This article contains spoilers for Foundation episode 8.
Apple TV+’s epic Foundation series features a combination of accomplished actors such as T’Nia Miller and new figures such as Lou Llobell. Hollywood has always tended to love adapting books for the big and small screen, and in the age of franchises, there’s naturally intense interest in Isaac Asimov’s science-fiction books. The popular view has, however, always been that the Foundation series, in particular, was unfilmable; it’s a sprawling series, spanning over a thousand years and without many recurring characters. But Game of Thrones and the advent of streaming have been game-changers, and so showrunner David Goyer has brought Foundation to life for Apple TV+.
One of the most surprising plots in Foundation season 1 – an entirely original one, not found in the books themselves – sees the Emperor attempt to intervene in the galaxy’s religious affairs. Fearful of Hari Seldon’s (Jared Harris) psychometry, which prophesied the rise of a major religious leader who would speak out against the Empire, he decides to intervene to ensure a hostile figure never ascends. That’s when viewers meet Zephyr Halima, a rising star in Luminism, one of the greatest religions in the galaxy that has about three trillion adherents – including the Emperor’s own aide, Eta Demerzel.
Screen Rant spoke exclusively to accomplished actress T’Nia Miller about the role of Zephyr Halima, focusing on the character’s tragic death in Foundation episode 8. She discussed her experiences filming the show, her relationship with the rest of the cast and crew; in addition, she also gave a hint as to whether she’d be interested in a role with the BBC’s Doctor Who, which fans have eagerly campaigned for.
Screen Rant: What attracted you to the role of Zephyr Halima?
T’Nia Miller: To begin with, I thought she was really nice, and I didn’t want to play any more nice people – I played this character in a horror show who was rather nice, and I loved playing her, but I started to get all these offers in that were these nice people, I was like, “Nononononono.”
Anyway, I got on the blower with David [Goyer] and he gave me the full lowdown on who she really was and we talked about everything, not just the show but our own philosophies and spiritual beliefs, and I just wanted to work with this man.
I’m so grateful to the universe for David, for taking the time to have a conversation with me, because I had such a good time, and I’ve made friends for life, as you do with most of the shows that you go on. I mean, it was such a blast, it was the learning journey as an actor doing that show, so it was a number of things that grabbed my attention. When he explained that she wasn’t as nice as perhaps I’d originally thought, she was badass.
She has claws, doesn’t she?
T’Nia Miller: She certainly does! She doesn’t back down for anyone, does she? She’s like, “These are my beliefs”, and she sticks by them.
So how did you prepare for Foundation? Some of the cast read the books, some of them preferred to focus on the scripts. What approach did you take?
T’Nia Miller: I didn’t read the book – still haven’t read the book! We share some of the same ideologies, so it wasn’t too far a stretch.
And the name of my company is Hair of the Dog, you know the Underdog, and I believe that’s who she’s really fighting for. It’s giving a voice to the underdog. And so it wasn’t too far a stretch, actually, in terms of her politics and her spiritual beliefs, and her views. Knowing when to shout out and when not to shout out. So, it wasn’t too far a stretch from my own viewpoints actually.
I’ve always felt every character has their own sort of core concept, a thing that drives them the most. What would you say lies at the heart of Zephyr Halima as a character?
T’Nia Miller: She sees that there’s something drastically wrong with the way things are, and she wants to give the little man a voice. She has this huge gift of the Mother, Maiden, and the Crone, this beautiful thing that has saved her life, and she sees that it’s the thing that gives light. Like most people, I think if there’s something joyous… You know, if you see a beautiful view, you turn around to show it to somebody, right? It’s simplifying, but that is Zephyr Halima, it’s wanting to share this joy because it works. So that’s what really drives her. It’s to change the status quo because that system no longer serves anybody, it’s not working.
Moving on sadly to Zephyr Halima’s death in episode 8, I thought it was such a powerful and emotional moment. We’d only gotten to know her a little, but there was so much emotion in that scene. What was it like filming that scene?
T’Nia Miller: It’s gonna sound so weird, it’s a love scene. It felt like a love scene. You felt like… quite maternal actually, as well, in a way that, “Okay, here is the ultimate proof of test of faith.” You know, and here is this person… It was too late for her, she very quickly understood that it was like, “OK, this is my end. But it’s not your end, Demerzel, it’s your beginning, you can change things for now.”
And even at that point, she’s still in service. And she becomes quite maternal towards her, she’s like, “C’mon, c’mon, remember your Script. Remember your prayers, remember your beliefs, this is okay.” For her it’s too late in this realm, but “I relieve you of the guilt so that you can continue to thrive, you can really grow,” and it’s such a powerful scene.
One of the moments that struck me the most was when Zephyr Halima declared, the one who commanded Demerzel (Laura Birn) was soulless. And that was such a powerful statement. What do you think was going through her mind at that moment?
T’Nia Miller: Yeah, she says, “The one who forces you to do this – he is a soulless man.” I think it’s just really holding a mirror up, for her to just look at what they’re doing, look at where you’re at. Think about your choices, it’s not about him. Everything’s about the Empire, and it’s not, “I want to empower you.”
You saw that effect on Demerzel, with her then speaking to the Emperor and with that barbed comment of what an empty person it would be who’d never had a vision.
T’Nia Miller: Oh! Beautiful. That moment was beautiful. But you know, for me, I think he has a soul. I think he has a soul. I think this is the beginning of him discovering a soul. Even though he’s a clone. C’mon, he’s gotta have a soul, right?
One of the most striking things about that death scene was the peace Zephyr Halima had when she was passing away. What do you think gave her that peace?
T’Nia Miller: She says it, “It’s not my end.” As human beings, I think, T’Nia thinks, that sometimes we look at the world with the glass-half-empty, as opposed to half-full.
The greatest lie that we tell ourselves is that we have control. We have no control of f*** all. Ever. Right? This is the greatest lie that we tell ourselves, that we must do this, we shouldn’t do this, it doesn’t make a rat’s a** difference. We have no control. All we can do is be here right now, that’s it, we can sort of make plans but not be attached to those plans. And I think that’s how she finds her peace, because this is just one leg of a journey, okay what’s next?
She’d gotten ready for the next step.
T’Nia Miller: Yeah. And her whole life had been there. And also not living in the future, either, this is my next step. I think it was a surprise – OK, I’m dying now? – that’s what’s happening, OK that’s what’s happening. I think I would have sh*t myself. Even with all the philosophical ideologies I have, I would’ve sh*t myself. “Not painful, is it?”
You’re part of an astounding cast in Foundation, there’s such a depth of talent. Were there any other actors you wish you’d had an opportunity to work with?
T’Nia Miller: Oh, Clarke Peters. Because I worked with him on the last project, and I absolutely really adore working with that man. Oh, it’s so much fun. And of course, off-screen, we all quarantined, on my leg of the journey in Malta for two weeks, and I met the kids – Lou Llobell, Leah Harvey, Cassian Bilton, and we all hung out together, we all ate together, we had this massive bubble of about 300 people, cast and crew, and the production company, and every night it’d be Bingo or quiz nights or parties, and I was making drinks, so there was a lot of working and playing happening.
So I never got to work with the kids, and I would’ve loved to have worked with those cats. And of course, it’s wonderful to work with Matt [Gavan] and Laura [Bern], but I would’ve loved to have worked with them too. And Nikol [Kollars], and Pravessh [Rana], oh! Gorgeous people, they really are.
It really is quite an astounding cast.
T’Nia Miller: I know! And do you know, it’s Lou’s first job? Lou and Cassian, it’s their first job. They’re smashing it! I feel like a proud mom.
Looking forward, there’s so much speculation among the Doctor Who fan-groups – your name is always being mentioned. Would you be interested in playing the Doctor?
T’Nia Miller: I might be, I very much might be. I mean, Russell T. Davies, and I’ve got to give Russell a call actually, Russell’s come back, hasn’t he? And if Russell said to me, “T’Nia, come and do one line,” I’d be like, “Alright Russell,” so… Wouldn’t that be fun? To be the Doctor? It would be fun.