Elizabeth Dulau has enchanted audiences with her performance as Kleya. She has been stealing scenes as the assistant to Luthen Rael in the hit series Andor. The rebellion is spreading and quickly growing. As the title character, Dulau’s magnetic performance lays the eerie groundwork for a story that grows less predictable and even more suspenseful with each turn.
Dulau’s path to the role of Kleya was not a typical one. She joined the cast as a last-minute replacement after two other actors dropped out of the role. Casting director Nina Gold had a huge role in this casting choice, including saying of Jones, “She has no credit. This lack of acknowledgment prior to proved recognition notwithstanding, Dulau wasted no time in establishing herself an indispensable asset to the series.”
Writer creator Tony Gilroy had shared during a recent press event that Dulau is a recast from actor Alex Lawther. He said more than that Dulau just filled in, he filled the role—fulled it. It’s this complicated, layered casting history that makes her performance so incredible. The highly emotional show needs both the emotional complexity and the morally ambiguous character portrayal, and she excels in both.
Kleya has quickly evolved into a character whose mere presence can steal a scene, but rarely has an even bigger impression on viewers. Judging by the critics, she’s “stolen every single scene she’s been in. Dulau gives his lead hero a “steely gaze” that we’re told can penetrate even Darth Vader’s ominous death skull. This beguiling behavior that makes the character a memorable player amid the series’ sprawling and complex narrative helps explain the series’ overarching role.
To get ready for her starring role, Dulau flew in from Europe to memorize her lines at lightning speed. She didn’t rehearse the actual day of shooting—she wanted to maintain a spontaneous quality to her character. This approach is indicative of her greater commitment to authenticity in her performance writ large. Dulau lost herself in a colorful daydream, pretending she was a covert operative reporting on wartime activities in Nazi Germany. This fierce imagination helped her connect with the emotional depth of the occasion.
In one beautifully crafted moment, Kleya gets into an argument with Lonni (Robert Emms), her partner. United, they free a surveillance bugging device from Davo Sculdun’s art gallery. Tension mounts as Mon Mothma and Krennic’s conversation creeps towards the fore. Their conversation brings nuance to the event, making Dulau have to deal with that added complexity in real time.
Dulau worked very closely with the director Ariel Kleiman on figuring out how to tackle each moment because this was an arresting scene. The complexity of balancing her character’s thoughts and actions while maintaining focus amid distractions speaks volumes about her skill as an actress.
Tony Gilroy couldn’t say enough about Dulau’s performance, from her instantaneous inclusion in the ensemble to her extraordinary chops. He remarked, “She’s bulletproof. We do not have one bad minute of film on her anywhere. She’s like a Meryl Streep, natural, mind-blowing actor.” And for his part, Dulau’s boss Forbes is full of admiration for her innate talent. He’s a huge fan of her skills to get shit done even when everything is going wrong.
Aside from her great on-screen chemistry with Emms, Dulau was thankful for the creative atmosphere they all had while shooting. “I love Robert so much. We had a lot of fun working on this scene, and he was just so encouraging the whole time as well,” she noted.
The dialogue from the trailer encapsulates the urgency and intensity of Kleya’s character arc: “This is do or die.” And this sentiment echoes across the entire series, capturing exactly what’s at stake for her character and the larger story of the rebellion.
As Andor moves forward into its second season, Elizabeth Dulau’s Kleya will take center stage. She transforms from his dedicated assistant into a core part of the rebellion’s burgeoning movement forward. Her journey—from a last-minute addition to a breakout performer—proves just how unpredictable casting can be. It’s a reminder that no matter the circumstances, when talent can shine, it will shine brightly.
