HELEN MIRREN HELEN MIRREN IS HESPERA

How do you prepare to play a god?

It’s very interesting because no human psychology can come into it. You have to take yourself away from senses of morality or senses of desire or all of the things that you normally would be investigating in a character. You just have to say no, none of that comes into it. So it was quite an interesting headspace to be in. Right at the top of the film, there was a little tiny section in that sequence where my stunt stand-in was doing the walk. It was very interesting. I had to sort of teach her how to walk like a goddess. You have to walk as if you know people are going to step aside. You have to walk in a way that is utterly confident, utterly grounded, just absolutely knowing that you know that’s your way you’re going and nothing’s going to stop you.

That sounds both unique and cathartic, to inhabit someone who just has total belief in themself and their mission.

Yes. Exactly. And you know people say, “What’s it like to play the villainess?” But she doesn’t see herself as the villainess, no, no, no! She’s doing what is righteous as far as she’s concerned. And as a god, she has every right to do that.

You got to work with two brilliant women to bring the Daughters of Atlas to life. What was that experience like?

It was a perfectly balanced relationship, I have to say. Me, the sort of wise older actress if you like, then Lucy, who is incredibly smart, very hardworking, professional, and wonderful. And then Rachel, who’s this wonderful, young, new young talent. At that time, West Side Story hadn’t come out. So she was very much the young one that Lucy and I felt we had to guide, protect, and advise, so we were beautifully balanced. And we bonded in a really lovely way, and we will be sisters for the rest of our lives.