From Philosophy Tube to Westeros: Abigail Thorn’s Rise as a Scene-Stealing Star
Abigail Thorn’s captivating journey from YouTube philosopher to in-demand actress has reached new heights, wiht standout roles in House of the Dragon and Star Wars: The Acolyte solidifying her status as a versatile and compelling performer. Thirteen years ago, Thorn began posting videos online, starting with a four-and-a-half-minute exploration of Descartes’s famous quote, “I think, therefore I am.” This initial foray into digital content creation blossomed into Philosophy Tube, a youtube channel now boasting 1.6 million followers, drawn to Thorn’s accessible and engaging philosophical discussions.
Thorn’s recent success extends beyond the digital realm.Her portrayal of Sharako Lohar, a Triarchy fleet leader in House of the Dragon, introduced her to a wider audience, showcasing a different facet of her talent. Introduced towards the end of season two, Sharako quickly became a fan favorite, known for her commanding presence, unapologetic sexuality, and fearless demeanor. A defining moment for the character – and a viral sensation – was her audacious proposal to Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) to “sleep with her wives.”
“I was really pleasantly surprised by the reception that Sharako got,” thorn shared in an exclusive interview. “It’s so nice.House of the Dragon fans are fantastic, lovely people, and I knew that I would only have a short time with Sharako in terms of the whole arc of the show. So I really thought, ‘Okay, I’m going to swing for the fences, and I’m going to do my best with this.'” She described the character as a “breath of fresh air,” distinct from others in the series, and expressed immense enjoyment in bringing her to life.
The actress playfully recounted the keen reactions from fans,even recreating the iconic line for those who didn’t immediately recognize her. “Sometimes people come up to me,and they’re like,’Have I seen you on something?’ I’m like,’Oh,you know,House of the Dragon.’ And they’re like,’I love that show,who are you in that?’ Because I look a little bit different. Sometimes I lean in and just say, ‘I want you to f**k my wives,’ and hope that they recognise it!”
Thorn’s momentum continues with roles in major franchises, including Ensign Eurus in the 2024 Star Wars series, the Acolyte. She also revealed she spent last summer preparing for a “Big Unnamed Action Project,” undergoing rigorous stunt training that left her in impressive physical shape. “I’m going to keep this muscle, as those are the kind of roles I want to play,” she stated, referencing action icons like Sigourney weaver.
Thorn is also returning to the stage in Blink,a new play exploring the emotional landscape of online relationships. The play, written by Penelope Skinner, delves into the complexities of digital connection, moving beyond superficial representations of the internet to explore the emotional complexities of digital relationships. “There’s been a lot of plays,certainly over the last few decades,that have attempted to put the internet on stage,and many of them don’t quite work,” she saeid. “They try to create a physical architecture on a stage that represents the physical architecture of the Internet, rather than the relationships and the emotional aspects of digital relationships. I think that is what Blink does.” She reiterated,”It’s easier to talk to a camera than with a human being,and that’s exactly what Sophie experiences. It’s easier for her to live her entire life if she knows there’s somebody watching, she so desperately wants to be seen.”
Blink runs at King’s Head Theatre, London from February 19th to March 22nd. Tickets are available here.House of the Dragon returns later this year on Sky and NOW.
