We caught up with the actress known for playing the role of Gaal Dornick in Apple TV+'s lavish sci-fi series to learn more about how she continues to develop and grow the character now that the show is into its third chapter.

Published 2025-07-07 08:00

"Well, first of all, before we get going, Lou, thank you for spending some time with me today.
It's a pleasure being here.
So, yeah, Foundation Season 3 is almost here."

"And now that we're in this third season of Foundation, Lou, how has that changed how you go about tackling the character of Gaal Dornick?
How has that past experience fed into how you go about making this character and portraying her in the show?
I mean, Gaal has evolved in front of our eyes."

"She's grown up and it was really fun to be able to tell her story from the beginning until now and to see that change and to actively want to portray her now and in a believable way as this newfound leader and having this newfound confidence and just honing in, you know, what is being expected of her and really just sitting in her space and really holding that."

"It's great to have the opportunity.
Playing Gaal Dornick is quite an interesting character in Foundation because you're kind of one of two of the only characters that are the same person as they started as."

"Everyone else has kind of, I guess, been cloned or something, hasn't they?
So how does that change how you go about playing Gaal then, knowing that, effectively, you're the same person that you started with in a universe or in a timeline where everyone else is completely different?
I think it makes her stand out a little bit."

"I think it's really interesting that all these other people change and evolve and, you know, live and die and all these things, and she has lived through all of that and that's like a special thing that she's got."

"And it's amazing because it's kind of...
I wouldn't say easier, but my story starts in season one and it continues the whole way through."

"Like, the arc is only just kicking off now.
And it's a long arc in comparison to a lot of other people.
Do you feel any pressure at all knowing that now, you know, Gaal is the leader of the Second Foundation, you know, stepping out of Harry Selden's shadow?
Does that impact any way that you sort of go into playing the character?
Yeah, I mean, I think Gaal feels the same."

"I mean, the whole world is on her shoulders and she's doing this on behalf of a load of people and she is doing her best and her best might not always be the best, but she's going to try."

"And you kind of see the other side of Gaal this season.
You see a little bit of darkness, a little bit edgier, a little bit of her making mistakes sometimes as well because you don't get to see any of that up until now."

"And it's interesting, it makes her a bit more well-rounded.
Now, the Mule is obviously the big focus of this season, Gaal's big match-up against this sort of almost larger-than-life character that's been foreshadowed for, well, since season two."

"When you finally got to meet the Mule, when you finally got to meet Peeloo's version of the character, how did that feel?
How did that change how you went into approaching this sort of narrative thread that you're following in season three?
I mean, it's so hard not to like him."

"Because even Peeloo's iteration of this character, he's so charismatic, but evil and dark and twisted at the same time.
And it's this weird... Like, he just does that so well."

"But it's also a relief because it's this thing that she's had looming over her for the longest time.
And, you know, she's finally getting to face it.
And for her, once this is over, she can then move on, right?
Like, this is the one thing that's going to save humanity."

"This is the one thing that's going to fix everything for her.
So, yeah, there's a sense of relief, for sure.
Now, Gale Dornick in the Foundation books is a very different beast to the one that you play."

"How did that, you know...
Looking at that character, do you have any idea as to how much further the character's going to go in the Foundation series?
Do you have an idea of what the future holds for Gale yet?
No idea."

"But I hope that she continues to get to tell the story and I hope we get to see the end.
You know what I mean?
Because Gale, it feels like it's just kicking off."

"It feels like we've established everything else in season one and two and she's really just hitting her stride.
So, hopefully, we'll get to finish her story."

"As a final question, then, Gale...
Lou, sorry.
It's OK, we're the same. One and the same. It's all good.
One and the same, exactly."

"As a final question, then, what's one part of Foundation season three that you're really excited for fans to experience for themselves?
That there's a lot of unexpected things that happen."

"And I think that's really exciting.
We get lots of, like, twists and turns and we haven't gotten a chance to do that.
I think it's quite shocking, this season, and it's exciting."

"I mean, I watched it and I knew what was going to happen and still I was like...
So, yeah, I think that's going to be great.
I hope it goes down as good as I feel it does."

"Well, thank you very much, Lou. It's been an absolute pleasure speaking to you."