Editorial: Cynthia Addai-Robinson is Commanding Presence

Vingt Sept
May 30
11 min read

Cynthia Addai-Robinson has quietly built a career defined by depth, range, and quiet resilience. From embodying mythic royalty in The Rings of Power to holding her own opposite action heavyweights in The Accountant, she has become a modern face of strength on screen, elegant, commanding, and always grounded in truth.

Now, as she reprises her role as Marybeth Medina in The Accountant 2, Addai-Robinson returns not only to a character but to a moment in her own creative evolution. Nearly a decade has passed since the original film, and with it comes a richer sense of self that informs her performance and presence. As she reflects on that journey with us, from training for high-octane fight scenes to navigating the symbolic weight of a queen’s armour, her voice is as thoughtful as it is powerful.

In this intimate conversation, Cynthia speaks to us about second chances, the transformative power of costume, and how a fuller life off-screen fuels the characters she brings to life.

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The Accountant 2 marks a powerful return for you and Ben Affleck. What felt different stepping back into Marybeth Medina's shoes nearly a decade later?

I still can’t believe how many years have passed since the first Accountant movie! It was such a big break for me, and I was definitely nervous going into it. Most of my scenes were opposite J.K. Simmons, and he’s such a phenomenal actor that I just wanted to rise to occasion and push myself as an actor. But that meant that in some ways, it was harder to be relaxed and enjoy myself more. Getting to be Marybeth Medina again was such a gift nine years later, because I feel more comfortable in my own skin in so many ways, and I got to give Marybeth a bit of that comfort too. And filming with everyone the second time around was not only rewarding in getting to work with such talented people, but I was able to feel more confident and relaxed and really have fun with it.

Gavin O’Connor is back at the helm for the film. How would you describe his directorial approach and the atmosphere he creates on set?

Gavin is an actor’s director and is super collaborative. He knows the script inside and out and has thought through every aspect of the story and character, but he also allows an ability for you to bring your thoughts and ideas to the table. The best collaborations are when you feel like there is a real mutual trust and respect for one another. I trusted Gavin’s clarity of vision and he created an environment where you feel secure in trying and discovering things that work, or don’t work, together. We had a lot of crew who worked on the first movie return to do the sequel and I think that is testament to Gavin’s passion for what he does.

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You've built such a layered career moving between fantasy, action, and drama. What drew you back to this particular world and Marybeth for the sequel?

I was excited to get the chance to revisit a character years later; this is the first time in my career that I’ve gotten to do that. But I didn’t necessarily know that the sequel was definitely happening, or that I would even get to be part of it. I had hoped so, but as the years passed, I had to set it aside in my mind and I've been lucky enough to have all these other wonderful opportunities in the meantime. When I finally got the call that the sequel was a go, I thought, “Maybe I’ll have a couple of nice little scenes and just pop up briefly”. And when I read the script, I was so happy to see that I wouldn’t just be passing through in the movie; that the story really centered on me finding the Accountant and recruiting him to help me. It was a big step up, and I’m so happy that they trusted me with taking Marybeth in a different direction from the first one.

Was there a moment during filming when you thought, “This is why I love what I do”?

So many moments! I genuinely had to pinch myself daily because I was having such a blast with an incredible group of people, and I knew I had to cherish each moment because before I knew it, it was done! But two specific moments come to mind: one, filming in various locations in Los Angeles. I have lived in LA for almost 20 years, and whenever there’s a chance to get to film at home, it makes me so happy. There’s nothing like filming on a street in the middle of the city, maybe a street you’ve driven by a hundred times, and then having the surreal Hollywood experience of being a character on that street.

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The other moment that just reminded me of how much I love being an actor was filming my big fight sequence with my co-star, Daniella Pineda. We had started training and learning the fight choreography before filming began and had a lot of time before we then got to film it. We shot it over two and a half intense days, but I love combining stunt skills with the acting that sets the stakes for the scenario. It was such a group effort with the stunt department, and never in my life did I think I’d get to do stunt work, so whenever I’ve been given the opportunity, I feel like a badass. And once it’s on film, it lives forever!

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has become a cultural landmark. How has embodying Queen Regent Míriel shaped you personally and professionally?

I’m so proud to be part of Rings of Power and getting the opportunity to introduce Middle Earth to new and old fans. I still can’t believe it’s been part of my life for the last five years; it’s been so much more than just portraying the character of Queen Miriel. I was cast in the middle of lockdown in 2020 and it has felt deeply personal during an intense few years in the world. The show has taken me all through Middle Earth and around the globe, and brought so many amazing experiences and friendships into my life. It has also been incredibly empowering to play a character that people look to for strength and guidance. I feel like I’ve brought a lot of myself to the role in terms of where my heart and mind have been over the years; and hopefully some of Miriel’s magic has rubbed off on me too.

The craftsmanship behind your costumes in The Rings of Power is extraordinary. Did wearing such intricate pieces change the way you inhabited Míriel?

Absolutely! There is all the work you do to understand the character internally; and then there are all the other collaborative artists that help you create the character externally, and costumes are a significant part of that. Everything we wear on the series is custom made, and we have so many skilled artisans that come together to create entire worlds with their craft. Whenever I put any one of my costumes on, it changes the way I carry myself, and people seem to even treat me differently when I walk on set in my wardrobe…it’s like the true power of clothes in real time! Costumes is usually the department I spend the most time with in the process, and we always have a fun time. I love that I essentially get to be their canvas.

Míriel stands out as both regal and battle-ready - a queen who leads from the front. How did you find her physicality, and what did you discover about yourself in the process?

The best character gives you the chance to play a duality: hard and soft, tough and vulnerable. In the first season, I wore lots of lavish gowns in fine fabrics, but I also had the most incredible golden armor and sun-spiked helmet. I didn’t get to wear my armor in season 2, but you can’t help but walk like a badass in armor. It took some getting used to, and I even remember the very first time I put the full armor on it felt so restrictive that I wasn’t sure I would make it! But I love the idea of both literal and figurative armor, what we put up in front of ourselves to protect ourselves from the world. Obviously clothes in general can very much serve that function: make us walk differently, feel differently, shield us, define us to others. Sometimes the most uncomfortable costumes are the ones that project a strength and tension that really work for the character and the moment. And how often, as an actress especially, do you get to wear armor? I love that I got to do that!

You’ve helped usher in a more inclusive Middle-earth. Do you feel a responsibility when it comes to representation, or do you focus solely on the character?

I think both things can be happening simultaneously; I feel the responsibility of representation, and so just my mere presence is already a statement. And I also approach a character with my interpretation and what I can uniquely bring, without the weight of anything irrelevant or external. I only know how to be myself, and being a person of colour in a historically non-diverse space is both significant in that it’s still a new thing to see on screen; and the natural progression of things. It’s certainly something that has been discussed and dissected many times over, which is the age we live in. But I’ve been fortunate to be encouraged to not live by the limitations of others, so I never thought that I couldn’t, wouldn’t or shouldn’t be part of that world or story. At the end of the day, I want the universality of the character and story to lead front and center; and I’m also proud to be reflective of people who look like me, and who want to see themselves in all types of stories and genres.

You've portrayed such a breadth of powerful women: warriors, agents, doctors, queens. Are there particular qualities you look for now when considering a role?

It’s funny, I never feel like I am seeking out a certain type of role. All of these roles have seemed to come to me at various times in my life. It’s been fascinating for me to have a sense of how people perceive me or what qualities people think I seem to possess. How I feel internally isn’t necessarily what all these characters are feeling or navigating in their lives. I wish I was fierce enough to be a warrior or a doctor! The perk of being an actor is that for a brief moment in time, you get to tap into some quality within yourself that works for that character in that story. You get to learn a special skill, or speak with authority on a topic, or take down the bad guy while an audience cheers. Ideally, there’s always some complexity and agency to the character; they aren’t just in service to a male character, or window dressing. I’ve been very lucky to have roles like that a few times, and it’s very difficult to do anything less once you’ve experienced that.

Your career has spanned network hits, epic franchises, and indie gems. What keeps you creatively inspired in an industry that can sometimes feel formulaic?

I think it’s very important to really live a full life outside of the business. It’s difficult to do that when it can be so up and down, and all-consuming at times. But in order to feel my most dialed in and creative, I have to take a big step back when I’m not working. My friends and family inspire me. My husband inspires me. Traveling the world inspires me. Nature inspires me. Other artistic disciplines inspire me. All these things not only inspire me, they restore me. They make me feel like a real person when I spend so much time in the skin and mind and heart of other characters. It can be easy to feel totally unmoored within the industry, especially in these uncertain times. I have to constantly check in with myself, reinvigorate myself, re-dedicate myself. It’s okay to remind yourself why you love something, because the definition can shift and change. And when I have a particular milestone or moment that matches the things I saw in my dreams as a kid, as a teen, like being on a set, or working with someone you admire…you have to savor those moments especially.

Having lived between London and Los Angeles, do you feel one city reflects your spirit more than the other, or are you a fusion of both?

I am a fusion of both, and so many other places! I was born in London, so when I live and work there, it feels like a full circle moment. I left when I was so young that I never imagined the role it would play in my adult life, so it feels very special to return there at this stage in my career. LA has become my home in so many ways; I’ve now lived there for almost 20 years, and the community of chosen family I've cultivated, the life I’ve carved out for myself, is so hard won and so beautiful. Over the last few years I’ve spent a lot of time away from LA, but when I’m away for too long, I miss it so much. But I’m definitely a product of so many other places in the world: Accra, the DC area, New York, Mexico, New Zealand…these are all places where I’ve spent formative years and have made me the person I am today.

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Off set, what’s something people might be surprised to learn that brings you the most joy?

Nowadays, I really try to find joy in the mundane: my husband bringing me coffee in the morning; a sunny day; a tasty meal with friends; a good laugh; driving and singing in the car with a good song; solving the Sunday New York Times crossword, ha! When the pandemic happened and a lot of those things were briefly taken away, I realised how those smaller things cumulatively made up some of my best days. So I really try to remember to relish them.

You've often played characters with intense resilience. In your own life, what’s been a defining moment where you had to summon that same strength?

I don’t know if it’s necessarily a single defining moment, but there have been so many times where I’ve had to do things in character fearlessly, that have scared me as a person. It is a constant test of confronting your fears and really approaching it with mind over matter. I’ve had weapons training and wielded swords and sniper rifles and handguns; I’ve filmed underwater; I’ve ridden helicopters to mountaintops; I’ve ridden horses. And these are all things that I would only do in service to a character and a good story. I’m not an adrenaline junky, and I’ve felt shaky and nervous in doing all of these things I would never voluntarily do otherwise. But I think it’s a great mental exercise as an adult to regularly do things that scare the shit out of you and surprise yourself in making it through. You can’t go on autopilot. You can’t hesitate. It’s such a visceral thing, to be that scared as an adult, and with preparation, and support and self-belief, just do it. It’s a great metaphor for life.

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As you look ahead - whether it's more fantasy, more action, or something entirely unexpected - what kind of stories do you dream of telling next?

I dream of telling my own stories. I dream of facilitating the stories of the talented people around me. I love acting so much, and it’s given me so much, but I also want to utilise other parts of my brain to tell stories: to produce them, to write them, to direct them. My husband is not only my life partner, but my creative partner as well, and we are excited to continue developing the projects we have, and showcase the talents of all the amazing people in our orbit. I also would love to find a project that is completely unexpected; I love subverting people’s expectations, as well as discovering something new about my own abilities.

Finally, in a career already filled with incredible chapters, what do you hope your legacy will one day be?

I would love to be remembered as the embodiment of all the incredible people who taught me, believed in me and supported me. And aspire to be for others, what so many people have been for me: a friend, a sister, a mentor. I just want to see good people win!

The Accountant 2 is out now