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Daniel Henney 

Co-stars in Amazon series 
The Wheel of Time

interview by Tessa Swantek

 

photography by Filip Kartous 

Stylist Miroslav Romaniv 

Fashion Editor Deborah Ferguson 

Daniel Henney is television’s Lan Mandragoran, beloved warder of Moiraine Damodred in the Wheel of Time, one of the most popular fantasy novel series of all time. While Henney is not the Lan many pictured when reading the books, his portrayal is now regarded as the perfect Lan. At his core, Henney seems very similar to Lan. He describes Lan as “a wanderer, a boy without a home,” and the same can be said of Henney himself as he travels between opposite sides of the world, America and South Korea, where he is prominent in both markets. Henney tells us, Lan is “a man who values duty above all else and is deathly loyal to the ones he loves,” a trait that resonates with Henney who is very conscious of his choices as he knows time spent on his career that helps support his family is also time taken from those he loves. Just as the Creator in the Wheel of Time, spins the Pattern of the Ages, Henney creates vision boards to pattern his time and will his future. We are grateful that Henney graciously chose to take some of his time to speak with us about subjects ranging from his biggest fears to his biggest passions and behind-the-scenes details of The Wheel of Time along with what we should look forward to from season 2! 

You’ve said that you create vision boards for your career and even saved the cover of The Eye of The World about 10 years ago which is amazing! Since it’s the beginning of a new year, is there any snippet that you can share from your most recent vision board?

I think my board has definitely evolved over the last decade- in theme and in purpose. I started when I was very young, so a lot of the early stuff was about career motivation and roles that I dreamt of playing. Nowadays, it’s more about finding projects that challenge me and are maybe a bit off-brand. It’s very surreal and rewarding to have finally reached a point in my career where I’m able to have some choice in what I do. Not that I didn’t when I was younger, but now it’s that more options are coming to me. I have a couple of projects in development that I’m really excited about. One I’m involved with as a writer and producer, and the other I’ll be directing. So, it’s really exciting to step into this next chapter. Both of those ideas started on that vision board as well. If I’m being super honest, 007 is and always will be up there at the top of my board. That will always be the dream role for me.  

In terms of passions outside of acting, you often post about the importance of rescuing dogs. Can you tell us a little bit more about the specific organizations you support?

It’s probably the thing that I’m the most proud of and also challenged by the most. I work closely with HSI (Humane Society International) and also Korean Dog Rescue, a non-profit based in Seoul. We use a “boots on the ground” approach to the problem by hitting one dog meat farm at a time. We usually have months of dialogue with the owner(s) of the farm regarding potentially transitioning to another revenue source, whilst keeping their current infrastructure intact. Some are able to successfully transition to other types of farms (blueberry and strawberry are popular) and then hopefully are able to support their families from that. Generally, the folks involved in this type of life are not happy to be doing it. It’s either been passed down through the family, or they were forced into it somehow. Some people are very relieved and happy at the idea of doing something else. We then get all the dogs out and begin the subsequent medical checks and hopefully find them a foster home and eventually a forever family. If anyone is interested in adopting, they can visit the HSI website which will point them in the right direction. Both of my pups are rescues from Korea- they’re absolutely the most wonderful dogs in the world. 

“Lan came to me quickly. I knew him. I loved him right away when I read the books. I found connective tissue with him. He’s a wanderer, a boy without a home, a man who values duty above all and is deathly loyal to the ones he loves. I can relate to those traits and that’s why I do feel comfortable in his silence.” 
 
 

You often say that South Korea is responsible for kicking off your career. I have been watching K-dramas for years and always find it so interesting how there are a lot of differences compared to American media. Even though this is more of a generalization, K-dramas are typically one season which changes the way the show is created while many American dramas, like Criminal Minds, often span multiple years and seasons. As you are constantly moving between two markets, do you find that there are differences that affect the way you portray a character in each market?

Wow that’s an interesting question, I’ve never been asked that before. Well, honestly, I don’t think there’s really a different approach to the character because even if you’re lucky enough to be on a show in the states that spans multiple seasons, you really never know how successful it’s going to be. So essentially, you’re always treating every new show as a singular experience, one season at a time. Ending up on a show that lasts years is very rare nowadays, so I consider myself very lucky. The Wheel of Time, however, was different, in that the source material was already there for us to absorb. It also gave us a sense of just how long the show could go on for and what each character’s respective arc would be down that road. That was helpful. So preparing for WOT was different from anything I’ve done before. 

You often say that in acting you work from the outside in, so you are typically more focused on how physicality affects emotions. Since you have done voice work as Tadashi Hamada in Big Hero 6, I’m curious to know how this process works when you aren’t physically the character.

Haha. Good point. However, I would honestly say that playing Tadashi in Big Hero 6 was an INCREDIBLY physical experience. I burned more calories in the VO room at Disney playing him than you would doing most CrossFit workouts. There’s something about being on your feet for hours and trying to get that perfect take, perfect read, perfect tone to your voice that is a wonderfully physical experience. When Hiro and Tadashi had to ride the scooter together, I REALLY pretended to ride that scooter. When he was holding him upside down in their room, I picked up the heaviest thing I could find in the room and used that as a reference point. I’m not a good enough actor to completely fake all that stuff haha! Some people can go in there, do one or two takes and nail it while standing completely still. Years of theater and voice training can really help with that. I however never had those luxuries, so I learn on the fly and do what works for me.  

Shifting to your role as the beloved Lan Mandragoran in The Wheel of Time, there seems to be a major consensus among fans of the book series that you are the perfect Lan. What about you specifically do you think makes many fans feel this way?

I find it interesting because I’ve had a lot of people say to me “you’re not the Lan that I pictured when I read the books, but now I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing him.” That to me is the best compliment I can receive. Hell, when I read the books, I wasn’t what I pictured either.  But when I’m on set in full costume, it just feels right. Some characters take longer to come to you than others. Whether it’s relating to certain aspects of their history, or physical aspects of the role, etc.  Lan came to me quickly. I knew him. I loved him right away when I read the books.  I found connective tissue with him. He’s a wanderer, a boy without a home, a man who values duty above all and is deathly loyal to the ones he loves. I can relate to those traits and that’s why I do feel comfortable in his silence. I feel like I understand why he chooses to do the things he does and why he is the way he is. On another note, I think that the fans really felt that the Borderlands must have had Asian influences. I think they think of Sheinar and Malkier and it makes sense that a mixed Asian man like myself would hail from those regions. There’s also a calm and almost samurai-like energy within Lan that clearly reflects the cultures of Korea and Japan.  

One of my favorite scenes of the series is in the first episode when Lan throws himself over Moiraine because it’s so powerful and tells so much about Lan and Moiraine’s relationship in one movement. In other interviews you have said that five dust cans actually were shot at you during that scene. Since I imagine there would be some danger in having that much dust in your face, did you need to perfect this in one take? Can you share any more details about filming this scene?

That was just a special night. There was something in the air. Once in a while you have a night like that, where big scenes just go perfectly. I think we may have only done 2-3 takes of that sequence max. I’m also pretty sure that the one they used in the show was my very first take.  Sometimes over preparing and going over each and every beat/moment of the sequence can have a negative effect on the outcome of the scene. That was a situation where our director Uta [Briesewitz] trusted me to get it right. She asked me if I could do it and I said simply “yes.” That’s why it looks so natural. We didn’t do a practice run, so I had no idea how fast the dust would engulf Rosamund [Pike] and the entire scene. So, what you see is me REALLY racing to cover her and it plays very naturally. It’s a cool shot. 

 

On that same note, the scenery in the show is really beautiful as you filmed mostly in Prague. What did you find most beautiful while filming there?

I mean, the Czech Republic is stunningly gorgeous. From the city of Prague to the surrounding areas, it’s really magical. For a kid who grew up watching fantasy movies and cartoons, shooting in Prague has been nothing short of surreal. I mean there’s literally a massive Castle on a hill, with a bridge that’s over a thousand years old connecting it to the city. It’s insane. A lot of our locations have been a couple hours outside of Prague and the views and vistas are jaw dropping. Rolling hills, villages and really beautiful countryside. It really helps us to bring this world to life. I think the most beautiful place I’ve seen while I’ve been here is Cesky Krumlov. It’s a small village about 2 hours (by car) away from Prague. It’s a complete fairytale with a massive castle overlooking this amazing 13th century village. A beautiful river runs around the entire town. It’s one of the most special places I’ve been to. I highly recommend it.

Do you have a favorite line or segment from the books describing Lan that you really carried with you in your on-screen portrayal, or did you try to not be too influenced by the book version?

There’s a bit in The Eye of the World that talks about the way he moves- that he blends in with the background/shadows- that if you didn’t KNOW he was there, you wouldn’t. I really held on to that. I love the fact that he’s happy to blend into whatever situation he’s found himself in. I think about that a lot during our scenes, especially when there’s no dialogue. I look forward to those moments because I think that’s when he’s really being a “warder.” He’s lying in wait…watching…wolf-like in his movements.  

In the end of the season, characters are traveling through The Ways which is an area that defies time and space. In your life, if you could use The Ways, where would you travel to?

Well for me the question is, if you can travel back in time, will you take with you the knowledge of your present life? Also, will you be able to actively communicate with loved ones or even your younger self? Or would it be like the Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol, with Scrooge, so a kind of voyeuristic point of view? I’d love to go back and speak with my late Aunt and Grandmother. They were instrumental in helping me to pursue a life in the arts. Where I’m from, it just doesn’t happen. Being a part of the drama club, or anything to do with singing/dancing/acting was like waving a freak flag. So, I’d love to go back and thank them for gifting me that sense of confidence to give it a shot.  

In The Ways there is also a voice that tells the character’s their biggest fears. What would a fear of your own be that you’re comfortable sharing? 

I think the voices in my head are usually speaking to me about time and selfishness. My fears usually circulate around those two subjects. I’ve spent so much time away from my loved ones over the years. When you’re young, it’s exciting and all so new. However, as you get older so does everyone else around you. That time you spend away could be time spent with them. It’s something that eats at me. Doing WOT has been an incredible experience and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. However, it does require me to be on the other side of the world from my family for very long periods of time, and covid has exacerbated that. So, I guess to answer your question, my fear would be that I’ve chosen certain jobs for sometimes selfish reasons and those jobs have required me to spend time away and travel so much- it’s time that I won’t get back. But the flip side of that, is that it has afforded my family and I a wonderful life. Choices, choices… 

Without giving too much away, Lan really has an emotional arc especially in episode 5 where he acts as the sole griever surrounded by others who watch and play off his emotions. Were you nervous going into this scene and was it hard to come out of the feeling of the scene once it was over?

Yes. That scene was postponed a couple of times for various reasons. So I always kind of knew it was out there…lurking and waiting for me. Haha. I was nervous for various reasons, but mainly I wanted the essence of Lan in the books to remain in him even during those moments. That was tough. I frankly had concerns about whether or not to have that scene in there at all, but after numerous discussions with our writing staff, I too agreed that it was important to showcase how deep the bond really reaches between Lan and Moiraine. It is not in the books, but we felt that it was right for the show. That scene took all day to shoot. I beat myself up (literally) the entire day, and when it was finished, I was so relieved. I didn’t hang on to the scene mentally afterward, but physically, my shoulder was black for about 2 weeks.

Again, without spoiling anything, the end of season 1 signals a major shift in several relationships for Lan. What can fans look forward to from him in season 2?

Lan and Moiraine will be tested. Individually and as a Warder/Aes Sedai unit. They’ll face challenges that have huge implications. I consider season 2 a “journey season” for Lan. He will be faced with many moments and situations that force him to question everything he’s believed in and how he’s lived his life up to this point. It’s really hard for me to not give too much away, but I will say this- 2 swords, multiple fades, blood….lots of blood.

Photography

Filip Kartous 

Interview 

Tessa Swantek 

Creative Director & Fashion Editor 

Deborah Ferguson 

Stylist 

Miroslav Romaniv 

Makeup

Martina Routková  

Hair

Michael Baum 

Photo Assistant  

Martin Rezac

Producer 

Aneta Furdecka

Web Layout 

Katlen Guzman

Many Thanks

 Viewpoint LA & Amazon Studios 

View trailer “The Wheel of Time” down below