The young sorceress Yennefer is one of the highlights of Netflix’s The Witcher. Learn how prosthetics helped Anya Chalotra’s performance, but also gave her a physical injury.
The Witcher might star Henry Cavill as monster-hunter, Geralt of Rivia, but Anya Chalotra’s Yennefer steals the show.
Yennefer, who starts her journey as a debased and deformed hunchback, is transformed into a powerful and beautiful mage through painful, bone-realigning magic. There’s no doubt that a physical deformity has a profound effect on an individual’s personality and self-worth. And as Chalotra explained to Cinemblend, makeup, especially prosthetics that dramatically alters appearance, can quickly help you get into the headspace of an afflicted character.
“The prosthetic, the hunchback, made me look at the floor and because I was looking at the floor I was a lot more self-conscious and I felt inferior and I was scared to use my voice. That helped the way I used my voice, the way I responded to people… I was still hiding something behind that thick makeup I have on. All those things supported me and an incredible team to have those conversations with and bring that to life.”
Actors are often willing to go through pain to get the best performance. And while prosthetics helped, Chalotra revealed to The Sun that they took a physical toll on her. “I had a trapped nerve in my back that I had to get massaged out after playing her for so long! It was very uncomfortable.”
In addition, heat generated by the prosthetics under her costume added to the discomfort. “They were very sweaty,” she said.
But she did admit that her double had it far worse. “The one that the body double wore was heavy because it was a whole back piece.”
Based on The Witcher’s popularity, Chalotra’s pain has certainly been well worth it. Whether or not Yennefer survives the Battle at Sodden Hill, and appears in season 2, will make little difference to Chalotra’s career. Her performance has guaranteed she’ll be on our screens for some time.