Rosamund Pike is the star and producer of Amazon’sThe Wheel of Time, and her growing dedication to that world proves she was an outstanding choice for Moiraine. Moiraine is one of the most vital characters inRobert Jordan’sThe Wheel of Timebook seriesand the television series, as she’s the only one who really knows anything at the start. As the group from the Two Rivers is thrust into action, Moiraine is the wise guide who helps each of them find their path in the increasingly complex world.

The television adaptation has received mixed responses from readers for its manychanges fromThe Wheel of Timenovels, including the portrayals of many of the series' most iconic characters.Rosamund Pike, known for her roles inGone Girl,Pride and Prejudice, and many other high-profile films, is easily the most recognizable nameamongThe Wheel of Timecast, bringing prestige to the adaptation. She’s since given one of the few performances that’s almost unanimously approved of, and she continues to impress fans of the franchise with her work.

Book covers of A Game of Thrones and The Eye of the World

Rosamund Pike Has Narrated The Wheel Of Time Audiobooks

Rosamund Pike’s Has Narrated Through “The Shadow Rising”

Outside of leading the TV show’s cast and producing the adaptation, Rosamund Pike has begun recording new audiobooks forThe Wheel of Time.Her performances for each character are stellar, and even draw inspiration from the TV actors' voices, making it an excellent alternate reading method for fans of the Prime Video series. She truly gives voice to each figure in the saga so candidly that it’s easy to forget that a prominent film star is narrating the novels.

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With so many fantasy book television adaptations struggling to earn the approval of their original reader fan base, having a star with such fondness for the material is noteworthy. She may not be writing the adaptation, butPike is also a producer on the series, and having a familiarity with Robert Jordan’s world can undoubtedly have a positive effecton bridging the gap between book and show. As the wait forThe Wheel of Timeseason 3continues, Pike’s audiobooks are an excellent way to catch up on the material the show has already covered.

A composite image of Moiraine in front of the book covers from the Wheel of Time series

To begin reading or listening, start with Robert Jordan’sThe Eye of the World.

Rosamund Pike Has Proven She Was The Perfect Choice For Moiraine

Rosamund Pike Gives The Show’s Strongest & Most Book-Accurate Performance

Given her star talent and proven acting capabilities, Rosamund Pike was always going to bring something excellent toThe Wheel of Timetelevision series. But delivering a great performance and delivering a performance that’s faithful to an already iconic character isn’t the same thing, and she’s managed to do both. A key part of Moiraine in the early novels is that she always knows more than she lets on. She’s not quite like Gandalf inThe Lord of the Rings, whose warmth and affection are always abundantly clear.

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Rosamund Pike plays Moiraine with believable poise and wisdom, but she also nails the aspect of the character that can’t fully be trusted.The TV show’s Moiraine is one of the closest portrayals to the book’s counterpart, as she simultaneously frustrates the characters around her with her secrecy yet also never leaves much room for alternate options but to sit tight and follow her orders. This is a frequent theme throughout the early novels, where characters want to stand up to her, yet they always end up doing as she says. Pike effortlessly nails that power dynamic.

Josha Stradowski as Rand Al’Thor and Daniel Henney as al’Lan Mandragoran in The Wheel of Time.

What Rosamund Pike Has Said About The Wheel Of Time Books

Rosamund Pike Has Become A Devoted Fan Of Robert Jordan’s Work

Rosamund Pike has expressed nothing but praise for Robert Jordan’s world. OnStephen Colbert’s show in 2021,Pike admitted that she wasn’t a fan of fantasy before beginning her work on the series, saying, “I think I’d always been quite grounded in reality; I didn’t feel I needed to branch out into creatures and mythological beasts.” But she’s grown incredibly fond ofThe Wheel of Timein her experience exploring the show and narrating the audiobooks. She had this to say about the process of narrating the series toThe Washington Postin 2023:

“It was exciting to me, then, how important it had become to me. And an audio version would be somehow linked intrinsically to our show.”

Moiraine over the Wheel of Time book covers

“The reverence with which these books are treated means that we’ve got to get it right.”

For a fantasy novel epic that’s defined the genre for so many readers, building a loyal, dedicated fanbase over three decades, having acting talent like Rosamund Pike, who understands and respects its meaning, is quite wonderful. Pike is outstanding inThe Wheel of Timeseries and unbelievable in her narration of the first four books of the series, withThe Shadow Risingbeing released recently in 2024.

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Sources:The Washington Post

The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time follows Moiraine, a member of the powerful all-female organization Aes Sedai, as she leads a perilous quest with five young individuals. Moiraine suspects one among them could be the prophesized reincarnation of a mighty figure destined to either save or doom humanity.