Interview with ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 Actor Josha Stradowski

WotSeries had the opportunity to interview Josha Stradowski (Rand) about Season 3 of The Wheel of Time, which was released on Prime Video on March 13, 2025.

Read more to hear about Rand’s ancestors, his last scene for the season with Rosamund Pike, and some things he has collected from the show. If you missed them, be sure to check out our other Season 3 interviews.

Cait: It’s really nice to get a chance to chat with you.So my first question is about the Randcestors, which is what we’ve started to call Rand’s ancestors.

Josha Stradowski: I hadn’t heard that one, that’s nice. “Randcestor”. 

Cait: Glad I am the first.  Which was your favorite to film? 

(Editor’s note: I was glad to be the first to tell him, but the term was coined by Cat!)

Josha Stradowski: Oh, wow, which one was my favorite? They were like, you know, it’s like, you have to choose between your parents. No, it’s like the same question of which one was the most challenging, which one was your favorite. They were all so different. 

Mandein was hard because with that one, we didn’t have a lot of time with the prosthetics. So the first time I met him in completion was with the camera on my face with like beard, lenses, everything, prosthetics, fat suit. And then Jonai was so beautiful because I got to shoot that with Atom [Rosamund Pike’s son] and it was such a beautiful day. But it was also very hot; it was like 45 degrees Celsius. Janduin felt so special because it’s the birth of, you know, we see the prophecy there and it’s the birth of the Dragon Reborn. And it felt so special because that was a very special scene, you know, what came before that [Blood Snow]. I think it was season one. And so and Lewin was also very beautiful because, you know, this young boy, his innocence has been taken away. And you see the change in his eyes and the sacrifice he had to make all leading up to Rand basically fulfilling the prophecy. So I can I feel like they’re all special to me and I can’t decide, really. And Charn well you know, that fella. That was fun. 

Cait: Well, you were amazing in all of them. I think episode four is probably the favorite episode for most fans this year, for sure. The finale, though, is wonderful. And there’s this kind of quiet, beautiful scene that our team really loved with Moiraine and Rand in the tent, having this very honest conversation. And can you tell us a little bit about filming that scene? Was Rand as surprised as we were when Moiraine said that he was right? 

Josha Stradowski: I think, I think Rand knows, I think Rand has been knowing from the start really, like from episode one when she asked him where do you want to go, and he says “to the Two Rivers” because there are people I can trust. I don’t think he really wants to go there, but it’s about trust. He wants people he can trust and he finally realizes. I think also after Rhuidean that he can trust her and this also might be the last time they will ever see each other. And so with a lot of words, he says I see you, I thank you. I can trust you, and I see that now finally. And also to shoot that scene with Rosamund was so amazing. It was one of the most… her acting in that scene was incredible and completely blew me away to have had that rally with her was… is really special to me. And it was also one of the very last scenes that we shot so it felt like, you know, after that scene I also thanked her in real life you know for sharing such a beautiful performance with me and sharing all the time for the last three seasons, basically. But it was also how I wanted them to end their relationship and their relationship this season. That’s the conversations we have with Rafe [Judkins], like, let them let them end on a good note this season, which is a little bit different from the books, but I prefer it like this actually. 

Cait: I do too. I’m a big book fan. I have a Wheel of Time tattoo, like super nerd  and I have really loved all the changes. I think they’ve really made a really compelling story and you’ve been amazing. Thank you. We have like 30 seconds, so maybe I’ll ask you a silly question. 

Josha Stradowski: You can ask me anything, I can answer. Like it is a one word question? 

Cait: Maybe, depends on your answer. So if all the costumes and props on the show, whether it’s Rand’s or not, is there one you wish you could sneak home with you? I heard about the red jacket though, so that maybe can’t be the answer. 

Josha Stradowski: The red jacket? You know, I actually don’t think I have that one. I have another one probably with the sun from season two. I have that one. You know, I was really into season one and two. I don’t know what happened. Maybe I was just so consumed by the material that I didn’t think about… I take little things and I just like to put it in my house, but I kind of forgot about it to be honest. And I regret it a bit that I didn’t take that much this season, but he doesn’t have a sword, you know, or he doesn’t have…Yhey’re not really the profound things, but I have…yeah, fuck it. I have a bow and arrow as well. I have a bow and arrow. I have a sword. The sword that, you know, disappeared into Ishamael’s body from season two. That one I have. I have a lot of little things, but the bow and arrow is probably the nicest with the sword, but I’m, I would love to, I’ll keep on collecting stuff for sure. 

Cait: I think, hopefully, you’ll get a new interesting sword if we get some more seasons coming soon. 

Josha Stradowski: Hopefully, Callandor, that would be a nice one for sure. 

Cait: Yes, it would. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. I hope we get to see you because we get more seasons. 

Josha Stradowski:I hope so too. Fingers crossed.

 

 

The third season of The Wheel of Time, based on Robert Jordan’s fantasy book series, premiered on Prime Video on March 13, 2025. All episodes of the first three seasons of The Wheel of Time are now available on Prime Video. The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios.

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Editorial note: For clarity and readability, we’ve made minor edits to this interview, such as removing filler words and repetitions. The responses remain true to the original recorded conversation.