Gemma Chan is the main reason I started watching
Humans
when it premiered here. She immediately caught my attention in the previews (her obvious gorgeousness probably had something to do with that), but it was her performance as Anita in Season 1 that really impressed me. Along with Summer Glau and Alicia Vikander, Gemma is one of very few actresses who Ive felt really gets how to play a robot/robot-like character. Most seem to think that acting robotic means acting one-note and stiff (and I realise that might seem obvious), but I think that what the three actresses I mentioned brought to their roles was an underlying human quality. I think all three characters (Chans Anita from
Humans
, Glaus Cameron from
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
and Vikanders Ava from
Ex Machina
) gave off something more than just coldness/stiffness. The actresses portraying them added another layer (or twoor three) to their characters that made it clear there was something else going on underneath the surface.
I know that Anita is actually Mia and she has her own will now after the end of Season 1 (weve just started Season 2 here the last few weeks), but theres something about Gemmas performance when shes plb68aying Anita (ie. like all the other synths who havent been awakened) that I find absolutely enthralling. The way she talks ensures that Im always paying full attention whenever shes onscreen (whereas some of the other characters/storylines dont particularly hold my attention). I just find her absolutely fascinating to watch.
I was delighted to see her in
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
its just a shame she had such a minor part. Im hoping shell be more featured in the sequel.
Jack Sparrow:
"Look." [
shoots the monkey
] "An undead monkey! Top that!"

Both are terrific characters and she managed to make them distinct. I'm overjoyed that
Humans
is returning.