‘Westworld’ Star Evan Rachel Wood Earns Second Emmy Nomination, Talks Performance As Dolores

Evan Rachel Wood is on the rise, and it is all thanks to her role as Dolores Abernathy in HBO’s hit sci-fi show, “Westworld.” Wood has earned her second Emmy nomination for playing the host who is sometimes a sweet rancher’s daughter and sometimes a cold-hearted killer named Wyatt.

In order to effectively play the role, Wood said she tried to piece together the secrets of the show, which creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy kept under wraps.

READ: Katja Herbers cast as series regular in ‘Westworld’ Season 2

According to her, everything changed when she realized that she is playing different timelines. “It was so nonchalant how I found out. It was around production of the third episode and I asked the question, ‘Why is this gun here?’ When I closed the door, it was gone. As an actor, I want to know what’s going on, it’s a legitimate question. Then somebody explained that it was part of a completely different timeline. I walked off the set and thought, ‘I don’t know anything. This show could be anything. My mind is completely blown,’” Wood told Deadline.

Wood said she channelled her confusion into the role, so she portrayed Dolores as someone who is on the brink of a mental breakdown. “It helped to inform my performance of this girl who is losing her mind, and that she doesn’t know what’s happening given the fact that she’s in multiple dimensions, living in the past, present and future,” she said.

Next season, Dolores is probably going to take charge and embrace her persona as Wyatt. However, that’s not going to be easy since lab technicians would do everything they can to wipe her memories clean.

Wood considered the idea, but told the Los Angeles Times that it seems unlikely writers would want to go down that path. “I seriously doubt that they’re gonna go back to doing what we were doing. I think they want every season to be different. And there’s endless possibilities. Because anybody can come back. You can be in any kind of world. You can be in any time. So who knows what they’re up to right now?” she said.

“Westworld” Season 2 premieres on HBO in 2018.