Image: Netflix
We not too long ago had the chance to interview Ann Skelly about her position as Nuala of the Faerie in The Sandman season 2. She talks about her experiences on set, private connections to her character, and extra.
One of many breakout stars of The Sandman season 2 is Ann Skelly, who performs Nuala. On the service of Queen Titania and King Auberon, Nuala and her brother Cluracan journey to The Dreaming in a bid to take possession of the Key to Hell from Dream. Whereas Cluracan is brash and hedonistic, Nuala is light, caring, and dependable. She is among the most fascinating characters in Quantity 1, hanging a significant reference to Dream himself.
Try our interview with Ann Skelly under, the place we talk about every thing from Nuala herself to her connections with varied characters. We additionally discover how Skelly delved deeper into her character’s improvement in comparison with how she was portrayed within the comics.
Nuala takes on a extra distinguished position compared to her comedian look. How did you method maturing and increasing on her persona?
Nuala within the comics might be fairly missed in some ways, and I feel Allan, our showrunner, did a gorgeous job in emphasising Nuala’s story and digging out extra of what we already love about that character. She’s bought a quiet obligation to her, she’s loyal, she has a superb conscience. I’ve gotten to play a mild, courageous pressure of nature discovering herself. Somebody who has been residing in a suppressive setting all her life, and goals of one thing extra. It’s actually enjoyable as an actor to play somebody who has to suppress a lot of who they’re and tries to wriggle their means by with dignity.
What sort of analysis did you do to arrange for taking part in a fairy? Have been there any books, myths, or movies that impressed your portrayal of Nuala?
I’m Irish so I grew up with Irish mythology; Tír Na nÓg, a really melancholic story, the Tuatha Dé Danann, I used to be additionally deathly afraid of by chance stepping on fairy rings. There’s all kinds of superstitions and fears round fairies once I was rising up. So I felt very acquainted already with the world Nuala grew up in – the vein, jealous creatures that reside underground, that steal kids and mess with people. I additionally learn some Yeats poems round fairies, there’s a line that I took with me into Nuala “The boughs have withered as a result of I’ve advised them my goals.” I cherished the disappointment of it, there’s a depth in her that displays the power she must strive overcome forces a lot larger than herself.
With out giving an excessive amount of away, how does Nuala’s story evolve on this season? Have been there any stunning moments for you as an actor?
We go so much deeper into Nuala and her world, what she actually feels. We get to see a personality who’s compelled into these passive roles (as a ‘present’ to Dream for instance) discover methods to make selections for herself, which after all price her in a myriad of how. It actually took me aback how tiring it’s to be Nuala!
Whenever you play a personality who has been so suppressed and underneath such obligation her entire life it’s tiring due to every thing swirling round inside her that doesn’t get an outlet. So you’re sitting on all these emotions and ideas whereas it’s important to carry out obligation on the similar time. My favorite moments within the present are the moments she will get to talk out, and her voice proves to be highly effective.
How would you describe Nuala’s relationship with Dream? What dynamic do they share, and the way does that evolve over Season 2?
There’s an odd tenderness to it. There’s a type of longing, a frustration. There’s an influence imbalance in that he’s a king and he or she’s in an indentured servitude of kinds which sits over each interplay they’ve for essentially the most half. Nuala admires him massively, I feel she sees the very best in him when he’s confronting the worst of himself, and that’s one thing that has an impression on Dream. In flip, he actually sees her for who she is which is sort of all she wants to begin off a journey of self discovery. As Woman Gaga as soon as stated, “There will be 100 folks within the room and 99 don’t consider in you however all it takes is one…”
The Sandman. Tom Sturridge as Dream in episode 203 of The Sandman. Cr. Courtesy Of Netflix © 2025
Nuala begins with a complicated accent however switches to Irish when Dream asks her to lose her glamour. I cherished that addition — how did that concept come about through the present’s improvement?
That got here from a dialog with Allan and Jamie early on about Nuala’s fairy glamour vs her true self. We thought it added an amazing additional layer to what the magical ‘glamour’ prices Nuala to put on; she’s robbed of her personal voice, which in some methods is part of your soul. I believed it hinted at a theme of privilage, colonialism, Irish historical past somewhat too. That felt significant to me and I cherished that Allan and Jamie thought like that.
Nuala and Cluracan share a sophisticated sibling bond. How would you describe their relationship?
Oh, Nuala & Cluracan are from completely different planets. He’s this chaotic hedonist, will get away with homicide, the right fairy. Nuala is that this dutiful, sincere and direct creature who doesn’t match into the world of the Fae in any respect. They do have a very particular bond, however are always at one another. Douglas Sales space is the right Cluracan; all the time winding her up and stressing her out, or she’s making an attempt to handle him and clear up after his messes however she deeply cares for him. And I feel he does too? In his personal means? Brothers! Exasperating!
In episode 2, Dream hosts a banquet for visiting deities. gods and fairies. It truly is a show-stopping occasion! How a lot enjoyable was it to movie that? Was it as chaotic as it’s on display?
The banquet in episode 2 is HUGE. We get to see all these creatures, and realms and characters that by no means get to work together within the one place. I don’t assume I’ve ever had an even bigger day on any set. I don’t actually have something to check it to. However as a fan of Sandman, I used to be actually pinching myself, it was an actual second. I imply the sheer logistics of all of it, the choreography of it, all needed to be rehearsed on a separate day, which is uncommon in TV, in order that helped.
It was somewhat dizzying getting collected at 2:30am some days and residential by 9pm, these had been some caffeine-fuelled weeks. However it’s not on daily basis you go to work, stroll down the corridor, and see a load of clowns and demons (really, I’m certain there are individuals who relate to that in a much less literal sense, pardon me…).
The Sandman. (L to R) Clive Russell as Odin, Freddie Fox as Loki in episode 202 of The Sandman. Cr. Courtesy Of Netflix © 2025
Are you able to share any memorable moments or favorite scenes from filming Season 2?
There’s truthfully lots of favorite and memorable moments – I actually am a fan of the present so it was a dream to be aside of the world. Particularly as Nuala. I simply wholeheartedly cherished enjoying her full cease. I cherished engaged on Sandman; there are all these enormous set items, wonderful particular results (and I had scenes with Stephen Fry, who I’m an enormous fan of), however there are the quiet moments too which can be inner and intimate.
There’s a very small scene that occurs within the later episodes. I can’t keep in mind which. However it’s a second the place Nuala will get to point out up as actually, wholly herself and it was a second I felt a beautiful crossover with actor and character. I dont know if that is sensible, particularly as it might give away spoilers. However it was like we went by a giant journey collectively the place I now completely understood her as she understood herself.
We thank Ann Skelly for her time. The Sandman season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.