Nice Girls Exclusive: Katie McGrath Talks Merlin Season 3

During a recent phone conversation with NiceGirlsTV, Katie McGrath shared her insights about what it has been like to become the big, bad villain in the British fantasy series Merlin. Katie was quick to admit that it has been a challenge portraying such a morally complex character.

Katie added that, in fact, just about everything in portraying Morgana has been challenging; over the course of the past two seasons Morgana has essentially become an entirely different person. This has been both refreshing and daunting for Katie. She explained that the evolution between Season 1 and Season 3 has been so significant that the end result may be that fans no longer feel the same about Morgana. Long gone is the sweet king’s ward who was prim and proper. Morgana has come into her own. She is more confidant and relaxed with who she is. She has taken on a “I don’t need you all” attitude and exudes a more sassy and sexy persona, which Katie described as being more “girl power-esque.”

In addition to Morgana’s inner-growth, Katie has had fun adding a few physical changes as well, such as adding more hand gestures and gaining a rockin’ new wardrobe. Unlike the clunky, heavy armor that co-star Bradley James wears as Arthur, Morgana has been blessed with custom-fit body armor. It was molded specifically to be nearly a second skin on Katie, which allows her to move about with ease and grace.

While Katie admitted that she misses a bit of the old Morgana, such as her soft heartedness and gentle spirit, she feels that the fans will appreciate Morgana’s new-found strength and self-determination. There may be flashes of the former softer-side of Morgana, but really the third season is about Morgana becoming the villain of Arthurian lore. As a result of her time away from Uther and Camelot, Morgana has become a more confident and determined young woman who embraces her power and is not afraid to use it.

But Katie admitted to worrying how the fans will react to the new Morgana. She fears that the Merlin fan-base will cling to the image they grew attached to – when Morgana was a trusted-friend and ally of Arthur, Merlin and Gwen. Alas, as fans should know, that fate was not destined to be.

While undertaking Morgana’s transformation, Katie said that Tony Head was particularly supportive; and because so many of her onscreen scenes have been with Tony, he treats her almost paternally. He made an extra effort to make her scenes as easy as possible and Katie credited him as being very giving to work with. Another cast-member who Katie cites as having a big influence on her is Colin Morgan, who she said was “so bloody good” that he has upped her game – especially now that she has taken on the mantle of Morgana’s treachery.

Describing the new Morgana as “bad-ass,” Katie encourages fans to accept the darker side of Morgana and teased that fans should be pleased by how much more empowered Morgana is. Finally, Katie is particularly looking forward to the fans’ reactions after “The Tears of Uther Pendragon (part 2),” the season’s second episode, in which the depth of the new Morgana will be revealed.

Be sure to tune in for the return of Merlin Season 3 on Friday, January 7th at 10/9c on Syfy.