Interview with Joanna McGibbon

Hello, Joanna! Congratulations for the season 2 premiere of «Shadow and Bone»! Please share with us your impressions of filming in this project.

— It was like being invited into your favourite childhood book, literally. It’s always tough adjusting to a show that’s already established, but the cast and team were really accommodating. The first thing that got me was the sheer size of the project! It’s the biggest thing I’ve been on so far.

Could you please tell us about your most memorable moment on the set?

— Omg! Filming the scene where the Volcra completely decimate the proposal celebrations. The stunt rehearsals for that were incredible to watch, how they’re able to create theses death-defying throws, jumps and pulls that all come together so well. It really made the scene spectacular.

Have you read any books from the Grishavers universe? If so, which one did you enjoy the most?

— It would say my favorite books are the Six of Crows Duology. Those are the ones I read first in secondary school and college.

At what moment in your life did you decide to become an actress? Do you have any idols that influenced this choice?

— It’s something that I fell into gradually. My mum took me to see a lot of theatre growing up, so it’s always been something I have admired. I also watched a lot of Musical Theatre where the likes of Beverly knight and Cynthia Erivo inspired me. It was also the writing of Debbie Tucker Green and Steven Berkoff that moved me forward. The question of ‘How would I bring this to life’ was always a fun/interesting thing to think about.

You have played more than a dozen roles in theater, and you also star in television projects. Can you single out 1 role each from the theater and TV shows that have captured your heart?

— For TV, my role as a Gunslinger in ‘The Dark Tower’. It was the best of everything. I got to ride horses most days and wield my own pair of axes. In theatre, performing ‘White Guy on the Bus’(which me and my co-lead got nominated Off West End Awards for) as it was a challenge as it had a lot of difficult topics, but it’s one I look back at fondly.

If you could choose any character in the Shadow and Bone universe, who would you be and why?

— I might go to the dark side and be General Kirigan, just once, so I know what it’s like Ha!

If you could play any existing character, who would it be and why?

— I would love to play Trinity, just a badass. What more can I say?

Do you have some hobbies? What do you like to do in your spare time?

— Gym, gym, gym – sprinkled in with a bit of martial arts and podcasts. I often start the day with something from Andrew Huberman’s catalog. It is good to get that brain ticking early in the day.

In which projects will we see you in the future and can you tell us about them?

— Keep your eyes pealed, you’ll see me again for sure. Keeping it quiet… illusive I know.

Your favorite movie?

— The Gentlemen.

Favorite TV series?

— Shadow and Bone. Of course.

Favorite book?

— Brandon Sanderson – The way of kings.

Your favorite quote?

— ‘Freedom is wasted on the fearful’. ‘Life isn’t about finding yourself, its about creating yourself’.

Your favorite singer/band?

— Singer – Jordan Rakei. Band – Sylosis.

Your favorite song?

— Mint Condition – So Fine. Beyonce – Virgo’s Groove.

Favorite season?

— The artist in me really does enjoy some moody weather; rain pouring as I write poetry and everything, but I’ll have to give it to summer. If I can get some reliable heat, an ice cream, and some tunes, I’m all in.

Marvel or DC?

— Marvel.

What's your Hogwarts House?

— So... according to buzzfeed, I’m 34% Gryffindor, 33% Hufflepuff, 23% Ravenclaw and 10% Slytherin. I’ll just claim the win for Gryffindor.

Do you have an idol and if you do, who is it?

— I don’t really have idols but there are a handful of people that inspire me, Michaela Cole, Taron Egerton, Thandiwe Newton, Thurso Mbedu.