Princess Irulan: Reverent mother, I have a question…
Gaius Helen Mohiam: What is it?
Princess Irulan: Did we ever consider that Feyd-Rautha actually did not pass Gom Jabbar test, because he enjoys tha pain itself, therefor he is immune to test. Does Gom Jabbar test even consider this scenario?
Promo art I was commissioned to paint a year or so before the first DUNE movie came out, for the official RPG. It was cool to have a first look on stills from the film that have not been made public yet, and I still have fond memories of working with my mother in law being as a model for the Reverend Mother Mohiam!
Trivia: I haven't read the book back when I worked on this piece. I read it shortly after finishing it, am now I am fully immersed in the worldbuilding and philosophy created by Frank Herbert. I am working on more DUNE artwork as we speak that I will share around the release of the second movie.
Dune / Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam
A great example of costume as worldbuilding, the Reverend Mother's robes and headdress evoke tradition, mystery, and power. The robe is made of some heavy, rich material with a subtle pattern that is hard to see in the dim lighting of the scene. The tall headdress suggests high rank and also confers an air of authority, while the coarse net veil hides her features just enough to make her inscrutable. All in all, a very effective costume that contributes to making this scene very memorable.
To see all that gravitas turned into something completely silly, check out this video:
were not talking enough about the fact that when paul yells “silence” at reverend mother mohiam hes literally yelling at his own grandmother….the slav within me refuses to forgive him for this crime.
Can you imagine that their desired outcome of this whole Paul-Emperor situation was Feyd-Rautha on galatic throne, so they can control him? Yeah, sure, whatever you say Gaius Helen Mohiam. I'm pretty sure it would not backfire the same way Missionaria Protectiva did not...
Young Charlotte Rampling, who plays the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam and Timothée Chalamet who plays Paul Atreides aka the actors playing grandmother and grandson
Reverend Mother Mohiam: We wouldn't be in this mess if Jessica had just done as she was told and had a daughter.
Alia: 'Sup bitch.
Reverend Mother Mohiam: I take that back. This is so much worse.