Robert Strange on That Chilling Wheel of Time Moment: ‘He Wouldn’t Look at Me Until the First Take’

The Wheel of Time Season 3 has brought many big moments, but one of the most shocking was the reveal of the Eelfinn—an eerie, otherworldly creature played by creature actor Robert Strange.

The Eelfinn appears in a scene with Mat Cauthon (played by Dónal Finn) that changes the character forever. With its haunting design and mysterious nature, this new creature is already a fan favorite.

In an interview, Strange talked about what it was like to bring this spooky character to life—and why his scene partner didn’t want to look at him before filming. “He didn’t want to look at me until the first take,” Strange revealed. “That moment of reveal was very important for the scene, so we kept it fresh.”

Strange explained that he had to keep his role a secret for a long time.

“We filmed it in 2023,” he said. “It was a very special character and moment, especially for fans of the books and Mat’s story. So, hush hush.”

Even during auditions, he didn’t know which role he was playing. Everything was kept under code names.

“I didn’t know. The casting was all under a secret codename,” Strange shared. “All I was told was that they were proud, powerful, poised beings.”

Once he got the part, he read the scenes from the books where the Eelfinn appear. He tried to bring their trickiness and alien feel to life in the show.

“They should feel alien… not even of this world,” he said. “The book gave me the language, the power, the trickery. It was all there.”

Playing the Eelfinn wasn’t just about acting, it involved hours of makeup and costume work. Strange is known for his work in prosthetics, and this role was one of the most intense.

“I got picked up at 2:20 in the morning and got back at 10:30 p.m.,” he said. “We shot the whole thing in one day.”

To look like a fox-like being, the makeup team used a special technique called “flocking,” which covered Strange’s body in fur.

“They spray little hairs on you with a gun,” he explained. “It gave me this full pelt, like animal skin. I’d never had that before.”

The face had prosthetics, plus contact lenses, fake teeth, and a wig. The costume was just as detailed. Strange wore tall white boots with hooves, and the outfit looked like it was made of human skin.

“The boots had a seven-inch heel with no heel,” he said. “They were painful, but I loved them.”

One of the creepiest parts? The back of the costume was decorated with fake noses, ears, and mouths—collected from unlucky victims, according to the show’s lore.

Even though the Eelfinn is only on screen for a short time, the moment is unforgettable. It shows how far Mat’s story has come—and how much stranger The Wheel of Time is becoming.

Strange, who has played many creatures in shows like Penny Dreadful and The Rings of Power, said this role is one of the most special.

“I’ve done 12 years of playing creatures,” he said. “But this one really stands out.”

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