With only two episodes, Sister Francesca has become one of the fan-favorite characters in Dune: Prophecy. With her complex personality and emotional depth, she brings a new layer to the already intriguing narrative of the show.
Sister Francesca enters the series in the fifth episode, as she returns to Coronith City and helps the Sisterhood in their endeavor to gain control over Emperor Javicco Corrino. The role is masterfully played by Indian actress Tabu, who displays various shades of the character with perfection.
Tabu is a revered actress from India who predominantly works in the Hindi film industry, also known as Bollywood. Over the years, the actress has been seen in a few international projects, the latest being Dune: Prophecy.
Dune: Prophecy star Tabu is an Indian actress
Tabu, whose full name is Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, is counted among the most successful actresses of Indian cinema. She has been working in the industry since the 1980s. In India, the actress has starred not only in Hindi but also in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi language films.
Tabu debuted in the entertainment industry as a teenager with the 1985 film Hum Naujawan. She gained prominence in 1991 with the Telugu film Coolie No. 1. The actress then had a breakthrough in 1994 by appearing in the action drama film Vijaypath.
Two years later, she starred as Veeran, a woman struggling in an environment of insurgency, in the political thriller film Maachis. Tabu won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her groundbreaking performance.
The actress then went on to deliver exceptional performances in films like Virasat, Astitva, and Chandni Bar. The latter earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress once again.
Tabu showcased her versatility by starring in the 2003 film Maqbool, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. She played Nimmi, based on Lady Macbeth, and received praise from the audience.
Her other acclaimed performances include the films Haider, Cheeni Kum, and Drishyam. In recent years, she has continued to appear in Bollywood films, garnering both critical acclaim and commercial success. Her recent hits include the films Andhadhun (2018), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), and Crew (2024).
Tabu has also made a name for herself in international cinema. In 1998, she starred in the French-Indian co-production Hanuman. She made her Hollywood debut with The Namesake in 2006, starring alongside Kal Penn and Irrfan Khan.
The actress has also been seen in the Oscar-nominated 2012 adventure-drama film Life of Pi. She later starred in the British series A Suitable Boy, directed by Mira Nair. In May 2024, Tabu joined the cast of Dune: Prophecy as Sister Francesca.
Dune: Prophecy showrunner explains why Tabu was cast as Sister Francesca
Dune: Prophecy showrunner Alison Schapker revealed Tabu was chosen for the role of Sister Francesca as the team needed someone with a strong screen presence. She added that she had followed the actress’s work for years and had always been an admirer of her talent. Schapker said in a press conference:
“We really needed somebody to come in and just claim their space, light up the screen and feel like we can take a minute to embrace somebody new this late in the game. Tabu has been on my radar for many years.”
“I adore her. I've followed her work, and she was just a really exciting idea to all of us because I think she has all of that.”
Tabu also opened up about her collaboration with Schapker in an interview with ComingSoon and said it was easy for her to gel with the team as they were very welcoming. The actress stated:
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“When you know that the makers and the team and everybody involved in this project wants you, they love you, they respect you, and they want you to be a part of it, it just makes it so much easier. You’re so happy, you’re excited, and you’re motivated towards this collaboration.”
Dune: Prophecy Season 1 finished airing on December 22, 2024, and is available to stream on Max.
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