Talking about the character, Bode says, “She’s ruling Munchkinland alone, and a lot of time has passed without contact between her and Elphaba. That distance hardens and hurts Nessa. She is trying to lead and to keep control, but she is angry and hurt. She has lost her family and feels left behind. Her strength has become a shield, and that need for control has started to close her off from everyone around her.”
Nessa’s strength and authority in public contrasts with her fragile private life. “Nessa and Boq’s (Ethan Slater) relationship has become strained and distant,” Bode continues and adds, “Boq still cares about her, but more out of obligation than passion. They’ve both been through loss and that shared history keeps them tied together, but as time goes on, Nessa becomes more and more desperate to hold on to the last person who is still physically present in her life. More than anything, she desires emotional presence, especially since she still believes deep down that there’s a chance. Both Nessa and Boq are holding on to a love that never really existed. Nessa is trying to fill a void that cannot be filled. It’s devastating.”
The role also carries personal significance for Bode, who has used a wheelchair since age 11 and who advocates authentic disability representation on screen. “The response from the disabled community has meant more to me than anything. People see themselves in Nessa because she is allowed to be complicated. She is not softened or simplified. She is flawed and emotional and still worthy of empathy. That honesty and representation matters, and to bring that to a story this size has been a dream.”
