Starz’s upcoming drama Spartacus: House of Ashur is pushing the franchise into new territory, introducing the show’s first female gladiator, Achillea, played by Canadian actress Tenika Davis.
Speaking exclusively to GB News, Ms Davis said stepping into the brutal world of swords, power and survival felt “exhilarating” and “a dream come true”, revealing that the role was created specifically for her by Spartacus creator Steven DeKnight.
“From the time I got the call that he created this character and thought I could play it, I was honoured,” she said.
“It’s a privilege to embody someone so fierce and powerful. Being able to tell the story of an underdog and an outsider meant everything to me.”
Spartacus: House of Ashur- Tenika Davis
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Achillea enters the arena as a Cushite woman in a patriarchal Roman society, and Ms Davis believes anyone who has endured exclusion will connect deeply with her.
“Anybody who’s ever felt like an outsider or an underdog will understand her,” she explained.
“Achillea is brought into a world that doesn’t want her.”
The actress said the quality she personally resonated with most was her character’s refusal to break.
“Her resilience,” she said. “She just will not back down. She has a regal quality about her. She is not a victim by any means at all.”
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Drawing from her own martial arts background as a second-degree black belt, the actress recalled training among men who were “far more skilled” than her, refusing to quit even when she was “kicked around”, ultimately earning her rank.
“It’s about how you get back up,” she said. “That same resilience lives in Achillea.”
However, Ms Davis revealed that the most challenging part of the role was not the action, but the emotional honesty required. “The uncomfortable part was finding her vulnerability,” she admitted.
“Being able to say something is hurting her, trying to hide it, and not knowing how to express it. That vulnerability is what led to her breakthrough — and mine as well.”
Spartacus: House of Ashur- Tenika Davis
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The role also demanded intense physical commitment, including carrying a heavy shield and mastering fast-paced combat choreography.
“I love working out, but that shield was heavy!” she laughed.
“Achillea might not be the strongest in the room, but she’s quick and she’s nimble. She’ll always find a way to overcome with her mind and her speed.”
Ms Davis recently attended Comic Con, where she experienced fan reactions in person for the first time.
The Achillea actress arrived in a chariot flanked by two actors dressed as Roman guards. “People had printed photos of our characters and I saw myself on the side of a building,” she said.
“Fans love this show. It was unreal — a dream come true.”
Achillea’s alliance with Ashur, one of the franchise’s most divisive anti-heroes, also attracted attention.
Ms Davis believes the characters recognise each other’s struggle more than they trust one another. “I don’t think they ever fully trust each other,” she explained.
Spartacus: House of Ashur cast
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“They’re both outsiders, both underdogs. Their journeys mirror each other, and that’s why he sees something in her.”
The actress promised that audiences should prepare for shocking lengths characters will go to in the fight for power, survival and identity.
“This show explores what people will do to get what they want by any means necessary,” she teased. “Fans are going to be very excited to see how far they go.”
When asked how her gladiator would express herself in the modern world, Ms Davis laughed and said Achillea would run an Instagram page full of war gods and lions.
“She’d post pictures of a war god named Pemak,” she said. “She loves lions. She has an inner lioness that roars in the series.”