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Warning: Spoilers for the Court of Thorns and Roses book follow.
A story is only as good as its villain, which is why Hulu's A Court of Thorns and Roses TV show needs to get the casting for Amarantha right. Amarantha is the main antagonist of the first book, and she's a memorable one. While she's not exactly the most well-written character in terms of being fully three-dimensional, she makes an impact purely on the strength of her vicious cruelty, sad*stic tendencies, and the pure joy she takes in the act of torture and breaking down her subordinates and captives.
Naturally, any actress who tackles the role of Amarantha in the Court of Thorns and Roses cast has to play a convincing villain. Amarantha rules her court Under the Mountain through fear, strength, and the simple fact that there is no other fae as willing to go to the cruel lengths she will in order to maintain power. Whoever is cast in the role has to be alluring and charming, but also able to command a scene through sheer vicious will. When she lays down a threat or an order, the audience has to believe it. With that in mind, here are 10 actors who could pull off Amarantha in the Court of Thorns and Roses TV show.
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10 Madelaine Petsch
The name at the top of many fancastings for A Court of Thorns and Roses villain Amarantha is Riverdale actress Madelaine Petsch, and with good reason. Cheryl Blossom is the undisputed queen bee of Riverdale High, and she rules it with an iron fist. While her character developed over the seasons, Cheryl is vain and manipulative; she has no problem doing what it takes to get what she wants. Those are all qualities that are well-suited to playing the character of Amarantha. Plus, it doesn't hurt that, looks-wise, Petsch is just about as close to the book description of Amarantha as it gets.
9 Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain would also be another inspired casting choice for Amarantha. As one of the most experienced actors on this list, Chastain has the wisdom, poise, and complete control of the screen to convincingly portray Amarantha. The High Fae keeps full control of her hijacked court Under the Mountain, ruling through fear and cruelty. Chastain has played villains before, and her role as the possessive, remorseless Lucille Sharpe in Crimson Peak, in particular, lends itself well to playing A Court of Thorns and Roses' twisted antagonist. Chastain has the elegant nature and commanding presence that would certainly make her pop sitting on the throne.
8 Zendaya
At first glance, Zendaya may not be anyone's first choice to play Amarantha in the Court of Thorns and Roses TV show. Still, the ultra-talented actress can arguably pull off just about any kind of role she wants–that's how skilled she is. In the books, Amarantha is somewhat one-dimensional, but the TV show can flesh her out and make her more complex, arguably making her an even better villain. If that's the case, then Zendaya would be an incredible choice to play the wicked High Fae. While Rue, her character in Euphoria, is hardly a villain, she doesn't exactly make the best choices, and she's hurt plenty of people. Seeing what Zendaya could do in a fully villainous role would be a lot of fun.
7 Eleanor Tomlinson
Poldark and Alice in Wonderland actress Eleanor Tomlinson isn't exactly known for playing villains, which is why it could be so intriguing to see her take a stab at it. In A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre is surprised when she meets Amarantha, as the High Fae despot doesn't radiate bitterness or malice, but instead a warm sort of allure–at first. That sort of disarming charm is something that the lovely Tomlinson could easily pull off. In reality, it would make it all the more terrifying when the alluring guise is dropped and Tomlinson's version of Amarantha shows just how malevolent she really is.
6 Claire Holt
Amarantha is wicked, ancient, and cunning, and for that reason, Claire Holt would be a great choice to play her. Holt is best known to TV fans for her long-running role as Original Vampire Rebekah Mikaelson in the Vampire Diaries universe. Unlike Amarantha, Rebekah has maintained her sense of compassion–sometimes–but she shows an ability to be just as cruel and manipulative as the rest of her family when need be. Holt returning to a role of an immortal villain would be a homecoming of sorts, both for the actress and for the audience who always enjoyed her in her role as one of the Originals.
Related: Why Hulu's Court Of Thorns And Roses TV Show Is Taking So Long
5 Alexandra Daddario
Alexandra Daddario has a lot of goodwill from genre fans thanks to her turn as Annabeth in the Percy Jackson movies, and she's gaining a brand-new audience thanks to her current lead role as Rowan Fielding in the gothic horror drama Mayfair Witches. However, Daddario hasn't only played heroes with powers. One of her most interesting roles was in We Summon the Darkness, where she played Alexis Butler, a sad*st and remorseless killer. She also played the psychopath Jade in Why Women Kill, so Daddario is no stranger to playing evil women. If A Court of Thorns and Roses wanted to lean a little more fully into Amarantha's sad*stic, psychopathic tendencies, Daddario would be a great choice for the role.
4 Jena Malone
Of all the actresses on this list, Jena Malone may have the most experience playing fierce, fully independent, and self-actualized characters. Audiences likely know her best from her recurring role as embittered Tribute Johanna Mason in the Hunger Games franchise, and it was the first glimpse that she could play a viciously cruel character and do it well. Malone's range is vast, with her appearing in everything from Donnie Darko to Pride & Prejudice. She could easily portray Amarantha as wicked, but with a depth that would make her a far more interesting character than she is in the books. That's only a positive as far as audiences are concerned.
3 Holland Roden
Holland Roden has a rabid fan base thanks to her work on Teen Wolf playing Lydia Martin across six seasons and a movie. Casting her as Amarantha in A Court of Thorns and Roses would certainly expand that fan base even further. However, she's gained that base for a reason. The show revealed that she was actually incredibly intelligent and caring, but when the show began, she hid it behind a mask of being vain, shallow, and mean-spirited. Lydia was originally a character that viewers loved to hate, and that's exactly how Amarantha has to be in the Court of Thorns and Roses TV show. A protagonist often rises or falls on the strength of their adversary, so casting Roden in the role of the villain could be great.
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2 Tati Gabrielle
"Something wicked this way comes" is a perfect way to describe how all the characters Under the Mountain feel whenever Amarantha enters a room, and it's important to cast an actress who can change the entire mood of a scene when she makes an appearance. That kind of actress is Tati Gabrielle, whose performance as Prudence Blackwood in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was ultra-compelling. She is cruel and vicious, cunning and possessive, and has natural leadership properties–though she leads mostly through fear. Gabrielle is not yet a household name but is quickly becoming a rising star in Hollywood. Casting her in A Court of Thorns and Roses could be the role she needs to fully break out.
1 Megan Fox
Amarantha is something of a vibe rather than a fully realized character in A Court of Thorns and Roses, and there are few actresses who can pull off that vibe of wicked sensuality as well as Megan Fox. Fox has never been better than she was in the ultra-dark horror-comedy Jennifer's Body. As a possessed cheerleader, Fox radiated evil and sex appeal in equal measure while delivering some perfectly deadpan lines. Turning Fox loose over a whole court of prisoner-worshippers as Amarantha could be inspired casting.
