The veteran actress Shohreh Aghdashloo has joined the cast of “The Wheel of Time” for its third season. She plays the role of Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan, a powerful Aes Sedai who challenges the current Amyrlin Seat, Siuan Sanche. Aghdashloo is no stranger to playing strong female characters.
She is well known for her role as Chrisjen Avasarala in the sci-fi series “The Expanse.” It was actually fans of that show who suggested she would be a good fit for “The Wheel of Time.”
“As soon as I was done with ‘The Expanse’, fans started saying, ‘We need to find her another TV series because we want to see her at work,'” Aghdashloo said. “One fan suggested ‘The Wheel of Time’. I had seen it and thought, ‘Would there be a place for me?’ I didn’t say anything, but the fans were persistent.”
When Aghdashloo was offered the role of Elaida, she was told the character is a stubborn woman who will stop at nothing to achieve what she believes is right.
This appealed to the actress, who has a background in political science and international relations. “I love powerful women,” she said.
Aghdashloo joins cast
“I understand that female leaders need to be powerful and determined, much like Margaret Thatcher or Indira Gandhi. This idea of portraying a multi-layered character was very appealing.”
To prepare for the role, Aghdashloo focused on the details provided by the show’s writers and the original novels by Robert Jordan. She appreciates how the series gives its antagonists the same depth and development as its heroes.
One standout scene for Aghdashloo was a confrontation between Elaida and Siuan Sanche, played by Sophie Okonedo. “It was an incredible experience,” the actress said. “Sophie is an amazing actress.
The scene felt like two heroes confronting each other, measuring power with a look.”
“The Wheel of Time” season three is now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes released on Thursdays. Fans can look forward to a compelling performance from Aghdashloo as she brings Elaida to life on the screen.
