64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes follows a young Coriolanus as he unites with Lucy Gray Baird in the 10th Hunger Games, and battles his instincts for both good and evil.
The movie, which is now available to purchase on digital before hitting Blu-ray later this month, features over two-and-a-half-hours of special features.
In recent weeks, we've caught up with the cast and are kicking off that series of conversations with Ashley Liao (Secret Society of Second-Born Royals) for an in-depth exploration of her role as Clemensia Dovecote.
A resident of the Capitol and a student of the Academy, the booksmart Clemensia is among those selected to be a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games. In this conversation, we hear from Ashley about the experience of shooting The Hunger Games prequel, what she learned from director Francis Lawrence and her co-stars, and how she believes Clemensia would fare in the Games.
We also get into spoiler territory when Ashley talks us through that shocking scene with Volumnia Gaul's (Viola Davis) snakes and how it felt to leave the character behind a little sooner than what we saw in the book. The actress also expresses an interest in one day joining a Marvel or DC property!
You can check out the full interview in the player below.
This is a great role, but I have to ask: were you even a little bit disappointed that you wouldn’t actually get to take part in the Hunger Games?
Hmm, part of me would have loved to get into the nitty-gritty of doing my own stunts. I know Rachel [Zegler] did most of her own and that’s so impressive. I did only one or two days of me falling onto a mat [Laughs]. I’d have loved to do that and some martial arts training. I have my black belt so I’d love to get into a fistfight, but no, I’m thankful Clemensia is safe in the Capitol! I do have to say that [Laughs].
You don’t get to go into the arena, but you do have that fantastic scene with the snakes. Can you talk us through shooting that?
I don’t know how to explain to my friends what it’s like just pretending you’re holding a snake and it’s slithering through your fingers and then biting you. I mean, Viola [Davis] made it easy. When you enter into a scene with two classically trained actors from Juilliard, it’s very easy to slip right into it and make it come to life.
Viola is incredible but did you learn anything from her during those scenes? [Volumnia Gaul is] such a unique character in this film.
Yeah. Between some of those takes that day when it was just Tom Blyth and Viola Davis and me, it was very intimate and I really got to know them. She gave me advice about her time at Juilliard and, when you’ve got someone like that giving you advice, I’m just thinking, ‘How do I take notes in my brain? I need to never ever forget these. Ever.’ I’m incredibly lucky and very, very grateful.
Did you and Tom get much time to discuss the dynamic between Clemensia and Tom given that there’s a friendship and rivalry between them?
I think that’s something which was really surprising to me. Between my initial thought for that scene when she enters and it’s Reaping Day and for what Clemensia’s motives were and what Francis [Lawrence’s] were. He kept giving me these notes and was like, ‘Can you be more flirty?’ I said, ‘Flirty? What do you mean, flirty?’ He said, ‘Just a little more’ and I was like, ‘Okay!’ [Laughs] Me and Tom were just standing there grinning! I think she and Snow have a very layered, complex relationship.
And with Francis Lawrence coming back to direct this movie, how was it working with him as he returned to the series he put on the map?
I tried really hard not to fangirl, put it that way! I started there. I’m a huge fan of Catching Fire and think I saw it eight times last year [Laughs]. It’s my comfort movie. I told him how much I adore his work and the way he brings it to life. He brought Trish Summerville, our costume designer, back for this film…I think she just absolutely killed it. The world felt so real when we were on set.
Clemensia in the books…well, we see a little more of her. She comes back after the snake bite and is almost transformed into a snake-like creature. Was it ever discussed for the film or was there just not room for it?
You know, it’s such a dense book and such a dense film to begin with. I would have loved to sit in that hair and makeup chair for hours on end to see the magic come to fruition, I will say that. There’s always room for more. This is the world of sci-fi. Anything can happen!
On the plus side, I guess it leaves the door open to you returning if they ever make a sequel?
I would love to see it. In a heartbeat!
I’ve read you’re a big fan of the books and films, so did you delve into those to prepare or was it more helpful to stick to what you had in the script?
I think for the tone, it was really important for me to rewatch the films. It was also important for me to read the book. I had scenes highlighted in that and the script so I could see what was going on in real time. It was very cool. I said, ‘Wow, this is worth the work. This is great.’ I read the book and it gave me such a broad perspective of Clemensia. You may not hear some of the background noise or chatter in certain scenes, but based on the script and what the book called for, that chatter was happening. That’s something you might not know was happening but it was!
Having played this character, you probably know her best. Given how murky this world of The Hunger Games is, where do you think she falls between good guy and bad guy?
You know, I think Clemensia has a good heart. She might be a little power hungry but, at the end of the day, Snow is more power-hungry [Laughs]. For Capitol standards, she’s fantastic.
As a viewer, it’s so hard to tell what’s real and what’s CG in a world as expansive and immersive as this. Was there a lot of green screen or did you find yourself exploring those real sets?
Not at all! I was so surprised. I think that’s one of the things I loved about Francis’ attention to detail as a director. He knew what it meant to make sure his actors gave the best reaction possible. On Reaping Day, we’re staring at these scenes which, in the film, show scenes happening in real-time. They actually filmed all of that previously, so we were reacting to real content! All the screens you see were just iPads or television screens which were projecting actual film footage. It was incredible. I didn’t see a lot of blue screen until I came to that overhead shot of my hand going into the terrarium with the snakes. That was the only time I saw it and said, ‘Huh, that’s blue.’ The rest of it was real and we had these incredible, beautiful, monumental and grand sets to work on.
How about the costumes? Were those a fun part of bringing this character to life?
Oh my goodness, absolutely. I literally have a sticker of me as Clemensia which was drawn by a fan and the dress I got to wear with the ponytail…I think about it all the time. The shoes, you can’t see too much, but she’s wearing these beautiful Jeffrey Campbell-like studded rhinestone shoes and I felt so cool walking around in that outfit. So much cooler than when I left and I was in my pyjamas again!
You mention the fans and this franchise has a seriously passionate fanbase. What’s it been like to be embraced by them? I’ve seen nothing but good things said about your performance and character but you must have been feeling the pressure early on, right?
Oh, absolutely. Something I was most nervous about is that I know how dedicated the fans are and they make up such a big reason and part of why this world is so big and so real. I’m immensely grateful. I opened up my social media to the kindest of messages and it warms my heart. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.
You’ve had a taste of a huge franchise with The Hunger Games, but what about Marvel and DC? Could something like that be next for you?
I mean, if you know people, you can give them my contact any day! At the drop of the hat, let them know. I will do my own stunts. I have my black belt in tae kwon do, I got bo staff [training]. What do you want? I’ve got it! [Laughs] Especially after watching Rachel do most of her own stunts for this film, I am in awe of that and would love to take on the physical challenge as well. I think it’s one thing to be an actor and be in a film, but it’s another thing to take that one as well as the physicality. I’m down for the challenge!
Finally, we see in the film that the different participants have very different strategies. How do you think Clemensia would fare and what do you reckon her strategy would be?
That’s a great question! I don’t know if Clemensia would ever have to think about being in the Hunger Games, so let me put myself in her brain for a second and really think about it. I would like to think she’s very clever and would make it to at least the top 10 in one way or the other, definitely building on the teamwork. Charm is very important to her so I could see her joining up with a group and being comic relief. I hope not, though, as I’d like them to keep her around [Laughs].
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is available to purchase on digital on January 30 and on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on February 13.