Emily Watson’s role in HBO Max’s “Dune: Prophecy” marks a significant shift from her acclaimed work in independent and arthouse films like Lars von Trier’s “Breaking the Waves” and Robert Altman’s “Gosford Park.” As she prepares for the show’s second season, Watson expressed her growing comfort in the expansive sci-fi universe during a conversation at the Variety Lounge, an event hosted by the Sarajevo Film Festival and BH Telecom.
Reflecting on her experience, Watson remarked, “It was a true departure for me to be in a spaceship. You know, it’s actually really good fun.” Discussing her return as Valya Harkonnen for the next season, which is filmed but awaiting a release date, she described feeling like she was on a quest, a feeling she believes is more common for actors than actresses. “And that was just fun,” she added.
When asked about the secrets of the series, Watson teased, “There are a lot of new elements, really interesting and intriguing things […] I think my head will blow off if I mention any of them,” she joked.
Regarding Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming “Dune: Part Three,” Watson expressed her anticipation, saying, “I mean, I can’t wait to see that movie. I’m a huge fan of him, obviously, and it’s stuffed full of incredible actors that I love.”
Watson recalled her initial steps into the vast “Dune” universe, emphasizing the large scale of the HBO Max production. “It’s huge. A lot of money. It’s a sense of it being much more than a corporate world,” she said. She also highlighted the ensemble of young talent, many of whom are new to the industry. Watson, known for mentoring emerging actors, reiterated her commitment to supporting them during her work on “Prophecy.”
She also mentioned the challenges of being away from family for extended filming periods. “Putting it all together is a challenge,” Watson noted, adding that in independent film, the focus is on building “relationships.”
Watson shared her belief in fostering relationships with less experienced individuals. “Interconnectedness is how we all survive. Surviving in the world of independent film is hard. There are so many things that fall by the wayside, get destroyed and steamrolled. If we are all together, we are stronger, and I think building relationships with more inexperienced people is really important.”
Her connection to Sarajevo dates back to 2005 when she was a curator for the Katrin Cartlidge Foundation. After her screen partner in “Breaking the Waves” passed away in 2002 at age 41, a filmmaking bursary was established in her name in Sarajevo. Watson described her return to Bosnia as the jury president and recipient of a Heart of Sarajevo Award as “quite overwhelming.”
At the festival, she revisited Von Trier’s film, which was a “very emotional” experience due to her strong connection to Cartlidge. Watson remarked on the festival’s essence, stating, “This festival feels like the pure form of what a festival should be. It embodies the idea that culture is resistance.”
Looking ahead, Watson has completed filming for Mira Nair’s historical drama “AMRI,” which explores the life of Hungarian-Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil. Watson plays the artist’s mother. “I left Harkonnen and went straight to that,” she said.
Describing her role, she stated, “I’m playing a Hungarian woman, so we were shooting in Budapest, then we went to India, and I was suddenly surrounded by Indian actors and crew with Mira, and it was the most amazing adventure.” She praised the director, saying, “It’s a really interesting story. I can’t wait to see how that comes out. They’re in editing now, so we’ll see, but [Nair] is an extraordinary filmmaker and an amazing person to be around. She is one of those people who kind of gathers an energy and a force. It was amazing.”
