IN CONVERSATION WITH SANDRA YI SENCINDIVER

interview by JANA LETONJA

Korean-American-Danish actress Sandra Yi Sencindiver has been captivating audiences across genres, from her powerful role as Enjoiner Rue in Apple TV+’s ‘Foundation’, to her regal turn as Lady Amalisa in Amazon’s ‘The Wheel of Time’, and her heartfelt performance in Netflix’s ‘Geek Girl’. Most recently, we’ve been able to watch her as Yutani in FX’s ‘Alien: Earth’, the latest installment in Ridley Scott’s legendary sci-fi franchise. Beyond the screen, Sandra is also a filmmaker and activist. Her short film ‘Seeking Hwa Sun’ has earned critical acclaim and was nominated for a Robert, (a Danish Academy Award), while her advocacy work, including co-founding the viral campaign A Bigger Picture, which challenged Denmark’s lack of diversity in casting, cemented her as a fearless voice for change. 

suit and tie worn as bandeau EMPORIO ARMANI
earrings and choker SWAROVSKI
heels GUCCI
rings NINNA YORK
tights FALKE

‘Alien: Earth’ has taken the world by storm. What has it been like to see this level of reaction from fans and critics?

The most important part of what we do is tell a story worth watching, and seeing it received so enthusiastically by both critics and audiences is incredibly satisfying. I’ve had the bubbliest summer. I love watching how much passion fans pour into this franchise, the die-hard lovers and even the few who wish it had gone another way. It’s all so passionate and obsessive, and I adore that.

The ‘Alien’ franchise has an incredible history, and your character, Yutani, carries a legacy that fans have speculated about for decades. How did it feel to finally give that name a face and a story?

Even though I grew up watching ‘Alien’ on repeat, I didn’t quite grasp how big a legacy I was stepping into by giving Yutani a face and body, even though my castmates tried to warn me how iconic “the Company” really is. Yutani doesn’t appear on screen that much, so I didn’t feel like I was stepping into shoes too big to fill. Mostly, I just felt honored to be a small part of such a beloved franchise, surrounded by an incredible creative team, cast, and crew. And honestly, it’s a bucket-list moment to join something you loved as a kid.

pantsuit REBECCA VALLANCE
earrings SWAROVSKI
rings NINNA YORK
gloves STYLIST’S OWN

What drew you to Noah Hawley’s vision of this universe, and what was it like working under the creative umbrella of Ridley Scott?

This franchise is legendary. Smart, thrilling, horrifying, and deeply entertaining. Every creative wants to live under that umbrella. And Noah Hawley is one of the sharpest, most original voices working today. Just receiving the audition scenes, I was hooked. There’s nothing better than an excellent text, when the writing works for you, informs you, inspires you. It feels like play and discovery. A great text births the character right off the page. Honestly, a good script makes it very easy to be a good actor.

You’ve built such a versatile career across ‘Foundation’, ‘The Wheel of Time’, and now ‘Alien: Earth’. What usually draws you to a project?

A good story. An interesting character who wants something. And at least one scene I just can’t wait to do. I love long two-handers, scenes where you go toe-to-toe with another actor. I come from theatre, where actors drive the story on stage, together and with the audience. With large sets, ambitious visuals, and complex technical setups, you’re often just one part of a moving army, which has its own beauty, but those intimate, charged scenes where your character drives the moment? That’s where I feel that creative thrill again, the sense of tapping into something bigger than myself. It’s the best kind of high, even when it’s hard work.

pantsuit REBECCA VALLANCE
earrings SWAROVSKI
rings NINNA YORK
gloves STYLIST’S OWN

You’re also a filmmaker, and ‘Seeking Hwa Sun’ has received strong recognition. What inspired you to tell that story?

It’s a story about violence, abuse, lies, mental health, and adoption, told through the vulnerable eyes of a child and the reflective lens of the adult they become. It’s rooted in my own identity, longing, and need to understand the inexcusable. Some stories take time to mature, and some require a mature storyteller. Though making it was therapeutic and cathartic for me, I wanted it to resonate with audiences and feel nuanced. I carried that story for years — first personally, then artistically — and only recently felt ready to tell it.

How does directing or writing shape the way you approach acting?

It’s changed everything. I try to truly serve the story and the scene, to set my ego aside and focus on what supports the director’s vision and the writer’s intent. Being on the other side of the camera has made me deeply appreciate every single person on set. Actors are the visible part, but we’re carried by an army of brilliant craftspeople. I like to think it’s made me a better colleague, or at least slightly less self-absorbed on a long shooting day.

full look GUCCI
necklaces and rings NINNA YORK
tights FALKE

You’ve spoken powerfully about diversity and representation, particularly through your campaign A Bigger Picture. How did that initiative begin, and what impact have you seen since?

It started in an online group chat for actresses of color. We came together during Covid and made a pact to support and help each other, to have a space where we could talk honestly about the difficulties of being women of color in this industry. It can be hard to tackle discriminatory behavior on your own. You start to wonder if you’re being paranoid or too sensitive. Sometimes you just need real support in those moments from people who understand your point of view.

At the end of 2022, three major Danish projects were announced, with a combined cast of 42 people, and the visuals were astounding: all white. We started out angry frustrated about how the industry still refuses to change. But then the anger turned constructive, and funny. We thought, what if we reimagined those three projects and recast them? Not just with people of color, but to actually reflect the diverse society we live in, including disability, age, gender, class, sexuality, non-normative families, body types, and religion.

Five of us took charge. Actresses Laura Allen Müller, Siir Tilif, Dorcas Joanna Hansen, Malaika B. Mosendane, and me. To be honest, we were scared, afraid of pissing people off, of being blacklisted. Even some of the actors we asked to join our posters were hesitant. But the cause was too important. We couldn’t stay silent. So, we launched a campaign with the three reimagined posters, accompanied by a press release that was thoughtful, well-crafted, and constructive. The message was simple, “Times have changed. It’s time for the industry to change too, and to truly reflect the society we live in”.

It was as if people suddenly woke up when they saw those posters. They realized there was a real issue that hadn’t been addressed. The campaign went viral, even global, helped along by Lars von Trier, who famously replied “f*** off”. That moment sparked an actual conversation in the industry. We were invited to meet with all the major stakeholders, even the Minister of Culture, to discuss what needed to change. Since then, Laura and I were commissioned to write a book, ‘The Dinosaur in the Room’, a humorous handbook for fair and inclusive practice in the industry, introducing biases, stereotypes, tropes, and some practical dos and don’ts. We were also invited to join WIFT Denmark (Women in Film and TV Denmark), where I now co-chair. Right now, WIFT is working hard with key institutions across Danish film, TV, and media to make real, structural change. Not just panels, workshops, and talks, but policies embedded within the institutions themselves.

dress PATRIZIA PEPE
shoes JIMMY CHOO
rings and earrings NINNA YORK
tights FALKE

As someone who bridges cultures and mediums, how do you define your artistic mission right now?

To be true to myself and do what I actually want to do, both in the projects I initiate and the ones that come my way. I follow what feels fun and creatively challenging. “Fun” for me usually means something that makes my brain explode with idea or something that makes me squirm a little, with evil delight or with that spark of risk or discovery. And because of who I am, values like equity, fair practice, diversity, and representation will always weigh heavily in the mix.

What kinds of stories do you feel are still missing in the global conversation, and that you’d like to help tell?

Isn’t it a bit tragic that we still have to say this, but I wish there were more stories about women over 40. How are half the population so underrepresented when they’ve barely lived half their lives?

We’re seeing more diverse work on screen now, but it’s still nowhere near reflective of society, not in front of or behind the camera. We’ll know we’re getting somewhere when we stop labeling things as “female perspectives” or “queer stories” or when including a person with a disability isn’t considered progressive. When those elements are simply baked in, because that’s just life. Human experience isn’t niche. We just need to keep telling a wider range of stories to reflect the many ways of being in the world.

full look GUCCI
necklaces and rings NINNA YORK
tights FALKE

Outside of acting, what’s keeping you grounded and inspired?

My daughters. They are smart, funny, loving, and brutally honest. Nothing keeps you humble like a teenager looking at you and saying, “Mom, the way you’re reacting right now is totally unhinged. Breathe. Don’t do that again”. It’s like daily spiritual training with sarcasm.

What is coming up next for you, that you can share with us about?

I’ve just said yes to a guest role in ‘Danish Christmas Calendar’. Every year, the two major broadcasters each produce one, a 24-episode TV series that airs daily from 1st December to Christmas Eve. All the kids, and most parents, watch them. The Danes are particularly good at it. These series tackle everything from good and evil to divorce, family, faith, heritage, even depression, and of course, Christmas. It’s public service at its finest.

I said yes for a few reasons. First, I think it’s so important for kids to see all kinds of faces on screen. And second, my daughters have always wanted me to be in a ‘Christmas Calendar’. Even though they’re teenagers now and not exactly the target audience anymore, they’re still thrilled. So am I. 

TEAM CREDITS:

talent SANDRA YI SENCINDIVER
photography DAVID REISS
styling NATALIE BREWSTER
makeup SNOWKEI LAN using Lisa Eldridge
hair SVEN BAYERBACH at Carol Hayes Management using GHD professional
photography assistant STEPHANIA CARLI
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA