Vladimir’s Jessica Henwick on public scrutiny, Star Wars and staying away from “stereotypical” roles

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Jessica Henwick first appeared on screen in 2010, playing Bo in the children’s show Spirit Warriors. This role unexpectedly made her the first actress of East Asian descent to star as the lead in a British TV series.

Henwick explained that she didn’t fully understand the importance of the role while filming. It wasn’t until after filming, when she connected with members of the British East and Southeast Asian community, that she realized how significant it was for them.

She explained it was frightening to suddenly feel the pressure of expectations. Even a small amount of public attention and the feeling of carrying other people’s hopes was overwhelming, and she didn’t enjoy it at all.

The actress found the pressure of responsibility overwhelming at a young age, and it wasn’t something she wanted. As a result, she deliberately chose to be more careful and thoughtful about her career.

Honestly, after that whole experience, I was so shaken up about potentially misrepresenting an entire group of people that I avoided playing Asian characters for a long time. I really steered clear of anything that felt even remotely stereotypical. In fact, I even turned down action roles – I just didn’t want to contribute to any harmful tropes.

Jessica Henwick had decided what kinds of roles she wanted, but then Marvel offered her the part of Colleen Wing, a martial arts expert in Iron Fist. This opportunity made her rethink everything she thought she wanted in her career and the types of stories she wanted to be a part of.

Even though the role offered promising career advancements, Henwick briefly wondered if she should accept it.

I’ll admit, for a split second I questioned taking on the role – was I right for a martial artist? But honestly, it passed almost immediately. I absolutely adored playing Colleen, and I still do. She’s truly one of the most inspiring characters I’ve ever had the chance to bring to life.

The show Iron Fist faced criticism for not including enough Asian actors and perspectives. This created challenges during production, as the series struggled to tell stories that genuinely reflected the experiences of Asian Americans.

As an Asian actor on that show, I really felt a responsibility to ensure we were portraying things accurately and respectfully. It wasn’t something I could do alone, of course – it took conversations with everyone involved, across all departments, to make sure we were all on the same page. You don’t always get your way, though – there were definitely compromises. Honestly, things were different in the industry back then. If I were in that position today, I think there’d be a lot more understanding and willingness to collaborate to get it right. It felt like the burden of cultural accuracy was unfairly placed on me, when really, I was just the actor doing my job.

I’ve been really impressed watching Gemma Chan’s career. It’s clear she’s very deliberate about the roles she chooses, and it’s given her such a diverse range of work. She’s become a familiar face in big movies like ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,’ ‘The Matrix Resurrections,’ and ‘The Gray Man,’ which shows how much demand there is for her talent.

Jessie Henwick will soon appear in the Netflix film Vladimir and the A24 black comedy How to Make a Killing, which releases in theaters on March 13th. She was immediately captivated by the character of Ruth and the film’s exploration of modern hustle culture after reading the script.

Even a year into filming, Henwick feels a stronger connection to her character, Ruth. Exploring the role sparked deep self-reflection, leading her to consider important life questions like what truly brings her joy and where she sees herself in the future.

Jessie Henwick was drawn to a line her character, Ruth, says: ‘No one teaches us how to dream small.’ She believes this resonates with a current shift in society, as people are experiencing burnout and realizing the downsides of constantly striving and ‘hustling.’ Henwick questions the purpose of this relentless pursuit and whether it truly leads to happiness, noting a growing online interest in a slower, more intentional way of life. Her social media feeds are now filled with content about slow living, simple technologies, and disconnecting from the digital world whenever possible.

The actress wondered if the feelings surfacing during the questions were due to her deeply getting into her character, or if they were simply her own personal emotions coming up.

A similar situation happened while filming “Vladimir,” the new Netflix comedy-drama starring Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall.

The show revolves around a professor, played by Weisz, and her intense obsession with a younger colleague, Vladimir (Woodall). Michelle Henwick plays Cynthia, the wife of the main character, and her life begins to fall apart when she and her husband join a small college where Weisz’s character becomes fixated on Vladimir.

Actress Jessica Henwick explained that her character, Cynthia, is barely coping and just focusing on getting through each day. Henwick shared that she personally felt the same way while filming the show, losing sight of the bigger picture and simply trying to be okay. She also mentioned that being away from home for an extended period was particularly challenging.

Early in her career, Gemma Chan gained valuable experience on the popular TV series Game of Thrones, where she played Nymeria Sand starting in season five. This role gave her a firsthand look at the industry and helped her understand the kind of career she wanted to build.

As a critic, I’ve always been fascinated by the impact of massive TV hits, and Jessica Henwick’s take on ‘Game of Thrones’ really resonated with me. She described a sweet spot – being involved with the biggest show in the world without bearing the full weight of its stardom. She got a glimpse of that intense pressure and expectation, but thankfully avoided being overwhelmed by it. What struck me most was her observation of the cast, particularly those who were so young when the show began. Seeing the ramifications of instant fame up close, she admitted she wouldn’t envy that experience for anything, and honestly, neither would I. It’s a powerful reminder of the human cost of blockbuster success.

Having witnessed the challenges faced by the lead actors, Henwick explains that the success young performers found on Game of Thrones was both a positive and a negative experience.

She described the experience as amazing, working on high-budget, top-tier television with incredibly talented people. However, she also admitted it was difficult to adjust afterwards. The pressure to achieve that same level of success again was intense, and she joked that it might even require therapy to accept that it was likely the best she’d ever experience.

You know, looking back, I almost landed some huge roles early on. I actually auditioned for Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens – can you believe that? Obviously, Daisy Ridley killed it, and at the time, I was pretty bummed and even a little frustrated. But honestly, now I’m just grateful I even got a shot at it. It’s funny how things work out!

Looking back, I see that things worked out for the better. I don’t think I could have coped with becoming so well-known so quickly. I definitely prefer building things up gradually.

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Authors

Adam Davidson

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2026-03-05 12:35