Quelin Sepulveda on Working with Tom Hardy and Gareth Evans for the Netflix Action Film Havoc
interview
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interview ✦
In 2023, actor Quelin Sepulveda put herself on the map with her breakout role as Muriel in Amazon Prime's beloved series Good Omens—enchanting audiences as a naive angel learning from a high angel and a notorious demon. Through this character, Sepulveda also demonstrated her ability to breathe life into engaging genre stories and essentially paved the way for future roles.
Building on her success, Sepulveda has now followed up her work on Good Omens with a new challenge as the female lead opposite Tom Hardy in the high-octane Netflix action film HAVOC. Directed by renowned filmmaker Gareth Evans, HAVOC follows a bruised detective, played by Hardy, who navigates a tangled web of corruption and conspiracy to rescue a politician’s estranged son after a drug deal goes awry. And because of her previous work, Sepulveda’s role in this gripping thriller showcases her growing versatility and depth, adding another significant achievement to her burgeoning career.
Now, we’re chatting with Sepulveda about her involvement in Havoc, getting to work alongside Hardy, Evans, and of course, her time on Good Omens.
Photographer: David Reiss | Hair: Stefan Bertin | Make-up: Kenneth Soh | Styling: Delaney Williams
Congratulations on your new role in HAVOC. Can you share a bit about your first impression of the character and what initially drew you to this intense action project?
Quelin Sepulveda: I mean—Tom Hardy and Gareth Evans? Need I say more? When the audition came through, I was ecstatic. I’ve been a huge fan of Gareth ever since The Raid, and of course I’d followed Tom’s career over the years, so the chance to be part of a project with the two of them was a no-brainer. I was instantly drawn to Mia. She’s all heart—driven, loyal, a fighter. She’s from humble beginnings, a survivor through and through, and you really see that in how she and Charlie show up for each other. They’re ride-or-die. Mia’s fierce, and I love that about her.
HAVOC has a complex and action-packed storyline at its core. How did you prepare for your role, both physically and emotionally, to bring authenticity to your character?
Quelin Sepulveda: I honestly had such a good time prepping for this role—especially because the stunt team was unreal. We had loads of rehearsal time for all the fight choreography, plus some firearms training too, which was a fun new challenge. I also worked with a dialect coach to land Mia’s American accent, with a slight Puerto Rican twist. That was really important to Gareth, just having those subtle moments that ground where she’s from—even though she moved to the States when she was quite young. Emotionally, I think the physical and internal prep really go hand in hand. When you're on set, in costume, under the lights, adrenaline kicks in—your body doesn’t know it’s "pretending." You drop in, and the emotional truth just takes over. Havoc is one of those projects there’s no easing in—you just gotta “cannonball” in.
Photographer: David Reiss | Hair: Stefan Bertin | Make-up: Kenneth Soh | Styling: Delaney Williams
As you mentioned earlier, the film also offered you the opportunity to work alongside Tom Hardy, who’s clearly a seasoned action star. What was that experience like?
Quelin Sepulveda: Oh, it was amazing. This was my first time on a set of that scale, and funnily enough, my very first scene was with Tom in a nightclub. He’s so playful—cracking jokes right up until they call “Action,” which honestly helped me so much. It didn’t give me time to overthink. I just had to stay present and jump in. Throughout the shoot, Tom and Gareth really took me under their wing. They gave me space to ask questions, to play, to explore—and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
Considering that HAVOC involves a lot of action sequences, can you tell us about the most challenging scene you filmed and how you tackled it?
Quelin Sepulveda: Oh my god, it’s actually ridiculous looking back on it now—but there’s a bit at The Medusa Nightclub where I had to climb down these light fixtures in a rush. Sounds easy enough, right? That’s what I thought—until I got up there and realised, oh, this is actually quite high. And because it’s meant to look like I’m not strapped into anything, everything felt super slack, and I had a real “am I developing vertigo?” moment. But it all worked out. Ruby, Andy, and Craig from the stunt team were absolute stars—they talked me through it, made sure I was all good.
Photographer: David Reiss | Hair: Stefan Bertin | Make-up: Kenneth Soh | Styling: Delaney Williams
The film is directed by Gareth Evans, known for his intense and dynamic storytelling. As someone who entered the project being a fan of his work, what was it like working under his direction—and how did he help you bring your character to life?
Quelin Sepulveda: Gareth is the absolute best. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with a director like him so early in my career. He and Matt Flannery, his cinematographer, have such a fluid, almost telepathic dynamic and it was amazing just being around that. What I loved most was how collaborative Gareth is. From day one, he brought me into conversations about Mia—her backstory, her costume, even her tattoos. We also had similar group discussions with Justin, Xelia, and Jim, diving into how our characters related to each other and the dynamic between all of us. Everything felt like a dialogue, and that kind of trust and creative partnership is rare. It really felt like I got to own the character.
Leading up to this point, you’ve also captured hearts as Muriel in Good Omens. How does your new role in Havoc differ from some of your previous work?
Quelin Sepulveda: Havoc is a completely different beast— It does not let up! Mia’s in survival mode from the minute we meet her—it’s gritty, relentless, unapologetic. And this was my first full-on action role, which opened up a whole new world for me. I’ve always loved watching action films, but now I’ve done one? I’m absolutely up for more. That said, even though Good Omens and Havoc are worlds apart, they’re both incredibly physical and technical, in their own ways. Just… very different kinds of physicality.
Finally, what’s been the most rewarding aspect of getting to be a part of Havoc?
Quelin Sepulveda: For me, it’s two big things. First—the people. Being surrounded by creatives at the top of their game across every department—costume, production design, sound, makeup—was so inspiring. And yet it still felt intimate, like an indie, and I think that energy came straight from Gareth and how passionate he is. So many people on set had worked with him since before The Raid, which says so much about who he is. And second—the friendships. We filmed in Cardiff for four months and became really close. We had dim sum outings, cinema trips, Burgers-and-Karaoke nights, even a visit to Barry Island. I made some lifelong friends on that set. Now I’m just excited to finally share it with everyone.
