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Ruth Wilson has shed light on what it was like to reunite with James McAvoy in His Dark Materials season 3, recollecting how ‘brilliant’ and ‘full of energy’ her co-star was.
In the TV series, based on the book trilogy of the same name by Philip Pullman, Ruth plays the conniving and complex Mrs Coulter, while James portrays the adventurous and daring Lord Asriel Belacqua.
The former couple share a child together, Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen), who becomes embroiled in the fight against the Authority and their world’s governing Magisterium.
At the London premiere of the third season, Ruth, 40, spoke to Metro.co.uk about sharing the screen with James, 43, again, after the X-Men actor was absent for the majority of the second season (except for an exciting post-credits scene).
She outlined how at this point of the epic fantasy tale, Marisa Coulter and Lord Asriel are at completely different stages in life.
Addressing their reunion, the Luther actress said: ‘It was great. It was really lovely because it’s such a core part of who Mrs Coulter is and who Lyra is actually, those two warring parents. They’ve got this electricity and this fire.
Asriel and Marisa have sizzling chemistry on screen (Picture: Bad Wolf/BBC/HBO)
‘It was interesting, because Mrs Coulter you’ve seen so much more of her and we’ve developed her so much more in a way. It meant that actually, when they reunite, they’re not on the same page.’
Ruth confessed that neither she nor James actually made this revelation until they started shooting the latest episodes.
‘They’re in completely different spaces,’ she continued. ‘So Mrs. Coulter no longer is turned on by his power in a way. It’s sort of less interesting to her. So it kind of reflected who they had become as well.
Even when Mrs Coulter appears to be on the good side, can she ever truly be trusted? (Picture: Bad Wolf/BBC/HBO)
‘It was really interesting working with him, and we had to find it as we were going and find out where they are now and who they are, and how we trace that journey throughout this season. He was great, he’s brilliant.
‘He’s full of energy, and comes on like a sort of wild man, and so it was kind of interesting to play opposite and really fun. It felt like a play.’
James, meanwhile, similarly showered Ruth with praise during a recent conversation with Metro.co.uk and other press.
Asriel returns with a bang in season three (Picture: Bad Wolf/BBC/HBO)
Speaking of her performance in season three, he said: ‘Ruth Wilson is – we know what Ruth does, we know what she has done in the show so far, and she is incredible – but she takes it to a whole new level in this season, I’m gonna have to step away for just 30 seconds I’m so sorry guys, no problem.’
While discussing Mrs Coulter’s progression in season three, Ruth outlined her realisation that the ‘nicer’ and ‘more honest’ she played the character, the ‘more frightening’ she would be to viewers.
The actress shared: ‘I thought actually, that’s even more scary, is someone who seemingly thinks, believes they’re doing it for a good reason, and yet they might still be wrong.’
His Dark Materials next airs on Saturday December 24 at 7pm on BBC One and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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‘They’ve got this electricity and this fire,’ she said of their characters.
