve been requested that query so much over the course of doing this press tour. One in every of my different forged mates was answering the opposite day that he has felt stress, and I mentioned, “Effectively, you understand, stress makes a diamond.