Miranda Otto on Aunt Zelda

Spoilers coming for Sabrina's icy adventures.

The fact that Netflix has Sabrina's icy adventures is a dark spectacle is well highlighted by the actions of Zelda Spellman, aunt and de facto parent of Sabrina. Played by Miranda Otto with a steel spine, this Zelda is an intense and ruthless witch who follows the Church of the Night devoutly, wears impeccable clothes and sometimes kills her sister Hilda (before bringing her back to life, of course). ). With the first season of Ice Adventures streaming on Netflix and the second already in production in Vancouver, Vulture caught up with the Australian actress to learn how her performance refers to the Hollywood classic, how her character looks like a father of an old sitcom and why she thinks Zelda is a great ice hockey fan.

Zelda is portrayed as this fervent follower of Church of Night, but at the end of the season, she lies to Father Blackwood. What did you know about the character's bow?
When we started, I did not know. I had an idea of ​​where I thought Zelda was heading, but that did not happen, but it could happen later. It took turns that I did not expect. As the seasons go by, his problems, his own failures and his struggle to keep control of his life and that of his family have grown. It's really Zelda's story: trying to control situations and finding the lost position of the Spellman family.

Although she disapproves of Sabrina for her independent spirit and rebellion, she likes the fact that Sabrina is brave and strong. In some ways, I think Zelda is a little influenced by that, and I think at the end of the season, Zelda will have a rebel role. She has her own thoughts on what's going on in the church of the night and what she really would like it to be.

This is also apparent from his affiliation with Father Blackwood. She was very tactical and played the game, even though she has hidden emotions.
The kind of Zelda politician that way. She may be trying to change the system from the inside, but she does not want to change the system from the outside. She sees her trip as in the church.

How did you develop Zelda's relationship with Hilda? This dream episode reveals how much they depend on each other, even if they torture each other.
The first word that came to my mind was that they were co-dependent. They are lost one without the other – even though Hilda says, "Will I ever be rid of Zelda?" I do not think she really wants to be Zelda. They are like a married couple, like a strange couple.

They formed this unusual family with Ambrose and Sabrina – two aunts, a niece and a cousin. It's a bit like this analogy of the compass with John Donne. One person stays strong, is the center and the other wanders. Zelda, needs the influence of Hilda, and vice versa. Hilda feels safe to be a little rebellious and do what she has to do because she knows there is someone in the family who will be the strictest. She can be warm and comfortable with Sabrina because she knows it will be Zelda who kicks her. Hilda is a human person. Zelda is not a human person.

Zelda has a very specific posture, physics and accent. How did you understand it?
It was important that she be strong. I thought that if it was a typical nuclear family, she would be more of a father-like figure, slightly more distant, more strict. She has many more male characteristics. She is not very sweet and she is not very nourishing. Sitting behind the newspaper at breakfast, like pictures of fathers of the 50s or something.

She is very preoccupied with appearances – her own appearance and that of Sabrina and the family – so it was important to me that she be given some status within the community, even if it is lost. She sees herself better than other witches. These things were important in his precision, delivery, and stature. Zelda is one of those people where even if she is wrong, she will follow her path.

The other members of the cast and the writers of the series talked about influences of paganism and Wicca on the show. Have you done research on witchcraft to play this role?
Look, small pieces have appeared throughout the scripts and looking for some ideas they have advanced. But no, I have not done any serious research on witchcraft to play this role.

The show has all kinds of references to classic horror and black. Did you want to reference characters with Zelda? She has a bit of an aspect of Gloria Swanson at times.
There is a reference Gloria Swanson. There is a story of Joan Crawford-y, Bette Davis. I saw her as a black guy – strong, a little mysterious, dark and very sharp. These women of the 30s and 40s and the first stars of this era. I think Zelda could be a big fan of Joan Crawford. She likes movies. That and football. She is also a big fan of ice hockey.

Why ice hockey?
Because it's very violent.

It's hard to say where Greendale is, but it's like being somewhere in the northeastern United States where they play ice hockey.
With references to coal mines and others, I think a little to the east and inside.

How was it working with Kiernan Shipka? Sabrina must push Zelda to question much of what she takes for granted.
We had already worked together in a movie[[[[The silence]last year, so when I went to meet Roberto[Aguirre-Sacasaquiacréé[Aguirre-Sacasawhocreated[Aguirre-Sacasaquiacréé[Aguirre-SacasawhocreatedIce Adventures]and he said that Kiernan was paying Sabrina, I just thought it was a perfect casting. She is a great actor. She is incredibly well prepared and incredibly professional. But not just all this, she brings this fierce intelligence to the role, which, in my opinion, is really important. Sabrina is very very brilliant and Kiernan is very very brilliant. It's really fun to watch it all through the series, but I think we're still a little humiliated by someone who's only 18, who's such an accomplished professional. Lee [Toland Krieger]first director, he nicknamed it "the machine". She is always there. She always knows each line. She is totally in each scene, she knows exactly what she wants to do. Take each direction brilliantly. Yes, she is the machine.

Were you familiar with Riverdale when did you meet Roberto?
I did not know much Riverdale. I've heard about it. I saw the posters. Then, when I went to meet Roberto, I watched the first two episodes to get a better idea of ​​the series. I thought it was super stylish, beautiful, mysterious and interesting. I thought it was very good for this show. Then Roberto showed me some of the designs that [production designer] Lisa Soper and [costume designer] Angus Strathie had been working on the house and all that they were building. It really clarified everything for me. These elements are for me a real trigger to understand the world in which we are.

The Spellman house is so detailed. What does it mean to act in this set?
I like all sets. I particularly like our house because there is just this incredible amount of detail in everything. That way, it reminded me a little bit of the Lord of the Ringswhen you walked on this plateau. The detail in all the accessories, in every room that was on the wall. Everything has a story and a purpose, and there is nothing generic about it. It's a real treat to come on the set and have a look.

Between this show, 24, and Country, and even back to Eowyn in LOTRyou have played women who are often very in control. Is there anything that attracts you to this kind of game?
I think I'm just attracted to playing characters that are heavily written on the page, that the writers have been slow to be very specific about how they speak and their actions. I do not like playing too much myself. I appreciate a lot more than trying to dive into a character. The more accurate the writing is, the more fun it is for me. I suppose that's what attracts me: characters with strong actions, strong motivations, strong intentions, then a very specific characterization.

Judging by Kiernan Shipka from Instagram, the distribution has closely linked. How did the collaboration for the second season go?
We do not know many people here, so we are mutually united, which creates a bond of cohesion when you work together. As for our second season, we had a week off between the first and second season. So it was like we had never gone, really. We rushed to finish the first and a week later we were back.

Why do you think Aunt Zelda lied about the death of Father Blackwood's baby and stole it at the end of the first season?
It's the instinct of the moment, and that's not usually what Zelda does. She is usually motivated by the head and thinks about the best shot. But at that moment, she thinks a daughter of Father Blackwood will not have a good trip. She instinctively takes the imprudent, impulsive decision that does not resemble her, which she needs to protect that child. It's someone who wants to protect people. Since the death of her brother, she feels obliged to protect everyone. She assumes this role for the family.

This interview was edited and condensed.