Ceara Coveney returns to Amazon Prime’s epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time with a renewed fire as Elayne Trakand, the fierce Andoran princess grappling with power, legacy, and identity. In Season 3, Elayne’s journey takes a bold new turn—from a wide-eyed royal to a commanding young leader navigating the brutal politics of the world around her. In our in-depth conversation, Coveney reveals what’s changed since her debut, how she tackled her most challenging scene yet, and why her heart still beats for the intimacy of independent film. From high fantasy to heartfelt cinema, this is an actress on the rise—and one to watch.
1.Returning to Elayne Trakand in The Wheel of Time
You’re stepping back into Elayne Trakand’s shoes for Season 3 of The Wheel of Time. How has your understanding of the character evolved since you first took on the role, and what can fans expect from her journey this season?
It has evolved so much since I first took on the role, just as Elayne’s understanding of herself has. That’s what makes her journey this season so exciting; she embarks on a path of exploration and discovery. When we first met her last season, she was very much a sheltered princess—wide-eyed, confident, knowledgeable, yet undeniably naive. By the end of the season, she had been confronted with the realities of that naivety, and her strength was truly tested.
Coming into this season, her perspective on the world, and her responsibilities within it, has shifted. She’s learning to navigate the complexities of power and duty, balancing the expectations of two incredibly influential figures in her life, her mother and Siuan, while also grappling with her own ambitions and desires. Through this, I came to understand what a natural leader she is. She’s compassionate and deeply committed to Andor and its people. Her journey isn’t just about claiming a throne—it’s about discovering how she can best serve her people, not just rule them. Over the course of the season, I really came to appreciate the depth of her strength. She has a quiet but undeniable power, and I’m excited to see her fully step into it.
2. Filming Season 3 – Challenges and Highlights
Season 3 promises to take the story deeper into Robert Jordan’s epic world. Were there any particularly challenging or rewarding scenes for you this time around?
There’s a particular scene in episode six this season that was both the most challenging and the most rewarding. We filmed the scene over the course of two days in a massive, cavernous bar, with a huge ensemble of supporting artists, MMA fighters and knife throwing. It was an absolute spectacle with so many moving parts.
A lot of preparation went into making this moment work, from dialect sessions, movement coaching and voice recordings. I was a melting pot of nerves and excitement.
Elayne is undercover in this scene, she’s attempting the local accent and trying to blend in, which made it especially challenging for me as an actor, playing a character who is, in turn, playing a character. It’s a big moment for her, a true main character moment where she fully surrenders to her surroundings. It was vulnerable and the challenge for me was really trying to give this moment justice.
That being said, the best things often come from stepping outside of your comfort zone. When we wrapped on that sequence, I felt so accomplished and grateful for that experience – it was one of the most rewarding moments of the entire season for me.
3. Adapting a Beloved Fantasy Character
Elayne is a fan-favourite in The Wheel of Time books. How do you balance staying true to the source material while also bringing your own interpretation to the role?
It’s definitely a delicate balance to strike! My approach is to let the scripts be my first impression of the story—I start there and use what’s on the page to shape my understanding of where Elayne is emotionally and mentally in that moment. Then, I turn to the books to deepen that understanding and enrich the life of each scene.
One of the things I love most about The Wheel of Time books, especially when a chapter is written from Elayne’s point of view, is that they give us access to her inner monologue—her thoughts, feelings, and the complexities of her decision-making. I try to weave those layers into my performance, even if they aren’t explicitly stated in the script, to stay true to the essence of her character. Even when a chapter is from another character’s perspective, their observations about Elayne can be incredibly insightful. The way she’s perceived in different moments—whether as confident, naive, stubborn, or compassionate—helps me build a fuller picture of who she is.
Even so, adaptation is its own form of storytelling, and it’s impossible to translate every detail exactly as it appears in the books. The series is a different medium, with different narrative demands, so some changes are inevitable. I trust that within those adaptations, I can take creative license while still honouring the heart of Elayne and what makes her such a beloved character.
4. Working in a Fantasy Epic
With its vast lore, large ensemble cast, and intense action sequences, The Wheel of Time is an ambitious project. How does working on a high-fantasy series compare to other roles you’ve played?
It’s certainly its own beast, it’s unlike anything else I’ve done. Everything is heightened in a high-fantasy series, which makes it such a thrilling and demanding experience. One of the biggest differences is the physicality of the role. There’s a lot of movement training, stunt work and even horse riding, which is a different kind of preparation to say a crime drama or an indie film. Even something as simple as the way Elayne, a queen in training, carries herself adds a whole other layer to the performance.
Then, there’s the fantasy element itself. Unlike contemporary roles where you can draw on real world experiences, The Wheel of Time requires you to step into a completely new world with its own rules, magic system and political structures. That means doing a lot of research, not just on the lore but how the characters interact with that world and each other. At the same time, despite the scale, the themes of the story are universal and the key to it all is finding the human truth within the high stakes.
5. Exploring Indie Film with Hoard
You also starred in Hoard, which won big at Venice Critics’ Week. What drew you to the role of Leah, and how did working on an intimate, character-driven indie film contrast with a large-scale series like The Wheel of Time?
I fell in love with Luna’s writing, the words were alive on the page and Leah felt like someone I already knew. She’s very sweet, wholesome and put together, cares a bit about what others thinks of her but at her core, she’s a genuine soul. I loved her arc across the film, she’s kind of on her own wavelength, completely out the loop and got the wrong end of the stick most of the time.
Independent film is what really made me want to be a screen actor, so as much as working on The Wheel of Time has been a dream come true, working on Hoard felt like a homecoming of sorts. It was a deeply personal experience, a true labour of love where everyone was united in bringing Luna’s vision to life in the most authentic way. We stayed in character between scenes, having improvised chats to make everything feel more lived in. It was just really special—it felt like the purest form of acting for me.
6. Playing Mia in Young Wallander
In Young Wallander, you played Mia opposite Adam Pålsson. What was that experience like, and how did it shape you as an actor?
Young Wallander was my first professional screen role, and it was a hugely formative experience for me. I learned so much about the technical side of filming—everything from reading a call sheet to understanding the many roles that make a set run smoothly. We filmed in Vilnius, Lithuania, during COVID, which meant we were all cooped up in a hotel together, passing the time with fiercely competitive games of Dobble. The cast was incredible, and working alongside actors like Adam Pålsson and Leanne Best pushed me to grow quickly. As my first job, I naturally felt some imposter syndrome, but they encouraged me to find my confidence and take up space, which I’ve taken with me on every job since.
7. Dream Roles and Future Aspirations
You’ve already worked across multiple genres—from crime dramas to fantasy epics and indie films. Is there a particular genre or type of role you’re eager to explore next?
I’d love to work on a period drama. I’d love to get immersed into a completely different era and diving into the research of it, almost becoming a historian for a few months. I want to explore how people spoke at that time, how they moved, what they wore and how societal expectations shaped their behaviour. Right now, that idea feels especially exciting to me!
8. What’s Next for Ceara Coveney?
With The Wheel of Time returning in March and Hoard making waves on the festival circuit, what’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or ambitions you’re excited to share?
Right now, I’m in London filming a TV series and I’m having a wonderful time. It’s such a joy to be back on set, working with a fantastic team and getting stuck into a new role. I have a really good feeling about this year. Our industry has been through a tough time recently, with work coming to a standstill for so many people across all departments. But it’s encouraging to see momentum slowly picking up again and I’m excited to see what time has in store!
Looking ahead, I’d love to dive into another independent film soon, telling stories I’m passionate about and that truly resonate with me and working with people who inspire me! That’s all a girl can hope for.
Photographer: David Reiss
Styling: Holly White
Make-up: Sara Hill
Hair: Sophie Sugarman
Jacket and Trousers – Magda Butrym
Shoes – Manolo Blahnik
