Stepping Into HBO’s Dune Universe with Sarah-Sofie Boussnina

Sarah-Sofie Boussnina continues to carve a distinctive path in film and television, taking on roles that span genres and eras. In the upcoming HBO series Dune: The Prophecy, she stars as Princess Ynez Corrino, heir to the Golden Lion Throne. Set 10,000 years before the events of Frank Herbert’s original Dune, the prequel explores the formation of the Imperium and the early roots of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. Ynez’s journey is a central thread in the series, as she strives to balance the immense responsibilities of leadership while pursuing training with the Sisterhood, aiming to become the first of their order to ascend the throne.

INTERVIEWS

Boussnina’s career has been marked by a thoughtful selection of roles, and her portrayal of Ynez further showcases her ability to bring complexity to ambitious characters. Beyond Dune: The Prophecy, she adds to her already diverse portfolio with roles such as Claudia in Terrence Malick’s The way of the wind and Narvik in Tim Fehlbaum’s The Colony.

In this exclusive interview for DSCENE Magazine with editor Anastasija Pavic, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina discusses the challenges of stepping into the Dune universe, balancing the weight of fan expectations with her own creative vision. She offers insight into her process and explores the deeper connections she finds with characters who feel isolated or misunderstood, revealing the thoughtful approach that defines her work.

What was it like stepping into the universe of DUNE as Princess Ynez, and how did you make the character your own within such a legendary franchise?

The DUNE universe has a rich history and a passionate fan base. Did you feel any pressure taking on this role?

If you could time travel to any era, which era would you choose?

I would love to visit New York in the 60s or early 70s, ever since I read Just Kids by Patti Smith, I’ve been thinking about how wild it must have been being around in that time. I love that book.

“I’m just a big fan of story telling, so for me it’s more down to the script and the characters than the genre.”

Do you find yourself drawn to characters with certain qualities?

I think in a way I’ve always been drawn towards characters who are being underestimated by their surroundings or who feel alone/isolated/misunderstood in some way. One of the films that made me want to become an actor was Tim Burtons ‘Edward Scissorhands’ – I think that says a lot. It’s still to this day one of my favorite films.

You’ve portrayed historical and biblical figures like Martha in Mary Magdalene. How does playing a character rooted in history differ from playing a fictional role?

There’s a lot of books to dive into when portraying a historical character, and I like reading to understand the time and how it must have felt living then. But I try to do that with all characters – try to understand how it is living their particular life, so maybe it doesn’t differ that much after all.

Danish television has played a significant role in your career. How do you feel Danish storytelling compares to working on international productions?

The biggest difference is the scale of the productions. In Denmark the budgets are obviously a lot lower and therefore everything is just smaller. But as an actor the work is pretty much the same.

“I’ve always been very hard on myself but you can be ambitious without being too hard on yourself.”

Your filmography spans across multiple genres, from historical dramas like Knightfall to thrillers like Black Lake. Is there a genre you’re drawn to the most?

That’s a tough question, I’m just a big fan of story telling, so for me it’s more down to the script and the characters than the genre.

What’s the most unexpected item you have in your bag or on set during filming?

I don’t think I have anything that unexpected, I wish I did!

What’s been the most rewarding part of your career so far?

Its rewarding getting to do what I love, travelling and working with people who inspire me.

What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

Be your own best friend, not enemy. I’ve always been very hard on myself but you can be ambitious without being too hard on yourself.