Season 3 of The Wheel of Time raises the stakes for Maksim, Ihvon, and Alanna, thrusting them into chaos like never before. For Taylor Napier, who plays Maksim, the journey begins with an all-out street fight and only escalates from there. With the shadow rising, the trio must navigate intense battles, emotional turmoil, and their unique polyamorous dynamic. Napier, who honed his British accent in drama school, brings depth to Maksim by balancing charm with hidden privilege. As the season unfolds, fans can expect challenges that push these characters beyond anything they’ve faced before.
SD – Expanding Makim’s Arc in The Wheel of Time
Season 3 of The Wheel of Time puts a stronger focus on Maksim, Ihvon, and Alanna. Without giving too much away, what can fans expect from their journey this season?
TN – We start the season with a full on street fight and it only gets crazier from there! Sadly, I can’t really give too much away here, but Maksim, Ihvon and Alanna are going to be tested beyond anything they could possibly imagine this season. I think- up until the release of Lanfear in season 2, they had been living a pretty charmed existence. They spent all their time doing what I called “ the three f’s” – feasting, fighting and fucking. It was pretty great, but the shadow is rising, and things are about to get much more difficult.
SD – Portraying a Complex Relationship Dynamic
Makim, Ihvon, and Alanna share a unique polyamorous bond. How did you approach portraying this dynamic on screen, and what do you hope viewers take away from their relationship?
TN – It’s a pretty hard thing to figure out, as an actor, how to portray their whole relationship and then their individual dynamics with each other in any given scene. We always talked about how Ihvon is the glue that holds this relationship together; in a way both Maksim and Alanna are with each other because of him.
I think the really fascinating thing about their relationship is how well it works. I’ve never been in a polyamorous relationship myself, but I imagine in order for it not to go south quickly everyone has to be an excellent communicator. The three of them don’t always agree, but I think they are probably the characters on the show that listen and respect each other’s needs the most. If there’s a problem- they work it out.
If anything I think I would want the audience to take away that non-traditional relationships can work- and sometimes even work better than traditional ones, but it all comes down to the same dynamic- trust and communication.
SD – Perfecting the British Accent
You play Makim with a British accent—what was the process like mastering it for the role? Did you have a specific approach or inspiration for getting it just right?
TN – Well… I was lucky enough to go to drama school in the UK- so that helped!
We have had some excellent dialect coaches on our show headed by Naomi Joy Todd , who has worked on ALL of your favorite shows. I wanted Maksim to feel a little posh, actually- to offset him from the rest of the warders and give hints about his background. He’s someone who is running from and trying to hide his privilege a bit- so I wanted to do a fantasy version of someone who runs a third wave coffee shop in Hackney but actually grew up going to Eton.
I will tell you the most terrifying/ intimidating/ piss your pants moment of my career was my first table read in a British accent in front of Rosamund Pike. She’s been nothing but complimentary about my accent ( at least to my face!) but it was… scary… to say the least.
SD – The Physicality of The Wheel of Time
The show is known for its intense action sequences, particularly among Warders. What kind of training did you go through to prepare for the fight choreography, and do you have a favorite stunt or battle scene from the upcoming season?
TN – So much. So so much. When we are filming I’m normally in the stunt gym everyday I’m not on set. It’s been a real trial by fire. I’ve had to learn how to use basically every fantasy weapon you can imagine- and I think you’ll see me use all of them at some point this season! Jan Petrina and our stunt team are out of their heads- but I wouldn’t be able to do it without them. A huge shout out to our blade master Roman. He’s the most enthusiastic and patient man in the world for suffering through watching me fail so many times in rehearsal and always pushing me to go harder.
All the battles this season that I’m a part of are out of control. The opening minutes in the White Tower/ Streets of Tar Valon were insane to film. Actual fireballs and flames on the side of my face. The ones later in the season only get more ridiculous- there’s cliff jumping, explosions and lots of dead bodies in Maksim’s
future.
SD – Diving Into the Fantasy Genre
You’ve now established yourself in high fantasy with The Wheel of Time. What is it about the genre that excites you as an actor, and are there any other fantasy worlds you’d love to be a part of?
TN – I love acting in fantasy because anything/everything is on the table. It’s a world that’s like our own and not our own, so as long as you ground any choice in some sort of honesty you can make it work. You also get to do a bit of everything- action, drama, comedy. Everyday is different. Nothing is off limits.
I’m not sure you get much more high fantasy than The Wheel of Time… but I would love to do something in the historical drama world. I would have been a history teacher if I wasn’t an actor- so Gladiators/ Vikings- I’d especially like something with a reason to ride into battle. No clue why.
SD – Balancing Fantasy and Thriller – From The Wheel of Time to Wreck
You’ve also appeared in Wreck, a dark comedy-thriller. How did that experience differ from working on The Wheel of Time, and do you enjoy switching between genres?
TN – Wreck was a blast, my role there was very different both in tone and just where he sat on the show- it was nice to dip in and out of Belfast (where Wreck is shot). The character was such an asshole, so it was honestly really enjoyable to let that out.
I love being able to switch around and play different things. I think most actors get into acting because they don’t want to do the same thing everyday- so when you get a chance- you jump at it.
SD – Building a Career in Hollywood and Beyond
Breaking into a major fantasy series is a huge milestone. What has been the biggest learning curve in your career so far, and what advice would you give to other actors looking to enter the industry?
TN – What hasn’t been a learning curve? It’s cliche but it’s such a difficult industry to navigate. There’s not a path, there’s no right answer and there’s no real reason why certain things happen for certain people and not for others. Remember why you got into it and always return to the art of acting or telling stories.
With that being said- the best advice I’ve ever gotten is treat it as a business. It is an art, but if you want to do more than just make theatre in your garage or shoot monologues for YouTube you’ve got to know how to navigate this maze as best you can. That includes knowing and being confident in what makes you unique and what you are selling.
SD – What’s Next for Taylor Napier?
With The Wheel of Time returning in March and other projects under your belt, what’s next for you? Are there any dream roles or genres you’re eager to explore in the future?
TN – I have a few things couple out or down the pipeline in the next little bit that I’m excited about but can’t really say much at this point, sadly.
I’ve always wanted to be on the West End- would love to do some Tennessee Williams or a bit of Pinter- but honestly, I’m a bit greedy and I love to work, so I’m always excited for whatever comes my way.
Team credits:
Photographer – David Reiss
Stylist – Prue Fisher
Grooming – Liz Daxauer
