As excitement builds for the fourth season of The Witcher, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the formidable Rats, a renegade crew central to the upcoming narrative, led by Christelle Elwin as Mistle. Known for her commanding performance in season three, Elwin is stepping back into a world of magic and monsters to continue Mistle’s captivating storyline. We had the opportunity to interview the actor about her on-set experience, the lasting rapport with her fellow ‘Rats’ actors, and the complex relationship dynamic between Mistle and Ciri. Elwin also shared insights into her broader career journey, including her dream roles and the best advice she’s received.
How did it feel to step back into the character of Mistle for season four? Did you find it easier or more challenging to reprise a role you’ve already established?
Reprising Mistle for season 4 felt like putting my favourite clothes on. Shout out to Lucinda because that is definitely one of my favourite costumes I’ve ever had for a character. Also, when you build genuine connections on set it is one of the most exciting things to get back to. It was easier in some ways because, I had grown as a person and an actor, experienced more but I’d also had time to live with Mistle already; develop her fighting style, her body movements, her core memories, the past that made her who she is. However, knowing I’d chosen to establish her in one way – that couldn’t really change, but it could evolve – making choices on how Mistle would react to new circumstances the script threw her into, was challenging. You know, sometimes you see the character in one way, but the script’s storyline forced me to see her different colours. Forced me to further open my imagination. Which was so much fun. I actually asked Freya [Allan, who plays Ciri] for a sit down chat to discuss how we would play with the development of this on-screen relationship, before prep. We did and it was one of the most helpful parts of the process and generous that she was willing to do that with me.
What new elements of Mistle’s personality or backstory do we get to see in the upcoming season?
In this season the viewers get to see Mistle’s more vulnerable side. We also get to kind of open her up and see so much more of the human that she is overall.
The dynamic between Mistle and Ciri is a major part of the storyline. How would you describe their relationship this season, and how has it evolved?
I’d say the relationship between Mistle and Ciri goes from being a fun, flirtatious, playful one in season 3 to, frankly, quite a deep and meaningful connection this season. It is delicate and dangerous, and hopefully we’ve encapsulated all sides that a relationship can have – especially a relationship in this world, and specifically between characters like these.
It’s funny because when Freya (Allen, who plays Ciri) and I talked about the books, Falka/Ciri doesn’t seem “nice” to Mistle, but Mistle is completely infatuated with this little falcon. Playing with exploring that dynamic really helped us discover moments to highlight in their relationship.
The Rats are a tight-knit and hardened group. Can you talk about the chemistry and rapport you share with the other actors who play the gang members?
What’s truly amazing is that I still hang out with most of the Rats. We built genuine friendships. There were a lot of laughs on set, and it was never a dull day when we all got to hang out. Each of their personalities definitely shines through in their characters, and I hope people get to enjoy that as much as I did.
What was the most challenging aspect of playing Mistle this season?
The most challenging aspect of playing Mistle, for me, is the mental imaging I have to strengthen around her dark past. I have to imagine these brutal things that happened to her and I have to physiologically go through it. I’m sure any actors who play characters with that kind of history will say the same. It’s tough, because you can’t really let that go until you’ve completed the project. Weird thing being an actor. All these memories that belong to you but don’t belong to you – always floating somewhere in your brain.
The Witcher fandom is incredibly passionate. What has been your experience with the fan community since your character’s introduction?
They’ve been cool for the most part. However, I had friends try to protect me from seeing that some fans can’t comprehend people of colour living in this fantasy magical world of fiction. Where literal monsters exist. I completely get they’re passionate and I hope they understand the creators and actors are just as passionate about telling the story.
I’ve received lovely comments I’ve responded to in the past but if the comments are too raunchy or if someone sends me a nude for example…I tend not to reply to those for obvious reasons. Sorry to the cheeky ones – you know who you are…
To be honest with you nothing phases me mentally with social media anymore and I tend to use it in a way that makes me happy rather than doing it to please, because of course it can get overwhelming – but I try to focus on staying present and connected to my reality and the internet trolls don’t affect me. It’s easy to block them if their online behaviour becomes aggressive. Which is a saving grace.
How did the transition to Liam Hemsworth as Geralt impact the atmosphere on set? Did you have an opportunity to work with him?
Liam had a mission of a task ahead of him, but he handled it. Big props to him. He always had a playful energy in conversation, but Mistle and Geralt’s storylines don’t cross so we didn’t get to work together.
What has it been like working on a production of this scale, especially returning for another season?
When I first stepped onto the set, I felt this huge pressure to prove myself, but a bit like everything you do; the more I stepped on that set the more it became familiar, smaller than what my mind had first imagined. Plus returning to the same crew and cast felt like a family away from home. Looking back, I realise I never felt lonely, everyone was so approachable and easy to talk to – it was a dream job.
What is your favorite memory or most memorable moment from filming season four?
My favourite memory. That’s actually difficult to answer, because I’d have to say when you’re basically getting to hang out with friends on set you build a lot of favourite memories, especially in between takes, being silly with cast and crew. Those greenroom tents hold a lot of fun secrets.
Your career includes diverse roles, from Bloods and Death in Paradise to the Royal Shakespeare Company. How has that varied experience informed your approach to playing Mistle?
I’ve been very lucky to be challenged in the way I have with the diverse roles I’ve gotten. They’ve definitely given me the confidence to keep being playful and trying new things with every new character. The approach just varies depending on the tone of the project. As long as I understand the tone of the project, I’m able to be creatively free in the process of curating a character. Each character has opened me up in different ways and taught me things about myself I wasn’t aware of, which is very helpful for playing future characters.
What’s your process for developing a character, especially one from a pre-existing story like The Witcher?
A crazy amount of research. The prep for each setting is very different for me, but for everything I do, the key for me is endless research. Stepping into a fantasy world can require a lot more prep time because there is so much to learn; how that specific fantasy world operates (which, a lot of the time, you can get from the source material), how my character navigates that world – what they know, what they don’t know, and of course the limitations my character is working with. So, Mistle is human in this magical, fantastical, war torn world full of surprises, meaning it informed my acting choices – like if I saw a monster – which I do – how am I as Mistle reacting, you know? Whereas contemporary worlds like Death in Paradise exist in the modern world which I have a preliminary basic understanding of (I hope) because I live in it, and the character is newborn, not based on a book. That presents its own challenges because you’re really creating this character from scratch and trying to not let too much of your current reality influence who this character really is.
But both require fun research into forming these people you get to play with as an actor.
Otherwise, it would be hard to find the full human you’re playing! Plus, I always keep in mind that you keep learning as a human all the time too and your character will also do the same.
Do you have any dream roles or future projects you’d like to pursue?
Yes. I’d love to do a biopic, and I’d love to play a dirty detective in a psychological thriller. Somebody who looks like they’re a bad egg on the outside but then we get to see their mushy, gooey insides. I’m also currently working on developing a couple film scripts I’ve written. I want to tell stories in all forms – maybe even music. The first thing I ever wrote was lyrics to songs I would make up melodies for.
As an actor, what is the best piece of advice you’ve received during your career?
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received as an actor was definitely in second year at drama school. A woman called Jane Bertish directed me in a Barker play, ‘Wounds to the Face’. She’d worked with Howard Barker previously, so I completely trusted the process. In the preliminary rehearsals she asked us to come in with the character partly prepared. That was our first time tackling absurdist text. I was so nervous and doubting my ability, but I came in and offered her a character. She said “Your instincts are good! Are you sure you’ve never done absurdism before? My only note to you is to go and make this stronger. Make those bold choices”. I was so fearful that I wasn’t receiving more direction but, in the end, I was praised extremely highly by my peers and course leaders for that performance. Jane’s advice was a game changer, hearing “your instincts are good” in your impressionable youth, from a pro in their field, really impacts you. It allowed the self-doubt to take a backseat, so I could fully trust my instincts. Thanks Jane!
Photographer: David Reiss
Stylist: Steven Huang
Hair and Makeup: Keriann London