Oona Chaplin: I told James Cameron that I was living in a treehouse and starting a permaculture project with a friend'

"What ultimately brought Oona Chaplin, 39, and James Cameron together was something very different from the glitz of premieres, red carpets, or the machinery surrounding a blockbuster like Avatar. Or perhaps not so different, considering the unmistakable environmental message of the highest-grossing film franchise in history. We talked for about 40 minutes about the earth, says the Spanish actress over a video call. I told him I was living in a treehouse and starting a permaculture project with a friend."

"It's hard, even for one of the most admired filmmakers in the world, not to be captivated by the combination of talent, determination, and magnetism of an actress who, after her success on Game of Thrones, chose to step away from the noise to focus on her personal and intellectual journey. She is now a mother to a two-year-old daughter and returns with the serenity of someone who has lived many lives, ready to embody a villainess destined to make history."

"Very well. I've had a daughter, and I've been in full mom mode; I spend every day with her. We live in the countryside, in a community we've created with friends. There are lots of children running around, and we have chickens, hens We had lambs, but a puma ate them [laughs]. My life now is like a fairy tale. I feel at peace and ready to go back to work after three years."

Oona Chaplin bonded with James Cameron over shared environmental interests and permaculture, mentioning living in a treehouse and starting a permaculture project. Their conversation about soil, alfalfa, organic and biodynamic farming helped secure her role as the fearsome leader challenging the main clan in Avatar: Fire and Ash. Chaplin stepped away after Game of Thrones to pursue a personal and intellectual journey and became a mother to a two-year-old. She lives in a rural community with friends, children, and animals, feels at peace, and returns to acting with renewed serenity. She is part of the Chaplin film dynasty.

Read at english.elpais.com