[This story contains spoilers for Andor season two.]
When Tony Gilroy, the creator of “Andor,” selected Elizabeth Dulau for the series in early 2021, he recognized a talented actor who had just completed her studies at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). However, it wasn’t long before he understood that he had hired a rising star destined for a larger role in season two. “By the end of season one,” Gilroy shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “everyone on our entire production was simply astounded by Elizabeth. We don’t have a single poor frame on her.
In the first season, the character played by Dulau, Kleya Marki, was portrayed as Luthen Rael’s apprentice, with Stellan Skarsgård’s Luthen being a part-time antiquities dealer and a covert leader of an uprising. However, in the second season, their backstory has been revealed to be deeply tragic. Luthen was once an Imperial Sergeant, but during a massacre on Kleya’s home planet, he had a moral epiphany mid-attack when he found a young girl hiding on his ship. This girl would later become known as Kleya. From then on, they formed a partnership, with Luthen taking on the role of a surrogate father to Kleya within the Rebellion.
Looking back now, Dulau finds herself chuckling about the early days of her acting collaboration with Skarsgård.
Dulau recounted her agent saying, “The only feedback from your Andor audition was that you seemed a bit anxious. They’d like to see you again. Try to exude as much confidence as possible; walk in there like you’re the best there is,” she shared with THR, echoing her representative’s advice. “She also added, ‘You’ll be reading at Pinewood Studios opposite Stellan Skarsgård, but don’t let that intimidate you.’ I couldn’t help but laugh because it was just overwhelming to hear such an incredible opportunity.
Initially, much like other prominent actors do, Skarsgård deliberately diffused any tension between him and Dulau before their initial reading as Luthen and Kleya. Consequently, any unease about their varying social standings became irrelevant by the time they actually began filming together. Moving on to season two, Dulau was haunted throughout the entire production by one key scene – the pivotal moment in episode ten written by Tom Bissell titled “Make It Stop,” where Kleya was forced to take Luthen’s life. In the end, Denise Gough’s character, Dedra Meero, successfully solved the mystery surrounding Luthen and Kleya’s Axis network. While Meero was momentarily diverted during an arrest, Luthen made a desperate attempt to end his own life to safeguard the Rebellion’s secrets from the Empire’s interrogation tools.
After finding out that Meero managed to keep Luthen alive by means of life support, Kleya swiftly moved into action and secretly entered the hospital where he was being treated. This set the stage for Kleya’s very own spy-action movie moment, as she detonated a spaceport in a strategic move to distract, and with surgical precision eliminated numerous Stormtroopers. Upon gaining access to Luthen’s hospital room, Kleya quickly shut the window, shielding the room from any sunlight that might seep in – a symbolic gesture reflecting Luthen’s season one monologue about his mind becoming a “sunless space” and giving up everything for a “sunrise” he wouldn’t witness. In the end, Kleya ended her adoptive father’s life by turning off the life support system, inadvertently bringing Luthen’s own prophecy to fruition.
Dulau mentioned that the monologue had been present in the background all along. He confessed he was extremely anxious, as it seemed like the entire filming experience culminated on that particular day. The monologue constantly lingered at the back of his mind, and he intentionally avoided excessive contemplation. When he gazed upon Stellan lying helplessly on a hospital bed, he genuinely empathized with Kleya’s impending anguish.
Before Luthen was taken into custody, he managed to share critical information about the Empire’s covert construction of the Death Star with Kleya. Later on, following her recovery from a mission at the hospital, Kleya handed over this intel to Cassian, who had come to rescue her. Cassian then took Kleya to Yavin. Given Kleya’s past order for Cassian’s execution due to his connections with Luthen, this sequence of events marks a significant twist in their relationship. Ultimately, Kleya played a crucial role in the chain of events that ultimately led to Luke Skywalker destroying the Death Star in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977).
As a fortunate soul who’s been penned into the Star Wars lore dating back to the ’70s by Tony Gilroy, I can’t help but feel humbled. My parents, like countless others, waited in line at midnight to catch the premiere of A New Hope. To think that they would witness my tiny contribution to this grand narrative is overwhelmingly gratifying. Tony has entrusted me with a domino piece in this intricate chain of events, and I didn’t want to let him down. I yearned to honor this opportunity he bestowed upon me by doing it justice.
In a recent chat with THR, Dulau (often pronounced as ‘d’low, just like that’) additionally delves into Kleya’s unseen destiny in the Rebellion and her contentment with being a behind-the-scenes champion.
***
Didn’t your journey from RADA lead directly to the set of Andor Season One, as Tony Gilroy, the show’s creator, suggested? Or was it a more indirect path?
After wrapping up a performance of “The Importance of Being Earnest” at RADA, the pandemic struck, and we were abruptly four shows into our run. My character was Lady Bracknell. Our artistic director informed us that tonight would be the last performance, so we shared an emotional farewell, performed the show, and then dispersed, thinking we’d return in three weeks, but alas, that wasn’t the case. The audition for “Andor” came up in November of 2020 during those six months of uncertainty about what to do next.
Later on, did you find out that most of your work would be alongside Stellan Skarsgård. In the beginning, how nervous or intimidated did you feel around him?
Just before Christmas, right before another lockdown, I had a callback. We resumed work in January [2021], and my agent informed me that the feedback from the callback was extremely positive. They thought I was fantastic! However, they noted that I seemed a bit anxious. So, they want to see me again to ensure I can handle myself confidently. My instructions were to walk into the room with as much confidence as possible, like I’m the best in the room. She also mentioned that I would be reading at Pinewood Studios opposite Stellan Skarsgård, but not to let that intimidate me. (Laughs.) Hearing such an incredible opportunity made me burst out laughing!
Due to Covid-related travel restrictions, we had a delay in bringing Stellan to the country for filming. This allowed me extra time to prepare, and boy, did I! I memorized all my lines from various angles – upside down, backward, sideways. Just before that final audition, I met Stellan for a brief coffee chat. Stellan exudes a captivating charm; you’d never guess he was the renowned Stellan Skarsgård. He has this knack of making you feel completely at ease, and after only ten minutes with him, I felt like I was walking into the audition room with an old friend, someone who had my back. And that’s exactly how it remained for the subsequent three years. Initially, I was daunted by the project’s size and the novelty of it all, but Stellan always made me feel at ease, like he was a trusted companion guiding me through.
When did you learn that you were in store for a huge promotion in season two?
The summer preceding the debut of season one in September 2022 found us on the verge of production, slated to begin shooting in November [2022]. Tony contacted me during that summer, sharing with me all the events unfolding for Kleya in this season, leaving me utterly spellbound. The narrative trajectory he’s crafted for me this season is absolutely astounding, and I am profoundly thankful to him. I find immense joy when faced with tasks that seem daunting, where I ask myself, “Can I really do this?” Despite knowing deep down that I can, the apprehension remains, making it all the more exhilarating.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel that Kleya is undeniably the central figure in the climactic three-episode arc. Her influence extends even when she’s absent from the screen, as both the Rebellion and the Empire seem to revolve around her. Reading issue 210 for the first time was a jaw-dropping moment, as it felt like I was living my own thrilling spy adventure, leading the charge!
Indeed, Tony was the one who shared with me how that storyline would unfold, leaving me astonished. Reading his work, I couldn’t help but feel profoundly grateful for crafting such a captivating character. In that moment, I felt incredibly supported by the towering figure of Tony Gilroy. The character is so compelling, and at this stage in my career, fresh out of graduation, it means the world to me that he had such confidence in me to pen a role like this.
Intriguingly, I’ve just discovered the details of her past encounters with Luthen. As a soldier in the Empire, he was part of an invasion on Kleya’s village. Overwhelmed by a moral dilemma, he found her hiding aboard his ship during the raid. Compared to my speculations during season one, this revelation certainly adds a fresh perspective!
Instead of actively picturing anything, I consciously chose not to, as this goes against my usual approach. Being from a theatrical background, I’m accustomed to having the entire script at hand, which allows my imagination to explore characters’ histories. Not being able to do that during season one felt unusual. Therefore, I followed everything Tony initially shared about Kleya. He told me that she would sacrifice herself for Luthen and was completely devoted to him. So, I adopted this concept and avoided delving too deeply into the reasons, hoping they would be explained later. I’m grateful I made this decision because if I had concocted a backstory for her in season one, it might have led me to make choices that would complicate matters in season two. Thus, I kept Kleya’s past and my imaginative speculations at bay during season one, eagerly awaiting revelations for season two, which turned out to be a delightful surprise.
Younger Luthen and Kleya were a lot like the Joel and Ellie of Star Wars.
(Laughs.) I notice the similarity to “The Last of Us,” yet I believe it’s more somber. While both stories have their moments of despair, Luthen and Kleya’s relationship is particularly heart-wrenching for me. The affection that develops between them is unintentional. Neither of them desires to admit or even acknowledge the fact that they’ve grown to care for each other due to an event 16 or 17 years prior. Luthen was present among Kleya’s people, and his actions led to their annihilation. This day is indelible, a memory that cannot be erased or forgotten. Their inability to forgive and move on from such a catastrophic event creates a unique darkness in their story. When Tony compares their relationship to “Paper Moon,” there are similarities, but it’s also distinctly different. The atrocity Luthen committed against Kleya’s people all those years ago is truly horrific. This past cannot be undone, but their love blossoms around it, unintentionally.
On that fateful day, I found myself embarking on a heart-wrenching mission, navigating through the labyrinthine corridors of a hospital with a single purpose: to terminate Luthen’s life support. This task was deeply personal, as it intersected with the emotional bond between the father and daughter of the Rebellion. My mind was a tumultuous sea of resolve, empathy, and trepidation, as I prepared to execute this pivotal moment that would forever alter the course of our rebellion’s story.
Actually, I was quite anxious as the big day of filming seemed like the culmination of everything we’d been working towards. It was constantly on my mind and I made an effort not to dwell too much on it. Instead, I took deep breaths to keep myself calm. Scenes with high emotional impact require a certain level of relaxation to allow the emotions to flow naturally, as tension can hinder this. So, I practiced deep breathing and tried not to stress too much because I’m quite adept at doing that. I reminded myself that whatever I produced on this day would be sufficient because it had to be. This self-assurance helped me relax and fully immerse myself in the imagined scenario. When I saw Stellan lying on the hospital bed, my heart truly ached for Kleya’s impending actions.
Upon shutting the door to his hospital room, I couldn’t help but recall Luthen’s profound monologue from season one about his “sunless” mind and the “sunrise” he would never witness because of all he had given up for the Rebellion. It seems incredibly symbolic that she was forced to disconnect him in a sterile room under artificial light, reminiscent of his unseen sunrise. Was this connection to Luthen’s speech intentionally written into the script, or did everyone independently interpret it as such?
In a subtle manner, the script never explicitly linked to that monologue, yet it was always lingering in the shadows. When viewers witnessed that monologue during the first season, it seemed as though they had a premonition that his character wouldn’t survive. This is an example of dramatic irony.
Or a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Absolutely! The script was beautifully sparse, allowing me, as a player, plenty of room to breathe life into the narrative. The final lines, “a moment to pay our respects for this man,” were poignant and powerful. Given his towering presence within the Rebellion, it felt fitting for the audience to have that quiet moment to bid farewell to him, making his departure all the more impactful.
Before all of this unfolds, there’s a funny incident. Kleya pretends to be a nurse pushing an alien in a wheelchair, and the alien whispers something in the elevator that makes Kleya laughingly ask, “What was that?” Could you have rehearsed that line?
(Laughs.) Alonso Ruizpalacios, our director, was clearly enjoying himself during that particularly challenging shoot. Hidden beneath the alien costume on a wheelchair was the puppeteer, who had a difficult time seeing her actions due to being concealed. Thus, Alonso would provide instructions about what she should do, and he became quite engrossed in it. Meanwhile, I was preparing to ascend an elevator to murder my best friend, so maintaining a serious demeanor was crucial. However, Alonso was off to the side, chuckling and commenting, “Granny’s looking around, granny’s enjoying the elevator ride, and granny’s having a wonderful time.” He made these remarks to capture the right emotional tone for the alien, which caused me to burst out laughing. It wasn’t often that I struggled to maintain composure on set, but that was one instance. Consequently, I had to regain my focus, and this scene contrasted greatly with the emotions I needed to portray at that moment.
As I stood before Kleya’s safe house door, she greeted me with a knowing glance, “It seems like you, doesn’t it?” This line, spoken by her, left me wondering if it was a reference to the time when an order for my death was given in 107. Or perhaps, it stemmed from our conversation back in 209, where I had expressed my intentions to step away from my duties once I retrieved Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O’Reilly. Either way, her words were a reminder of the complex journey we’ve shared as allies turned friends.
To be honest, I’ve always envisioned things differently regarding Luthen. There comes a scene in [chapter 209] where he speaks to Cassian, saying, “You seem to show up exactly when I need you.” This remark struck him as somewhat peculiar. Perhaps Luthen is the sort of character who harbors an interest in matters like the Force and the fantastical aspects that Star Wars often presents. So, in my mind, Luthen might have shared something similar with Kleya off-screen: “Cassian has a certain quality about him. He’s always been there for us when we needed him the most, even though he often resists.” This is what I envisioned going through Kleya’s mind as she sees Cassian at the door: “Ah, it figures that it’s Cassian standing here after Luthen has spoken so highly of him. It’s no surprise that he comes through again in a pinch.
Does the last scene of Kleya at sunrise imply that she ultimately felt a sense of belonging at Yavin? What’s your take on it?
Could Kleya manage to perform such actions? That’s something I’ve been wondering about. It would be fascinating if she could develop a sense of home, connection, security, and camaraderie – ideas she has never encountered before in her life. I am eager to explore whether these are capabilities she possesses.
Besides those films, haven’t you ever wondered what other activities Kleya could have been involved in during the timeframe of Rogue One and Star Wars: A New Hope?
After the entire series of Andor has been broadcasted, I plan on watching Rogue One. Initially, I chose not to watch it as it seemed too premature. However, I’m eager to conclude my journey with this series that significantly impacted my life and understand how everything connects in the end. Yet, contemplating about Kleya’s actions during the years of Rogue One and A New Hope, what a mystery! It’s quite an intriguing question, isn’t it? Honestly, I can’t even begin to imagine or speculate on the answer. A talented author would undoubtedly provide a more satisfying resolution to that query.
It’s quite extraordinary to comprehend the significant impact your character has on the long-term narratives within the Star Wars saga, a storyline that has been woven for more than four decades. Your character was among the key events that eventually led Luke Skywalker to destroy the Death Star.
Wow, this experience is utterly astounding! It’s not escaping my notice that Tony Gilroy has written a role for me into Star Wars lore that spans back to the ’70s. I remember my parents waiting in line at midnight to watch “A New Hope,” and now they’ll get to see my brief appearance – or, as you put it, a domino – in this chain of events leading up to those iconic stories. It feels incredible that Tony entrusted me with that domino, and during filming, I didn’t want to mess it up. I wanted to do justice to the opportunity he presented and not disappoint him or Stellan, but also myself. The history that Tony has written for me is significant, and I wanted to respect that. I also didn’t want to let the fans down. They appreciate this so much, and they’ve been nothing but kind.
In each set of episodes for season 2, there’s a hidden gap of a year. Diego Luna/Adria Arjona shared with me their eagerness to return and delve into the story that unfolds between seasons 1 and 2, where their characters rekindle their romance. Is there a specific hidden year that you’d be interested in exploring further?
The timeframe spanning from 209 to 210 is intriguing, with significant developments taking place within the Rebellion on Yavin. Mon Mothma now holds the position of leader, yet Luthen and Kleya find themselves sidelined. I’m eager to delve into the circumstances that led to this situation, as it seems quite poignant. There appears to be a relationship among Mon, Kleya, and Luthen, having known each other for quite some time by this point and developed mutual trust. Mon is someone Kleya has come to deeply admire, and her powerful speech in the Senate, along with the sacrifices she made to lead the Rebel Alliance, are actions that Kleya holds in high regard. Therefore, to be excluded by Mon and the other leaders on Yavin must have been a heart-wrenching experience for both Kleya and Luthen, making it an intriguing narrative thread to explore.
Andor focuses on the uncelebrated figures who laid the groundwork for the Rebel Alliance. Luthen and Kleya played crucial roles in setting the stage, and there are a select few characters determined to ensure their pivotal contributions aren’t overlooked. Although Luthen and Kleya hadn’t been conceived during these prequel-like events, it can be argued that they didn’t receive the enduring recognition they deserved as the patriarch and matriarch of the Rebellion.
Indeed, it’s unfortunate, but they aren’t driven by accolades; instead, they prefer to work in secret. Their nature is such. This is a key point Luthen emphasizes in his speech. Both he and Kleya have accepted that sometimes, for the greater good, they must engage in actions that lie in the realm of moral uncertainty. They’re prepared to navigate these gray areas to find their way back to the right path. Given this, I doubt they’d welcome any recognition. In fact, I suspect if someone were ever to offer Kleya an award, she might decline it. It simply doesn’t align with her character.
In the future, as I sit comfortably in a rocking chair, surrounded by my cherished family, which special day in the world of Andor will I regale them with tales of? That’s an easy one. The day that marked my first epic victory, or perhaps the day I forged friendships that transcended pixels and became real bonds, those are the memories I’d share from Andor.
Wow, let me tell you, that moment on set when Kleya took down those Stormtroopers from the hospital’s upper floor still gives me goosebumps! They cleverly set up pyrotechnics for an authentic blast effect, and holding that blaster in my hands made it all too real – I was truly shooting bad guys right there!
Another unforgettable experience was those three consecutive night shoots in Valencia. We were partying in 206, and Kleya was extracting the bug from an exhibit. The sheer number of extras dressed in out-of-this-world space fashion made it feel like a real Star Wars set! Aliens served drinks, droids zipped around – I swear I felt like I had stepped into a galaxy far, far away. It was nothing short of magical.
***
Andor season two is now streaming on Disney+.
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2025-05-14 19:56