How does the level of excitement around this series feel for you?
Has it sunk in yet, or do you still feel like youre in a bit of a bubble?
ZOE ROBINS: For me, Ive felt like were still in a bit of a bubble.
Weve always known that this day was gonna come and that wed have a release date.
Its been a joy, over the last two years, to work on this show.
I think its what the world needs right now.
Image via Prime Video
Madeleine, is it weird to see so much excitement before the show has even aired?
MADELEINE MADDEN: Absolutely.
We feel their excitement for this coming out.
Image via Amazon Studios
Its a surreal feeling.
And then, were able to have these amazing conversations about the show with people like yourself.
This is absolutely epic.
Image via Amazon
When this project came your way, what most excited you about it?
Was there one thing that really keyed in with?
ROBINS: I think all of it, honestly.
Image via Prime Video
This punch in of role comes around once in a lifetime.
For me, personally, Nynaeve is such a wonderful joy to play.
Shes so flawed and complex.
Image via Amazon
Ive just had the best time planning her.
Youre working with the best people in the industry and it just feels like home.
It really is a dream job.
Image via Prime Video
What was your audition process?
MADDEN: Its really difficult.
Even getting to that point, youre like, Im so close!
If I dont get this .
And then, I got the call that I got the job and it all happened very quickly.
I felt my world changing for the better.
It was just an insane period of time.
ROBINS: We all had similar casting experiences, but quite different.
I think I got the first episode and I was like, What is this?!
I feel like I was pinching myself for a very long time.
So, they did their job really well.
How deep did you dive into this world prior to shooting?
Did you read the books?
Did you do some other bang out of research?
How did you approach finding your character and really focusing on their place in this huge world?
ROBINS: For me, when I first got cast, I bought the book immediately and started reading.
The fans have so many hot takes and opinions and thoughts.
I learned a lot very quickly.
It was also a great opportunity to bond with each other during that time.
This really is a massive world-building series with locations, sets, costumes, language, and mythology.
The viewers really have a lot to take in.
ROBINS: The costume is incredibly helpful.
I wish everyone could see it.
I feel like Amazon should make a theme park out of it.
The set designer is just so talented.
He built it from the ground up and it was just absolutely surreal.
Thats whats so brilliant about Robert Jordans writing, the detail that he gives to the world.
Definitely, the costume [helps] as well.
I remember putting my coat on for the first time and the belt and I was like, Okay.
You just figure out how a character walks and moves.
ROBINS: What I love about Nynaeve is that she is one hundred percent Nynaeve.
What you see is what you get, and she doesnt care who you are.
I think thats really bold.
I wish I had half the competence that she has.
As an actor, thats a joy.
MADDEN: I think Ive really grown with Egwene.
Shes incredibly independent and determined and eager to learn and ready to just get out in the world.
Shes like a horse out of the gates.
Its hard to keep up with her sometimes.
She is just so determined, and just knows who she is and what she wants.
Theyre just such strong women and theyre so connected.
Were very lucky to play two women that have such a strong bond.
Is there an apology that happens first?
How did that whole thing play out?
MADDEN: [She was] so apologetic.
I think it was harder for [her] than it was for me.
ROBINS It was a bonding experience because it was very traumatic for both of us.
I dont know if youve had any experience throwing someone off a cliff, but its not fun.
MADDEN: Sure, its not.
Im sure it isnt.
ROBINS: I was just amazed with how Maddie handled it.
And Maddie was like, No, I can do one more.
I can do it better.
She wanted to be thrown off again.
That just speaks to how incredible Maddie is.
As an actress, I was blown away.
I think that day was difficult, but it definitely brought us closer.
MADDEN: I love [her] so much and think the absolute world of [her].
[She was] an amazing support because obviously it was a scary thing to do.
I felt [her] support the entire way.
As people will see, its a thing that the women do as love.
you’re free to do this.
This is your initiation.
We believe in you.
We wouldnt do this, if we didnt believe that you could do this.
It was a really special moment for our characters, but also for us.
MADDEN: It was such a brilliant save.
I was like, I have to do it.
Its a massive part of my character.
Its an initiation moment for her and it felt like an initiation moment for me.
It would kill me to think of somebody else doing it and not myself.
ROBINS: Once you make a decision, you just go for it.
Theres a part of you where youre like, Once I decide, Im all in.
Did it feel different doing it the second time?
Did it get easier?
It is a stunt, so there is an element of choreography to it.
ROBINS: Theres a lot to think about when youre flying through the air.
MADDEN: In a dress.
And then, you have to get hoisted back up.
Pretty early on, we see some horrific creatures show up and slaughter a whole bunch of people.
What was it like to shoot that whole sequence?
ROBINS: The experience of shooting that was like nothing Ive ever done before.
We shot that in September 2019.
Pragues weather is pretty changeable and suddenly it just dropped.
It was night shoots for two weeks, and not all of us on, every day.
We really felt it.
We were in the elements together.
You felt the real desperation.
I think the individual stories are all so poignant and beautiful.
What is translated on screen is really special.
MADDEN: Its relentless.
Big moments took our breath away.
How much are you actually told ahead of time, going into this?
They all go through so much in one episode.
Theres never a dull moment.
So, it is really important to not get ahead of ourselves.
The Wheel of Timeis available to stream at Prime Video.
