In an interview with Temple of Geek, Emma Canning, who plays Tula Harkonnen in HBO’s “Dune: Prophecy,” discusses the complexities of her character and the process of bringing her to life. Canning talks about the challenge of playing a villainous and sympathetic character.

Interview with Dune Prophecy’s Emma Canning

Emma Canning delves into the importance of understanding Tula’s motivations and backstory. Also, Canning discusses the collaborative nature of her performance and working with other actors and the show’s creators to create a fully realized character. The interview provides insights into the depth and complexity of Tula Harkonnen and the dedication and creativity of the actors and crew involved in bringing her to life.

Canning says:

Perhaps one of Tula’s greatest skills is lying. I know she’s even lying to herself. The greatest lies are the ones we believe in ourselves. And I think she’s honing that skill of how can I be in a situation and survive?

The Harkonnen Legacy

Temple of Geek: Tula has become my unexpected favorite character. I love the backstory, and you did a phenomenal job. What was it like playing the infamous Tula Harkonnen in this legacy of Dune? 

Emma Canning: We are so far removed from the Harkkonnens we see in Villeneuve films. Even just aesthetically, they are such a break. It is such a visual representation of just change that it helped distance the feeling of what Harkkones represent and how they are perceived. I think it was useful to carry and understand that we’re disliked within the universe. And I think that it was very playable. That was useful to know; what does it feel like to enter new relationships or meet new people and already know that they might dislike you or have all this preconceived idea of you?  

Tula and Ori’s Complex Relationship

TOG: That’s a great answer, especially with episode three. I think it’s important that we get into the relationship with Tula and Orry Atredies.  As someone who was a novice to Dune, I was not mentally prepared at all. With how things transpired between Tula and Orry, what do you make of it solidifying what everyone already thought about the Harkonnens and their reputation?

EC: The relationship between Tula and Ori is fascinating. I think Ori surprises Tula, you know? It’s kind of Pride and Prejudice in its own right, kind of like Romeo and Juliet. 

TOG: Yeah. I was like, “This is Romeo and Juliet.” Please continue, but I gasped at that reveal when they yelled Atredies.

EC: Yeah. I mean, oh my god. Yeah. I think it confirms the view of the Harrkonnens. I think it certainly, in a lot of ways, disrupts Tula’s view of the Harkonnens. Obviously, she sets out on a very clear goal of an eye for an eye. You know, Griffin was our brightest light. Ori is the brightest light. Let’s take him. 

I think it morphs as Tula becomes hugely independent. All this kind of like, you know, when she’s being desired, she feels emboldened. And hence the massacre that happens. But I think along the way, Ori keeps surprising her, and he keeps wanting to get to know her, and he keeps wanting to know what she thinks about things or, you know, looking out for her, seeing her.

Under it all, I don’t think she trusts him fully because he doesn’t know I’m a Harkonnen. If he knew, I’d see his true colors. And I think that that’s kind of under it all. That scene is where she reveals her true identity. I think his response is unfathomable. Tula doesn’t even think that. It doesn’t matter that you’re Harkonnen and you’re an Atredies. Again, another surprise.

Tula’s Internal Struggles and Betrayal

TOG: I guess this leads me to the question: Do you think Tula felt heartbreak at that moment? I know we have a brief amount of time. I did feel love there. 

EC: Yeah, I know, she is utterly heartbroken.  In that scene where Jess(referring to Jessica Barden, who plays young Valya Harrkonnen) and I meet for the first time after everything has gone down, she’s been having a whole other experience.  They both are trying to figure things out. When they meet again, I think it’s kind of she’s really heartbroken. But you know, in revealing, what she’d done to her sister. I don’t think she’s yet to have a positive reaction. But Valya gives what she sought, along with approval and respect. Just like being thought of highly, it gives her something to cling to. 

She sets out on a very clear goal of an eye for an eye. You know, Griffin was our brightest light. Ori is the brightest light. Let’s take him. 

TOG: As an actor performing Tula Harkonnen, did you know the betrayal was ultimately destined when approaching a relationship with Orry?

EC: I mean, Milo Callahan, who plays Orry Atredies, is a wonderful friend now; he obviously had the really tricky job of just being clean. I have no clue; you really love me. You’re here to meet my family. He must be so innocent in that section of the story, and I think Tula is very good at compartmentalizing. And, you know, Olivia has an amazing scene in episode one where she talks about lying to yourself, which is one of the mental acrobatics of that. Perhaps one of Tula’s greatest skills is lying. I know she’s even lying to herself. The greatest lies are the ones we believe in ourselves. And I think she’s honing that skill of how can I be in a situation and survive. It’s probably just by lying to myself and to those around me.

I think that was a lot to play within that Atredies camp sequence. At what point am I actually stepping in and stepping back to understand and recognize why I’m here? And I just push that away, and it’s kind of like autopilot. My actions and I’m like dissociative. I suppose

Collaboration and Character Development

TOG:  That’s a really good way to say it. I will say that playing the younger version of Tula Harkonnen is almost like a collaborative performance with Olivia Williams. So, what is it like working with Olivia Williams in creating this character of Tula Harkonnen? 

EC: It was so much fun.  She is an incredible actress, obviously. But also just such a warm person. I really admire her. How she carries herself and how she is with everyone on set. Like, she’s such a pro, and just her and Emily both because they’re, you know, film sets are very hierarchical. You know, they’re off the top of this huge project, and they’re just creating this environment that was really collaborative. And, you know, there’s so much young cast on this show.

Olivia and I met when we talked about Tula. It was quite nice; we were quite gentle when talking about her. There was an understanding of sharing. To come down hard and fast of, like, this is, it’s like, no, it’s a reputation.

She had already been shooting a bit when I arrived in Budapest. So I could see some scene packets that the production put together for me. And that was really, really useful, a private way of letting that sit with me and really understanding. Really honing the tone she was creating around that character in the shape that she was occupying. And we talked a lot about siblings and families. That was so useful. 

Valya gives what she sought, along with approval and respect. Just like being thought of highly, it gives her something to cling to. 

TOG: Yeah, the relationship between Tula and Griffin is obviously very significant, and we see this with Valya. That was so heartbreaking. Yeah, it was a very hard opening, but it was very impactful. It gave so much meaning and understanding to the sisters. Tula’s relationship with Lila is a big part of her, too, and she is almost like a surrogate sibling. But what is it like to play Valya Harrkonnen’s sister, the live sibling that Tula still has?

EC: Yeah, with Griffin, there was a huge kind of backstory that I had to imagine for myself because, obviously, we only got to really interact once.  Jess would have had to do her own work there. It was really helpful; just by happenstance, we’ve both separately worked with Earl Cave, who plays Griffin. So he already knew us. He could step on, and there’s a little less warming-up time.

In my mind, Griffin is Tula’s only friend. You have to really raise the stakes for yourself as an actor, especially in Dune. What is the extremity of this experience? Like, what if he is my only friend? And that feeling of, like, very singular focus follows Tula. It’s kind of how she relates to her whole life. She is very closed; she attaches herself to one person. And then, that kind of need for a partner is very strong for her, I think, to be Valya’s sister. You know, she is the youngest, so she’s never not going to be Valya’s sister. 

I think this is a journey for her, like trying to discover what she wants and trying to test what I will do for the things I want. What happens if my wants aren’t the same as my sister’s? Like, that’s never happened before?

She was born Valya’s sister. Jess and I didn’t talk much about it, only after doing these, and now we are talking about it. I guess there’s so much unspoken about familial relationships that it feels strange sometimes to talk about it. So, you know, I think there’s a lot of understanding between them that we’re very different, and we value our differences, but we also envy them. So I think that Tula’s journey through episode three is kind of seeking Valya’s approval by trying almost to put on her costume and see what it feels like. And then I think, you know, they meet at the end of episode three, which is as much more on the same level and playing field.  

Tula’s Journey of Self-Discovery

TOG: Unfortunately, we have only time for one more question. I guess I will ask what you want audiences to understand about Tula Harkonnen.

EC: I hope that Tula represents a lot of people, perhaps the people that we pass over and underestimate. My dad always has the most interesting people who aren’t in the center of the party, like, they’re around the sides, you know, with their drink in their hand next to the wall.  And to not forget those people and understand that we’re all having an experience here; just because someone is not vocal or stepping forward with us doesn’t mean it’s not happening. And I think we often lose so much perspective when we forget about those people. I think Tula has learned to occupy that space and understand people and how to use it when no one’s looking. To do whatever I want. 

TOG: At one point in this episode, someone asks what Valya wants. I would like to know what Tula wants.

EC: I think she’s discovering it. I think she’s so used to watching, you know, these two older siblings who have such clear desire and passion and driving force and feeling this void in yourself of who? I’m not like. Yeah. If you want to do something, I guess that’s what we’re doing. And so, you know, this breakaway from her family going to the Atredies and deeply regretting what happens there. It was a huge learning experience, and I didn’t want that. So I think this is a journey for her, like trying to discover what she wants and trying to test what I will do for the things I want. What happens if my wants aren’t the same as my sister’s? Like, that’s never happened before? If she wanted something, I wanted something. But she’s learning how to come up against it.

I think Tula has learned to occupy that space and understand people and how to use it when no one’s looking.

TOG: I don’t know if people are ready for her or this episode, but it’s been my favorite. Thank you so much from Temple of Geek for me.

Episodes 1-3 are available to stream on Max. New episodes air on Sundays at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on HBO.