Page 95 - Flaunt 170 - The Phoenix Issue - Kiernan Shipka

LETTER FOR THE KING Based on the 1962 Dutch novel, De Brief voor de Koning, by Tonke Dragt, William Davies’ new Netflix adapta- tion tells the story of Tiuri, a teenage squire, who answers a call for help and navigates the three fictionalized kingdoms of Unauwen, Dagonaut, and Evillan, on a treacherous journey to deliver a secret letter to the King. Meanwhile, the brutality of the merciless Prince Viridian complicates matters for Tiuri, enlisting him to rise to the challenge. We posit to Amir Wilson, Ruby Serkis, Gijs Blom, and Thaddea Graham, how much of your yourself have you put into your respective characters? Ruby Serkis “\[Thaddea’s and my\] characters are strong female char- acters. There’s something quite empowering to play them. Some of the lines we’ll do, it feels so great—so unapologetic.” Gijs Blom “I really hope you don’t recognize me as a person in Letter for the King, because my character is quite mentally ill \[laughs\].” Amir Wilson “I haven’t thought about what I’ve put of myself into Tiuri. I hope what I’ve put into him comes naturally. Naturally, he has bits of me that you see.” Thaddea Graham “I ended up learning more from Iona, than Iona would have learned from me. She’s strong and constantly moving forward. I find a lot of comfort in her, so playing her was a gift.” 89