With Dune: Part Two’s success, Rebecca Ferguson’s filmography—which features a lead in a highly regarded sci-fi series currently airing on Apple TV+—has garnered more recognition. Yes, we are discussing Graham Yost’s science fiction dystopian drama TV series Silo. The Swedish actress expertly donned the role of Juliette Nichols, who is entangled in a web of mystery spanning the past and present.
Having said that, she obviously had to put in a lot of work to deliver a strong and complex performance. If you were to find out that she had “studied trauma” in order to assume this role, how would you respond? Well, she actually did this.
Critics gave the series favorable reviews, praising Ferguson’s performance and the production design. However, the actress has not gotten the recognition that her stellar performance so richly merits.
The Unrecognized Efforts of Rebecca Ferguson in Silo
In a world full of formulaic romantic comedies and overly sentimental action flicks, it is rare to see a performance that truly leaves an impression. A rare gem that has not gotten nearly enough credit is Rebecca Ferguson’s portrayal of Juliette Nichols in Silo.
To fully comprehend the complexities of her character, she dedicated months of study to the psychological effects of “trauma”. Last year, the Stockholm-born actress, 40, gave RadioTimes an inside look at her Silo role preparation:
“I like finding the depths that are dark and the fact that she was so riddled with trauma and it was sedimented trauma. I studied trauma for the role and how expressive, or non-communicative, those people become because they’re so locked in their own grief. That, for me, was one of the biggest drives for her… of embodying trauma, like how does it show on your body?”
The end result is a hauntingly realistic portrayal of a woman attempting to overcome her past traumas while navigating a dangerous and unforgiving environment. Ferguson’s performance is raw, visceral, and completely captivating, grabbing the audience’s attention and refusing to let go until the credits roll.
Also starring David Oyelowo, Common, and Rashida Jones, the series, which is based on Hugh Howey’s novels (Silo trilogy), follows the people living in a dystopian underground silo.
The Underrated Brilliance of Rebecca Ferguson in Silo
After Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2, you can watch the Silo series on Apple TV+ to see Rebecca Ferguson’s mastery of yet another science fiction adaptation. The 2023 premiere of the episode show has an incredible ‘Certified Fresh’ 88% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
So what are critics saying about Graham Yost’s show?
The show was praised by Vanity Fair as a “feat of production design”, with the addition that Ferguson, in all her “stern command”, gives the series the necessary weight. However, according to CNN, “inherent mystery […] feels stretched to the point of strained, exacerbated by characters” that rarely make sense.
Meanwhile, the world-building and the Dune actress’ performance were commended by THR, but the outlet took issue with Common’s performance, calling the rapper “the weak link in the cast”.
Needless to say, Ferguson threw herself into the role, even “embodying trauma” to fully inhabit the character. Regardless, her performance in Silo has not gotten enough attention that it actually deserved. So, the next time you’re flicking through your streaming queue while searching for something a bit different, do yourself a favor and give Silo a whirl.
You can stream Silo on Apple TV Plus. Also, Dune can be streamed on Hulu while Dune: Part Two is now available in theaters.
