Rhiannon Fish – The 100

By starrymag | April 1, 2016

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

Q) When you first got the breakdown of Ontari, what information were you given on the character?

A) It was interesting because I actually auditioned with one of Lexa’s scene from Season 2, which was her first scene. She is disguised as a servant girl and then reveals she is the Commander. That was interesting because it was the first time I’d done an audition where I had seen these scenes done before. So, I understood that there were some similarities between the characters, but I also wanted to make it my own obviously because the two characters are very, very different. So, in addition to the scene, I only got a small breakdown that said she was a Grounder and was fiercely loyal to her people. That was pretty much it.

Q) What drew you to the role?

A) I’ve always been a fan of the show, so as soon as I saw the email come through saying it was “The 100” I was super excited. I didn’t mind what kind of character it was – I was just super excited to have the opportunity to audition for the show.

Q) What can you share about the dynamics between Roan and Ontari?

A) I think that is an interesting question because I think there is a loyalty there because they are both Ice Nation. But I think that Ontari is the type of character who puts herself above and before everyone else. So, if she has to step on or over Roan (Zach McGowan) to get what she wants, she is absolutely going to do it. He is the king, but she (as we saw in 304) is a Nightblood. So, she knows that she has some power and some pull as well despite the fact he is the king.

Q) What is Ontari’s actual dynamic with the Ice Nation now that the queen is dead?

A) I think that it was really interesting to me because when I was reading episodes I didn’t know in advance the relationship between the queen and Ontari. So, when the queen died I had no idea what that meant. Was Ontari a fan of the queen? I didn’t even know what their relationship was at all. So, I was really interested in episode 309 to see how Ontari feels about the queen and it actually really surprised me how she felt toward Queen Nia.

Q) Will we learn more about Ontari’s background and the teachings that the queen has given her?

A) Yeah. And I think that the really cool thing about “The 100” is that Jason [Rothenberg] does such a good job of giving everyone backstory. No one is simply bad because they are. Everything the characters do comes from something that has happened to them in their past. That’s what I think is cool in 309 because we find out what happened to Ontari and what the queen did to her to make her the way she is now.

Q) Will we also find out if she was fed any information on Clarke and Lexa and their relationship?

A) Well, from what I gathered from 309…I feel like that is not really Ontari’s main focus. She’s not overly concerned with other people’s relationships or Skaikru. She has one main goal and one main focus and that is all she is concerned about. You’ll definitely find out as soon as you see Ontari in 309 that it is very, very clear what her intentions are.

Q) “The 100” has some of the fiercest females on TV and I’ve mentioned that they seem to be almost superheroes. What has it meant to you to play the bold, uncompromising role of Ontari?

A) I think it was really cool. I feel that this show, to say it is special is an understatement. I think that the female characters are so strong and I love that. They don’t need a man to make them powerful. I think that is really rare and really special. I think that what Jason is doing is absolutely incredible and so important. Because it is true! We don’t need a man, honestly. But I think sometimes in TV women appear to need that prince or knight in shining armor. Then, sometimes girls in their real life think they need to be rescued or a prince or knight in shining armor. But I think we are more than capable of handling things on our own.

Q) What was the transformation like for you becoming Ontari?

A) The scarification process is really badass! I had no idea what they were going to do and I don’t think they did either on the day. I just sort of sat there and they played around with the scarification. Once that went on and they do the crazy hairstyles with the knotted dreadlocks and costume…Once it is all on, you absolutely feel you are in a different world and a totally different person, which is very cool. I think it is also cool how the Grounders have tattoos and the Ice Nation have their scars. The thing is that it just seems like anything is possible on “The 100” and they certainly don’t have any boundaries with hair and costumes.

Q) The costume gives you a new life when you step into the role. We all certainly have had things in our lives we have had to overcome, but not in a post-apocalyptic way.

A) It kind of puts everything in perspective. I think people have real problems and real issues and they are all fighting literally to survive. I think that in itself is really exciting. I worked on a show in Australia where the biggest issue of the day was having a fight with my boyfriend. However, on this show none of that really matters. It is a life and death situation every day on “The 100” and I think the stakes are so important that it makes being a part of it so exciting and watching it so exciting too.

Q) I keep saying that the cinematography of the show feels like a character in itself.

A) Absolutely! It’s just incredible. And then they have all that cool stuff with the City of Light. I can’t even tell what is green screen and what is real because it all just looks so magical and incredible. I just cannot get enough of watching it, honestly.

Q) What was it like learning Trigedasleng?

A) It was really hard, to be honest with you! But they do a great job with it. Obviously, they are on season 3 so they know what they are doing. They send you like a soundbite of what it is supposed to sound like and then they have it written phonetically for you to practice. Still, when you get on set there is so much going on that it is like the first thing that goes out of your mind. I remember I was talking to Zach about it and just no matter how many times you go over it, it is the first thing you will forget when you step on the set, for sure. Then, the hard part is because you can’t ask anyone since it is made up. It is not something you can Google. You just have to listen to the soundbites over and over again, which does help. I had it written like a hundred different ways and repeated it over and over again.

Q) When it comes to “The 100” it is hard to put your trust into too many people. How far does Ontari’s trust lie?

A) I think that kind of separates her from other characters on the show. In Season 3 and the other previous seasons, the characters really forced others to prove themselves to you. Ontari is kind of young and naive in my opinion, so when someone says something she doesn’t really second guess it. She is just happy someone is going to take her to the places that she needs to go.

Q) She seems like a character who does everything full force.

1. A) Yes, that’s putting it mildly.

Q) This season seems to be a lot about connections. What connections will Ontari be making to further her cause?

A) As soon as it came out that I was on the show, that was one of the first things people were asking – Who does your character align with? Or more specifically, who does your character get romantically involved with? I’m not saying there is someone, but I think it certainly was surprising to me who I had the most amount of scenes with and I think the responses that I have had on Twitter, it is the person that people have guessed the least. So, I’m looking forward to seeing what the audience thinks when they see Ontari with this other person.

Q) Fans worry that she may align herself with Clarke, but I never underestimate the world of “The 100.”

A) Every time I sit down…and I know what happens, but every time it plays out on TV it is just as shocking. They have a way of leaving you at the end of every episode of wanting more, but in complete and utter shock of how they did it once again.

Q) Has that been one of the most enjoyable things for you, seeing what fans are trying to piece together and their theories?

A) Yeah! And I think “The 100” has some of the greatest fans I’ve come across – certainly through all of social media. I know they are very passionate. They have been through a lot with “The 100” and they are still very passionate, which is all you can want and hope for. I’m the type of person that if I’m hooked on a show, the last thing I would do would talk about it online because I’d be so afraid that I’d discover a spoiler. But they have done such a good job of keeping everything so quiet that everyone is just guessing. Some of the guesses have been so spot on that I don’t know how they do it! But a lot of them have not been quite so accurate. So, I think everyone is going to be surprised no matter what.

Q) How did you approach the secrecy of the show?

A) I’ve been really scared because the last thing I want to do is spoil something. So, before I upload anything I always check and make sure that everything is okay. Even the photos I have uploaded, people have picked them apart. There was one photo I uploaded that had a piece of rope in the corner of it and everyone lost it! They thought it was Clarke’s hair and she was dead on the floor. I was like, “Calm down!” I would never upload something that was that big of a deal! [laughs] It’s funny and very entertaining to watch, that’s for sure. I know I don’t know them personally, but so far the fans…They are just so lovely to me. I know it is really, really early and they don’t know anything about Ontari yet so once they get to know me better maybe things will change. But I try to give them all the little things I can because they are certainly patient, loyal and very, very loving too.

Q) They have expressed strong feelings about Lexa and are very loyal to her. Are you looking forward or nervous about having a deeper social media interaction now we are meeting Ontari?

A) I’m excited and I’m also really scared because I just want people to remember that it is a character. I didn’t walk in there and choose to say and do these things. It’s a character that has been created and I am just trying to portray that person. It is totally separate from myself and I am a huge fan of Lexa. I have said that over and over again and it is the truth. I think that was such an incredible character and I think Alycia [Debnam-Carey] is mind-blowing. I can’t get enough of watching her stuff. I just want people to keep in mind that what Ontari does and says is not necessarily what I would do as an individual.

Q) What was it like for you watching the fight scene in the arena between Lexa and Roan?

A) It was so amazing and the craziest thing is that you just don’t know how many cuts have been made or when a stunt double comes in. On the day, Zach and Alycia [Debnam-Carey] did that fight from start to finish as the two of them literally all day. None of it was smoke and mirrors. It was all them! They were both incredible so it was an absolute pleasure to watch them. They did an amazing job and when the queen ends up dead, it’s still shocking even though you know what is coming. And Brenda [Strong] played such a good villain that if someone had to die that fans were okay with it was the queen and not Lexa.

Q) When I watched that scene I couldn’t help but cheer when the queen was killed. It was such an adrenaline rush during that scene because I was so immersed in what was happening.

A) Absolutely! I totally agree with you. I feel like after you watch an episode and it ends you feel like you were a part of it. I think that is really rare and very cool that they do that. I think credit goes to all of the effects department because they certainly do a good job of making you feel like you are in the show yourself.

Q) What do you hope fans focus on or keep in mind with regards to Ontari and the rest of the season?

A) I think sort of what I said before, that just when you are watching it to remember it is a character and not me. I’m just really sensitive and I know that if people start laying into me on Twitter, as a person I’m just going to feel really badly. And I don’t want that to happen and I certainly don’t want to have to step away from Twitter, because I think social media as a whole is amazing and it is so incredible to have direct contact with the people watching the show that you are on. I want to be a part of it and I just hope people don’t directly attack me as a person.

Q) What have you taken away from being a part of the show?

A) I think I took away a lot, but mainly it was amazing to watch this group of actors and I felt that each and every one of them genuinely wanted to be there and were so happy to be a part of it. They are so hardworking and talented. To be in the same room and watch them create the show was an absolutely privilege and was inspiring to me. I hope in the future to be a part of this show more or to go on to something and behave as they do because they are very great, talented people.