“I always wanted to be the narrator in the school play”: Minnie Driver on The Witcher: Blood Origin

The Witcher: Blood Origin is a new four-part spin-off series that delivers a backstory to the ancient civilisation. Set over a thousand years ago before the events of The Witcher, seven Elven outcasts set out on a quest to overthrow a powerful empire. Their story brings to screen the creation of the first ever prototype Witcher and unfolds the events leading up to the Conjuncture of the Spheres.

The Upcoming had the pleasure of hearing from Minnie Driver as she spoke about her role as the shapeshifter, Seanchai, and as the story narrator in this series. 

How did you get involved in the project and what was it like working with Declan De Barra [the writer] to bring the story of Blood Origin to life?

Well, they just called me up and asked me to do it. Declan is just the most amazing, imaginative person; his knowledge of this world and what he has at his fingertips, and how he conjures it up with his words… If we needed to rewrite something, how quickly he could do that within the kind of Witcher speak was amazing and brilliant. He’s such a great person and such a great writer.

What can you tell us about your character? How would you describe her and what do you like most about her?

I like most that she is a shapeshifter, and that she can take any form. But that she’s also an ancient collector of stories. She crosses through time and through spheres, and planets and worlds to bring stories where they’re most needed. She’s a really interesting character.

There’s that one scene at the start where we get to see you really perform in character. What was it like on that day on set?

We actually shot over a week because it was a really big scene. It was wonderful: we shot in the spring in this bluebell wood but there was snow everywhere as well. It was really magical – we got really lucky with the weather, so it was very beautiful and sunny and with these kind of godly rays coming through the trees.

How did you feel about the responsibility of taking on the role that sets the tone of the series, and voicing the story throughout as the narrator – and for a franchise that is already so beloved?

I loved it. I love responsibility when it comes to storytelling – not, you know, doing the washing up. The Witcher world is so beautifully drawn and so clear. You really know where it is that you’re heading and what you’re getting into and the kind of gravitas that requires, without pushing it too hard. They were smart to get someone who loves telling stories as much as I do because I always wanted to be the narrator in the school play.

I think it’s great. I think it’s a really wonderful function. That’s why it’s such a great trope, particularly in a fantasy world, to kind of keep you connected and always have this person to come back to that you trust. I really enjoyed that responsibility.

Joey Bater brings a lot of presence to the Witcher series and that comes across in Blood Origin, too. You had a week with him – was he fun to be with on set? 

Yes. He’s really, really wonderful. He is incredibly generous and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of The Witcher world – everything from characters to who they’re connected to, to where they are from their origin story. He’s just so brilliantly researched the world that he lives in. He couldn’t have been nicer.

As an actor doing long-form series you get a lot more time – more of the backstory and mythology – than on a film. What are the challenges and rewards of a project like this?

Well, you’re stepping into a world where everyone’s done the legwork by the time you show up, so there’s something really great about that. There’s also lots to be said for being the creator of that – like, when you’re making film, or even at the beginning of a TV show, you helped create that. So I can kind of argue it both ways of it being enjoyable, but it’s just really interesting stepping into someone else’s world and becoming a part of it immediately. I really enjoyed that aspect of film.

You step into this fantasy world in a really physical way because you’re on these amazing sets and in costume. How was that for you? 

It was great. I mean, that is why I signed up to be an actor: for the dressing up and the total and utter departure from who I am as a person. This character is pretty far from me as you could possibly get. I love the ears; I love the hair and all of it; I love the whole fantasy world and beautiful sets – it’s great! It’s what I love most. I’d much rather be in a period piece or a fantasy piece than I would in the modern day actually.

Were you a fan of fantasy before you got cast in this role?

I’m a huge fan of fantasy, from the movies that I watched as a kid to reading Lord of the Rings when I was 12. I obviously knew about The Witcher just because it’s such a huge show, but I hadn’t immersed myself in that world, so it was great getting to do that. It’s so well written and it’s such a rich world. It’s great to be part of that. I’ve really enjoyed learning about it.

What do you like most about the Blood Origin story?

I think just the fundament of the origin of the prototype of The Witcher, of how that came about, I think it’s a really smart idea for a prequel – to not just go back in time, but to go back to the very inception of that character of The Witcher, of how Witchers began. That’s a fantastic idea to me.

You’re still part of The Witcher world but your character exists outside of time – is there a possibility of her returning in the series? Would you want to reprise the role?

It’s such a gorgeous world. I could definitely see that character coming in and being useful and having a great experience. I’d love to do that; we’ll see if that works out. I think it’s a smart character who can create something that can move between time and worlds and it means that you can really use that to get your story moving. 

Fantasy, maybe more directly than other genres, invites you to be really imaginative and get involved with the creative process. Did you have an itch to dig into a character beyond what was on the page?

You’re always imagining and thinking, and when you’re given such flexibility with a character moving between time and worlds and that idea of where would I go in time, if I could.  What would I shapeshift into? It’s pretty cool just to sit and think about. I gave it a lot of thought.

If you could go anywhere in time, where would you go?

I really would like to just go back and be in Hawaii during surf culture and its starting point. You know, even with the original Polynesians right up to where short boards were created in the 60s. I know that sounds pretty niche, but that would be great.

Are there any particular rituals you use to prepare for a role, and this character in particular?

All roles require different preparation. Some require that if you’re actually doing something that you need to learn how to do, you’ll go and learn how to do that. But with this, particularly, it was really just “Get the ears on! That’s going to be your preparation!”. Also watching The Witcher and seeing what this world really looked like, really understanding it and getting excited about that… Every role is different, but this didn’t require a huge amount of preparation. I mean, how do you prepare to be an ancient shapeshifting Elf?

Are there any particular moments in Blood Origin that you’re especially excited for viewers to get to see on screen?

There’s a particular fight sequence that I really, really loved between three of the protagonists – it’s just beautifully choreographed and it’s so well shot. I’m a sucker for a great fight scene that isn’t just about blood and guts; I find that distracting and annoying, but really great choreography? These actors are pretty sublime action heroes.

With a relatively small amount of time on screen, you still manage to imbue your character with an aloof and intimidating aura. Were there any other personality traits you wanted to get across in the limited time when your face is actually on screen?

Well, I’ve got to tell you it’s a pet peeve of mine, when someone doesn’t have an enormous amount of time on screen, where they end up acting really hard, and trying to make much more of their part than is actually written. I find it annoying and distracting and frankly, it shouldn’t be allowed. So, I was determined to not do that, but rather just enjoy that moment of sucking Jaskier out of The Witcher world into this place with no time and just telling him a story. There’s something great and simple about that but really powerful.

This is going to be a Christmas Day release. Is there anything you watch every year at Christmas, or any Christmas traditions that you’ll be following? Will you be watching Blood Origin or is it a bit blood and guts for your Christmas?

Yes, we’ll definitely be watching for sure. Although we might have to watch it before lunch or even after lunch! I mean, we’re pretty boring. You know, there’s always going to be a Bond film, and Only Fools and Horses. It’s going to be really strange to not hear the Queen’s speech that is going to be really missing from this Christmas. I mean, all the pressure on King Charles, I guess. But those are our own Christmas traditions really.

Ezelle Alblas 

The Witcher: Blood Origin is released on Netflix on 25^th December 2022. Read our review here.

Watch the trailer for The Witcher: Blood Origin here: