Approaching the dystopian genre and a role beyond the limits of reality is not for everyone, but that did not stop Natasha Culzac from being fascinated by this unique world and a character as full of humanity as Riz-028 in the new Paramount series, Halo.
We at Survived The Shows had the great pleasure of speaking with Natasha Culzac, who took us behind the scenes of her participation in the Paramount+ dystopian drama, Halo, her approach to the character and the challenges it gave her.
What’s the main element of the character of Riz-028 and the show in general that most fascinates you and drew you to join Halo?
NATASHA CULZAC: Yeah, I think the opportunity to sort of climb into this expansive, very colorful, very interesting world. I think we all would love to be part of something so epic, especially as actors. You know, it’s a privilege, I think, to be able to, you know, kind of get involved in a project of this magnitude. In particular when I got my audition, I was just very interested in Spartans as well. I found their whole journey just super interesting and the fact they were stolen from the age of 6 and they had to go through a very, very grueling augmentation process and indoctrination and kind of exploring, like, what does that do to a human being. And they’re, you know, humanity’s best weapon against this alien race that I did get rid of humanity. So yeah, so it was just fascinating. I was just intrigued, yeah.
Despite this kind of shows generally feature a greater male-dominated content, the female component is actually unique. How was it like for you to portray such a strong woman and what’s the element that mostly surprise you in your first approach to the script?
NC: Yeah, that’s interesting as well, because Spartans were always male and female. So it didn’t ever feel like, you know, I wasn’t nervous about playing a female super soldier because that was always part of the Halo Canon. Anyway, my character hasn’t been part of any Halo literature or anything, she’s part of the Canon. The deep cannon, deep law, but it was quite refreshing, I guess, to be able to develop a character without having lots of backstory that, you know, I kind of had to look back on.
I could kind of go with fresh eyes and the main research involved, you know, researching Halo. Firstly I read a couple of the graphic novels and played the game and just went online and you know, looked at fan videos and, you know, can Spartans reproduce? You know, really crazy questions like that. Some fans have made videos about, so I was watching those kind of things and reading as much as I could. But also there was the physical aspect. The physical training and also learning about military tactics as well. So military formations and gun work – I did a a gun course for actors before we started filming and I just did it myself with this company, they do specifically sort of fire firearms training for actors. How to look confident and competent with with a gun. So it was lots of different strands of research.
What’s the main challenge that portraying Riz gave you, both professionally and personally?
NC: The main challenge, I think, was portraying this kind of – she’s human, but the Spartans, particularly with the pellets, are very unemotional, very focused. They don’t really feel in the same way that humans do, yeah, so that was the a big challenge actually. It’s trying to portray this person who doesn’t really sense or feel a lot, but maybe it’s very deep deep deep down inside. Yeah, that one that was definitely a challenge.
Is there any scene that you recall from the filming of Halo that it was most fun to shoot and one that was instead most challenging?
NC: I really enjoyed shooting the battle scene in episode five. That was fun. It was very long process of filming that, but we had quite a lot of fun on set. We were on location and we would just sort of set and watch, you know, the pyrotechnics, all the fire and the explosions, and watch, you know, all the stunt team on wires and it was really exciting and we got a lift on a a Mongoose, Kate and I.
My scene in the control room where I’m kind of delegating to the Marines and stuff that was really fun, because I didn’t really get to be that bossy in real life, so. OK, and then a challenging scene was one of the most challenging ones was I think it’s an episode. 6 where others and vanic are carrying high. Yes, want to structure. She’s injured and we’re carrying her. And that was just really challenging because I have the costume which was very heavy and then we had to carry Kate.
If you could choose one character on Halo, apart from Riz-028, that you would have loved to play, which one would it be?
NC: Ooh. I think I’d like to portray Fincher. His like very evil. Yeah, I think that would be really fun, yeah?
Throwing back to your past experiences in acting – just before Halo, you starred in a very popular Netflix show also based on a video game, which is The Witcher – how can you describe your experience on that show and portraying Toruviel?
NC: Yeah, that was another amazing experience. The Witcher cast and crew is also like another family. I think when you when you join them they really are very good at bringing you in as well. And that was my first television role acting so very nerve-wracking experience, but an incredible experience working with Henry Cavill and the other guys in my scene as well as Jerry, Betty and Tom Canton. o they were lovely, you know, and and we got to socialize as well. You know we we went out and Budapest and had that.
In a similar way [as Halo] it’s the world-building and also the allegory, I guess, with the elfs. You know, they were subjugated and I kind of felt a kinship with them as well. You know, even though it’s an elf, so it’s fantasy. And how can you relate to an elf? But it was more their situation in that moment was quite tragic. And yeah, I felt very sorry for them and I was excited by that role. And I think the books are incredible. So I read those in preparation and, yeah, just an incredible production would be part of.
If you had to give some advice to those people among our readers and your fans who would like to pursue an acting career, which advice would you give them?
NC: I would say treat the industry the same way that it treats you, which is with a little bit of a disdain and don’t give it everything. Not everything that you have because it’s a very unforgiving, very brutal industry. So keep something for yourself, you know. Make sure you have your relationships, your friendships, you go on holiday, maybe, you know, have another career as well. You took the money. And just look after yourself.
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Chiara
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