Tabu Discusses Playing Sister Francesca in HBO’s Dune: Prophecy

ComingSoon Senior Editor Brandon Schreur spoke to Tabu about playing Sister Francesca in HBO’s Dune: Prophecy. Tabu discussed what drew her to this character and the new sci-fi series, acting alongside Mark Strong, and more.

“From the expansive universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, Dune: Prophecy follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit,” the synopsis for the series reads. “Dune: Prophecy is inspired by the novel Sisterhood of Dune, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. “

All six episodes of Dune: Prophecy are now streaming on Max.

Brandon Schreur: I’m wondering what it’s like joining this world of Dune. Dune is such a huge thing right now with all the books, there was the movie in the 80s, but then there have been the two new movies. Is this a world you were familiar with before signing on to this project? Had you read the books or seen the movies?

Tabu: I don’t think anybody is unfamiliar with Dune. Very few people are unfamiliar with Dune. Like you said, it’s huge. It’s huge. And there are so many universes within this universe that it just allows so many creative people to be a part of it, on screen. For me, it was so exciting. You can’t escape Dune wherever in the world you are, right? To belong to a franchise like that and to do such an important part — people around the globe, every nationality, and every culture knows Dune and will see you as part of it. That’s going to be there for posterity.

Also, to lend your presence and to become something that is iconic in literature, in science-fiction, and in that world. It’s another feeling altogether. You feel responsible, but you also feel, ‘Okay, how can I bring this to life, something that has been written about and something that is in a book?’ You know people have read the book, you know people have watched Dune. They know what the Bene Gesserit is, they know the kind of impact and power it has. Now, there’s this project you’re part of that speaks only about the Bene Gesserit. So how do you do justice to it? How do you add your own self to it? And how do you allow that to change you into something else that comes onto the screen? I think it’s a beautiful experience.

Oh, I’m sure. Is that nerve-racking at all? Or intense to take on a role like that? Just because, like you said, everyone knows it, Dune has had such a big place in the world. When you got the script for the first time and they said you were cast in the show, is it just like, ‘Oh man, what have I gotten myself into?’

No, because the way that I was approached was very, very different, but it was so reassuring that [showrunner Alison Schapker] was very sure that she wanted me to play this character. I had the time, fortunately. When you know that the makers and the team and everybody involved in this project wants you, they love you, they respect you, and they want you to be a part of it, it just makes it so much easier. You’re so happy, you’re excited, and you’re motivated towards this collaboration. You want to give it your best. Because when you get love and get that kind of feeling from the makers, you just want to double it. So that’s how I felt, yeah. There is a responsibility, but I knew it would be good. 

And it turned out good! I mean, it seems like it worked out perfectly.

We had, like, the veterans and such accomplished people working on this project. There’s Emily Watson, there’s Mark Strong, there’s Jodhi [May], there’s Travis [Fimmel], there’s Josh [Heuston], there’s Alison [Schapker], and, of course, John Cameron and HBO. So they know what they’re doing.

Definitely. I’m really excited to talk to you about the Sister Francesca character. I’d been told you had a major role in the show but you don’t come in until Episode 5, so I was trying to figure out who you were going to be. I was like, ‘I don’t know, but I do love this Constantine character, he’s my favorite guy.’ And then you come in and you’re like, ‘He’s my son,’ and I was like, ‘Yes!! That’s awesome!’

People love Constantine.

He was really cool and the dynamic between your characters was really cool. What about this character, Sister Francesca, stood out to you the most and made you want to play her?

First of all, the fact that she’s a very powerful person. She has immense powers. She has the power of imprinting. I think that was a really, really cool thing to play on screen. I’ve never played something like that before. We’ve never heard of something like that, we’ve never heard of the Bene Gesserit apart from the Dune universe. The fact that she’s willing to make such a strong impact on the Imperium. She’s going to change everything towards the end. And the fact that she has such a strong bond with the Imperium through her son. Her presence cannot be ignored because she’s the mother of Constantine. I mean, what are you going to do about it?

She is the emperor’s lover. She has been the emperor’s lover, she has a son with him. You cannot deny that and the hold that she has on the emperor. The emperor has immense love for her and she has immense love for the emperor. She’s going to impact the emperor and, also, the fact that she has such a strong relationship with the emperor, which people are also wondering if she’s playing him or if she’s being genuine. To play that, to be conflicted about whether I should carry out Vanya’s plan or not. Because, have you seen the sixth episode?

Yup, I was just watching it yesterday.

You see the emperor confronting her and you don’t even know what she’s going to do, actually. That is such an interesting part of Francesca’s journey. When I read the script and it had all these nuances — the love she has for her son, the kind of troubled relationship the son has with her, and then how it becomes all right that she has a family in the Imperium. She comes from nowhere and people see that, ‘Oh my god, this is a family.’ These were all the things that made me really, really excited about the character.

Sure, totally. You mentioned the dynamic between her and the emperor, played by Mark Strong. I loved that. Like you said, you can tell they love each other, you also know there are other things going on the whole time, and you’re just trying to get a read on the characters and figure out how much of this is real and how much is political maneuvers. I thought that was all really interesting, and I loved your scenes with Mark Strong, too, because you have really good chemistry.

Isn’t it? Oh my god, you have to see — I mean, social media is going crazy about our chemistry. And I am so happy about that. You know, it doesn’t often happen. I think the most important and the most impactful thing about actors, when they come on screen, is when you are paired with somebody and when that combination brings something to screen, that adds so much to your character. That adds so much to your story. Really, I feel like actors are nothing in isolation. So much of our journey, our craft, and our work is about who we are working with and who we are acting with. It’s just about that, I’ve understood after so many years.

It just takes one scene, one interaction, or one look for these two people to become something that people are looking at and something that people are liking. They’re invested! I’m seeing the comments people are writing, people are like, ‘Please don’t say that you’re going to die! Please, we want Francesca and Javicco to live happily ever after!’ It’s so nice to see that.

Yeah, I’m sure. I’m sure the fan response has been kind of overwhelming because I’ve seen it a lot, too. People love this character and love you in the show.

Especially with Javicco and Constantine. I think we are very good with each other. 

One thing I also love about this show is that it’s about Dune, like we said. If you’re a fan of this world you can dive into the lore, you can dive into learning more about the characters, and all that. But, also, I think it’s a story that’s very much about women, the Sisterhood, and how, even in this fantasy world, the power struggles are so real. The whole Bene Gesserit has been shoved to the side, they have to operate in the shadows to get power. I thought that was really interesting. Was that something that stood out to you when you were working on this, just the aspects of women, power, and how this works in a world that’s fantasy but, also, still has a foot in our reality?

Absolutely. When you talk about human beings, when you talk about living in the world, about society, and about family, there is no way that you won’t talk about power, acquiring power, retaining power, and sustaining power. I think most human beings derive a lot of energy from being powerful. In small ways, in big ways. Some people are really hungry for it. Some people have power and can use it well. Some people abuse power. I think it’s relevant to society, at large. Especially when something becomes an establishment as big as the Bene Gesserit. With one person in control, it’s always going to have a lot of struggles. Where there is hierarchy, there has to be conflict. There is no other way. Otherwise, we’ll be machines where one machine says, ‘Do this,’ and all the machines carry out the orders. Human beings will not become like that. Everybody is coming with their individual motives, goals, feelings, personality, and all that.

But, also, what struck me, also, is that we still have the ability to harness our energies into doing something great. They have the power to control their own breath. There’s the power of imprinting, of shape-shifting. It also made it possible for me to understand that, yeah, if you want to, you can really, really sharpen and hone your own skills.