Jessica Henwick can’t be put in a box. The 29-year-old actress, who also directs and writes, is gearing up for a very busy year. Henwick is now freeing Keanu Reeves from the simulation of The Matrix as Bugs in the franchise’s next film, and he’s also bringing Blade Runner: Black Lotus into theatres. Then she’ll return to the big screen to star alongside Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling in the spy thriller The Gray Man. Then it’s off to Greece for the follow-up to Knives Out, where she’ll go toe-to-toe with the super-rich. On the phone from Los Angeles, she said, “This year has been a whirlwind.”
Henwick’s interest in storytelling began when he was a child in Surrey, England. Her father, Mark, is a well-known science fiction novelist, and her grandmother has written a number of unpublished works. She was driven to artistic activities early on as a result of their influence, and by the age of 12, she was acting with local theatrical groups and writing her own stories. Bringing characters to life was a fantastic experience. “Acting is such a lovely sort of escapism, and I fell in love with it once I started courses,” Henwick adds. “It’s tough to put into words, but I’ve always known that I was born to tell stories in some form or another; it’s in my blood.”
Many people will be startled to learn that the sapphire-haired cyberpunk from The Matrix and Game of Thrones’ whip-wielding Nymeria Sand are the same person since Henwick vanishes into her characters. Despite this, the individuals she portrays have a strength. Henwick’s ladies are capable, clever, and not to be underestimated, even when they appear menacing at first. It requires planning to convey the information. “It’s never simple; when you’re prepping for the action and stunts, there’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears,” Henwick explains. “You work all hours of the day and night, and the process is all-consuming.” Your entire existence revolves on exercising and gaining strength, but it’s also a psychological issue.”
Henwick knew that resurrecting a beloved series after 20 years would be difficult even before she mastered the feats. “Even if you haven’t watched the picture, you’ve heard about The Matrix, and it’s difficult to ignore the original’s effect,” Henwick adds. “I grew up loving the movies, but when I was asked about the part, I declined because I didn’t think I was in the correct state of mind.”” Henwick was on a 40-day journey through France at the time, trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. She explains, “I just wanted to have a pure experience.” “Thankfully, they hadn’t cast everything by the time I finished!”
