Yennefer might’ve only made her appearance in one of the three Witcher games, but it pretty much goes without saying at this point that she’s already established her place in the heart of Witcher fans all over the world. So, it also goes without saying that fans had extremely high expectations when it came to this character being represented in the Netflix series, and the backlash that came with the initial casting of Anya Chalotra as Yennefer was proof enough.
However, to Anya’s credit, not only did she manage to discard all this negativity and actually put in a solid performance, but she also exceeded the expectations set for this role and matched Henry Cavill’s masterful performance as Geralt of Rivia — if not becoming the highlight of the show herself. A large contributor to this excellent performance has to be the manner in which Chalotra has absolutely nailed Yennefer’s personality traits and quirks from the games. Here are 10 such mannerisms that Chalotra has successively adopted in her role.
10 The Pride She Exhibits Is Classic Yennefer
Making the transition from a hunchback farmhand to a beautiful sorceress is not a transition that most actors can carry out convincingly, but Chalotra has been excellent in exhibiting these classic traits of Yennefer.
Ever since she became a sorceress, Chalotra’s acting has been absolutely excellent, coming into her own with an excellent portrayal of Yennefer on the small screen.
9 She Shows A Sense Of Vulnerability That Has Always Been Present
No matter how different a person might be in the present, this doesn’t take away from the fact that one’s past always plays a major role in their lives. For Yennefer, this is especially true, given the fact that she was a hunchback who was sold by her father for a few gold coins.
This has always led to a situation where Yennefer can’t help but remember where she comes from at times — a reality that Chalotra has successfully managed to translate into her acting.
8 Regretting The Actions She’s Taken To Become Who She Is
In order to get rid of her life as a hunchback and transform her looks to get the things she wanted, Yennefer went through a magical procedure that required a sacrifice from her. This came in the form of her capacity to have a child, which was forfeit in her quest to attain beauty.
It’s a decision that seemed obvious to her at that point, but Yennefer slowly came to realize that giving up the capacity to bear a child would weigh more on her conscience than she initially realized. This regret is palpable in the series, in no small part due to Chalotra’s excellent acting.
7 Confused About Her Relationship With Geralt
Yennefer’s relationship with Geralt is one of the most unique dynamics we’ve ever witnessed in any story. While their love seems pure and genuine at surface level, the fact of the matter is that there are several complications that are present in this relationship — the biggest one being the fact that Geralt actually wished a Djinn to keep their fates bound.
It’s definitely a sneaky move, and Yennefer is incredibly conflicted as a result of this relationship’s nature. This confusion is showcased perfectly on the small screen, with Anya Chalotra putting all her acting chops to good use.
6 Dedicated When It Comes To The Responsibilities Assigned To Her
Yennefer is very goal-oriented, to the point where she overlooks anything small that is not related to the final goal that she wishes to achieve. While this dedication is a great quality to have, Yennefer loses some empathy for only caring about the end result and nothing else.
In fact, this dedication is so strong that Yennefer ends up doing some rather heinous things to accomplish whatever she wants to achieve.
5 A Manipulative Sorceress Who Does Everything Possible To Get Her Way
Yennefer’s goal-oriented approach might be admirable in some instances… but not when it jeopardizes the innocents and people around her.
Unfortunately, the raven-haired sorceress has constantly put other people in the line of fire while getting what she wants, which is quite despicable.
4 Is Ruthless In Achieving Her Goals And Leaves No Stone Unturned
In both the games and the Netflix series, Yennefer has constantly taken extreme steps to ensure that she gets what she wants. While one can understand why she’s committing such heinous acts, this still doesn’t take away from the fact that the means she’s employing to reach this end are quite… extreme, to say the least.
If there’s one particular character trait of Yennefer that Chalotra has successfully reflected in her acting, it’s this ruthless dedication to getting things done, regardless of the consequences.
3 Her Witty Quips And Comebacks
Yennefer is no stranger to good old-fashioned banter, using her silver tongue to dole out verbal jabs and quick-witted quips at a moment’s notice.
In the show, Chalotra handles moments like these with excellent grace and poise. She expertly delivers her dialogue with a deft and nuanced touch of elegance that has contributed to her becoming a fan-favorite character in the Netflix series.
2 A Dry Sense Of Humor That Becomes All Too Apparent At Times
Of course, Yennefer is not above engaging with people in surface-level conversations and injecting her own sense of humor into the fray — provided that she feels comfortable with these people (or at least, as comfortable as one can be in this situation).
In the show, Chalotra has absolutely nailed this dry sense of humor that Yennefer exhibits at times in the game, further adding weight to her performance.
1 A Remarkable Ability To Maintain A Facade, Whenever Required
Being a sorceress required one to adapt a facade that the person you’re working under to be comfortable. For the most part, most sorceresses are wily, selfish, and untrustworthy… but that is the last thing they want their employer to think of themselves.
Thus, Yennefer goes down the route of her fellow sorceresses and maintains a false image that is ideal for the nobility she’s working for — a reality that has been expertly showcased by Chalotra.
NEXT: The Witcher 3: 5 Video Game Protagonists Who Could Beat Yennefer In A Fight (& 5 Who Couldn’t)
