As the Dune universe expands with HBO’s new series, Dune: Prophecy, focus shifts to the intricate dynamics of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. Aoife Hinds, who portrays the enigmatic Sister Emeline, sheds light on the deeper significance of her character’s seemingly simple costume.
The inaugural season of Dune: Prophecy is approaching its conclusion, with the sixth and final episode airing on Sunday, December 22. Ahead of this exciting finale, Aoife Hinds sat down for an engaging conversation with The Mary Sue, where she explored themes of sisterhood and how her character’s attire has influenced her performance.
Sister Emeline’s Costume: A “Blank Canvas” for Performance
A character’s attire often reflects their identity, and Sister Emeline’s understated uniform in Dune: Prophecy serves this purpose well. Unlike the ornate robes and armor typical of the Dune cinematic universe, Hinds believes that the simplicity of her costume enhances its significance. By not drawing attention to herself, Sister Emeline can subtly navigate the intricacies of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, masking her true motivations in the quest to become a Reverend Mother.
“The first time I try on the costume … you stand a different way. It makes you feel a different way. And those things will then feed into how—like, automatically naturally—how the character feels. And I think that’s exactly the little individualities within, even, we can say it’s kind of like this blank canvas, but it means that every little decision … it just makes it a little bit stronger, a little bit more meaningful. Because you don’t have the exuberant kind of costumes that your character is expressing themselves through. So it really just kind of makes [you] zone in and strip it all down to the essential of what your character, who your character is.”
Throughout this season, we’ve witnessed Sister Emeline confront her internal struggles, particularly in the pivotal episode “Twice Born.”Without divulging spoilers, it is evident that Sister Emeline harbors a concealed agenda, compelling her to blend in seamlessly among the Bene Gesserit. Her plain uniform effectively acts as a disguise, allowing viewers to focus on her motives rather than her appearance.
Sister Emeline remains one of the most enigmatic characters in Dune: Prophecy, differing greatly from her more elaborately dressed counterparts. As the season unfolds, numerous questions linger regarding her journey: Is she aware of Sister Lila’s (Chloe Lea) survival? Will Lila’s haunting visions materialize? How does Emeline grapple with the controversial Thinking Machine technology and her path toward religious extremism?
With the thrilling conclusion of season one just around the corner, fans eagerly await answers to these tantalizing mysteries when Dune: Prophecy concludes on December 22, available exclusively on HBO and Max.
Leave a Reply