Thelma: An interview with Eili Harboe

Thelma is the chilling-yet-moving supernatural thriller from Norwegian director Joachim Trier. Eili Harboe plays Thelma, a biology student who has started university in Oslo against the wishes of her strict Christian parents and is testing the boundaries of her new-found freedom. However, after meeting classmate Anja (musician Kaya Wilkins), Thelma’s attraction to her awakens an explained power within her, and a past she had buried begins to resurface. Striking an enthralling balance between a coming-of-age drama, complex-female character study and suspenseful horror, Trier’s vision is stunningly executed with the help of a committed and arresting performance from Harboe.

We had the chance to sit down with the lead actress ahead of the UK premiere of Thelma to discuss what drew her to the role, how she prepared for the more challenging scenes such as feigning a psychogenic epileptic fit and her experience of working with Trier and Wilkins.

Sarah Bradbury
Video: Filippo L’Astorina/Marta Starczynowska

Thelma is released in select cinemas on 3^rd November 2017. Read our review here.