Blazer: Jean Paul Gaultier Femme @ Azura Archive, @ Azura Archive, Tights: stylist’s own, Jewellery Phia’s own
Phia Saban
in
HBO series
House of the Dragon
Photography | Rhys Frampton
Creative Director | Deborah Ferguson
Interview | Laasya Gadiyaram
As Helaena Targaryen, in HBO series House of The Dragon, Phia Saban has amazed audiences worldwide. Transitioning from theater into television, Saban has expertly navigated the nuances of her craft, developing a complex character and an enthralling narrative. We discuss her experiences with the series, her inspirations in acting, and other genres she’d like to explore!
Pinstripe Dress Kenzo F24, Boots Stella McCartney PF24, Tights stylist’s own, Jewellery Phia’s own
LG: Congratulations on House of the Dragon! How has the process been so far?
PS: Thank you! It’s a cool thing. When we’re working on it we’re in our own little microcosm with each other and those characters, and now it’s coming out and we’re seeing it all link up and become something else. It’s very new to me. Acting on screen still feels very new to me. I am so lucky to get to work with this group of people, they are so clever and loving. Recently we’ve been promoting the show and have been asked for opinions and explanations about our characters and the story. I’ve found it a new and funny facet of the job, to be asked sometimes to represent myself and speak from the character and for the bigger picture. It can feel different from acting, where you engage with the contradictions and spend more time with the mystery and the magic than the answers. I guess I’m saying that I’ve found this process contains multitudes. And watching the show is surreal—there are all my pals in wigs!
Dress: Simone Rocha @ Azura Archive, Top: Ottolinger @ Azura Archive, Tights stylist’s own, Jewelry Phia’s own
Blazer: Jean Paul Gaultier Femme @ Azura Archive, Mules Prada @ Azura Archive, Tights: stylist’s own, Jewellery Phia’s own
LG: Many die-hard Game of Thrones fans have read the book series and anticipate plot points in the television series. How do you provide a fresh take on familiar material?
PS: It’s major to be part of something that people already feel passionate about, but it’s also exciting to have the chance to subvert expectations. It’s fun to make up little secrets that only you know about. As a viewer, I always like to be surprised anyway. I think it’s important (and fun) to have some irreverence for the genre so that you’re not patronizing your audience. The hope is to be part of something that challenges people!
Dress , Coat & Boots: Stella McCartney PF24, Tights stylist’s own, Jewellery Phia’s own
LG: You’ve found success in the fantasy and dramatic genres. Are there any other genres you’d like to explore?
PS: Yes! I miss being in plays so much. I cannot wait to be in the theater again. I’ve never been in a film, I’d love to make an independent one. Oh! To be in something people call a ‘picture’! Recently I’ve been fantasizing about learning motion-capture and playing some sort of animal or creature. I’d love to be part of a suburban coming-of-age film, like the ones I obsessed over growing up. I’d like to do a great limited series, an intense crime one. And I could narrowly avoid being eaten by a shark, or an alien. I have dreams of doing a time-spanning project. I’d like to be the voice of an animation! I‘d love to have a go at the present day. And maybe a dystopian future. And a Western? I always want to do something funny. And strange. There are so many TA and filmmakers I admire (I won’t list them but they’re always being lovingly scribbled in my notebook. I’ll learn Norwegian and French for them!) I’m excited to keep finding new people too. More than all these, there are so many more things I hope to do, if I’m lucky. Not that I give it much thought or anything…
Blazer: Jean Paul Gaultier Femme @ Azura Archive, Mules Prada @ Azura Archive, Tights: stylist’s own, Jewellery Phia’s own
Coat: Stella McCartney PF24, Jewellery Phia’s own
LG: Even though House of the Dragon is a fantasy, has your real life inspired your approach to your character in any way?
PS: Sometimes a character can be an expansion pack for your real life, like a new way to see things. So maybe it’s more that the fantasy inspires your real life! It’s been really fun to explore Helaena’s interests. I’ve thought quite a lot about bugs. I get a huge kick out of investigating how her mind works and finding all the ways her’s overlaps with mine. I do lots of people-watching, which is great because now when I’m staring at people on the bus I can tell myself that I’m ‘working’.
Dress: Simone Rocha @ Azura Archive, Top: Ottolinger @ Azura Archive, Tights stylist’s own, Jewelry Phia’s own
LG: While fantasy can seem untethered from reality, do you think it can reflect the real world?
PS: Haha I hope so, otherwise that would be boring! I suppose these stories are full of archetypes, which should mirror universal truths. But maybe that’s just good TV?
Dress & Knit Skirt Kenzo F24, Shoes Prada @ Azura Archive, Tights stylist’s own, Jewellery Phia’s own
LG: What types of narratives do you find yourself drawn towards when reading scripts and choosing roles?
PS: Something surprising and honest that doesn’t tell me what to think! And I love it when a script lets sad things be funny.
Pinstripe Dress Kenzo F24, Boots Stella McCartney PF24, Tights stylist’s own, Jewellery Phia’s own
LG: What inspires you as an actor?
PS: Other actors, a lot. On a good day, almost everything can… that might be one of the best things about being an actor.
Dress & Coat : Stella McCartney PF24,
Blazer: Jean Paul Gaultier Femme @ Azura Archive, Mules Prada @ Azura Archive, Tights: stylist’s own, Jewellery Phia’s own
Blazer: Jean Paul Gaultier Femme @ Azura Archive, Tights: stylist’s own, Jewellery Phia’s own