The Wheel of Time actress Sophie Okonedo lands lead role in Britannia
By Corey Smith
Academy Award-nominated actress Sophie Okonedo has landed a lead role in season 3 of Britannia, a historical drama about the Roman invasion of Britain.
Per SKY, Academy Award-nominated actress Sophie Okonedo (Ratched, Death on the Nile) has landed a key role in season 3 of Britannia, SKY’s historical drama about Rome’s invasion of Britain. Starring The Walking Dead’s David Morrissey as General Aulus, Okonedo will play the general’s Roman wife, Hemple, newly arrived in Britannia “to find out why her husband has failed with Lokka’s mission to capture the chosen one, Cait (Eleanor Worthington Cox). If he isn’t up to the job, she certainly is.”
Judging by the image that came with this release, Hemple is already having a good time:
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Okonedo, who has also been recently cast as Siuan Sanche on Amazon’s The Wheel of Time adaptation, sounds psyched to be a part of the series. “I’m so glad to be plunged into the weird and wonderful world of Britannia. I was already a fan of the show and its writers Jez and Tom Butterworth, so I jumped for joy when they offered me the wonderful character of Hemple. Without giving too much away I’ll just say this woman has a huge appetite…”
That appetite might include a conflict with her husband’s main ally on the island, the beautiful Celtic queen Amena, played by Annabel Scholey.
“Sophie is one of the UK’s greatest actors and we all feel very privileged to have her play our new and particularly malevolent force for series three,” said co-showrunner James Richardson. “She is an actor with an enormous range and manages to make you laugh whilst being completely terrifying. A perfect fit for Britannia! We feel very fortunate to be able to continue making such an ambitious show about a time when everything changes.”
Created by brothers Jez and Tom Butterworth, along with Richardson, Britannia has been making a name for itself on Sky and NOW TV in the UK, where you can currently watch seasons 1 and 2. Stateside, you can see it on Epix or Amazon.
Season 3 doesn’t have a release date, although it’s expected sometime in 2021.
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