Freya Allan developed Mae by working through the character’s hidden backstory with director Wes Ball and the producers, then exploring how a human might survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Allan describes Mae’s feral act as protection—not the whole truth about her—and says Mae’s bond with Nova opens both characters’ minds while leaving Mae’s own motives partly secret.
Why Mae pretends to be feral
In an April 8, 2024 interview with Fandango, Allan said Mae initially presents herself as a feral human to protect herself before revealing her identity. The performance is part of how Mae navigates danger, but Allan also wanted to explore the broader habit behind it: “My character often pretends to be something she isn’t, and I wanted to explore that,” she said in an OutNow cast interview published May 7, 2024.
That distinction matters: Mae’s outward behavior is not a reliable guide to everything she wants. Allan said the character has reasons to conceal herself, but she did not present Mae’s motives as fully disclosed.
How Allan built Mae’s backstory
Conversations beyond what appears onscreen
Allan said she had “loads of questions” about Mae, the story, and the character’s background. She worked through specifics with Ball and the producers, including details that might not appear onscreen but helped her understand how to play Mae. In her Fandango interview, she also described researching what life might mean for humans in a post-apocalyptic world.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Generations in the future following Caesar?s reign, apes are living harmoniously as the dominant species ? and humans are living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
Using isolation to understand loneliness
Allan connected part of her preparation to being in Australia, far from home. She said that isolation helped her approach Mae’s loneliness. It was a personal point of contact with a character whose circumstances were otherwise very different from her own, rather than a claim that the actor and Mae share the same life experience.
Mae and Nova: a bond without a full explanation
Allan describes Mae and Nova as affecting one another, while emphasizing that Mae remains a character with her own agenda:
“I think Mae and Nova hold a mirror up to one another and really cause each other to open their minds, but at the same time Mae has wants of her own and holds secrets she cannot reveal.”
That is Allan’s account of their relationship, not a complete explanation of Mae’s choices. It allows for a genuine connection and reciprocal change without suggesting that Mae’s loyalties or aims are entirely transparent.
Rank #3
D23’s character guide identifies Mae as a human played by Allan and notes that her ability to speak surprises Noa and the other apes. D23 says her intelligence and unusual bond with them raise questions about her loyalties. The official guide supplies the world’s framing; Allan’s interviews explain how she approached Mae’s guardedness.
What drives Mae’s determination
Allan ties Mae’s resolve to her history and the people she loved. “A lot of her determination comes from her past and the people she loved and I really do feel it’s a case of she’ll die trying because that is all she has left,” she said in the Fandango interview. This is Allan’s description of the character’s emotional foundation, not a separate plot summary or an exhaustive account of Mae’s objectives.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Wes Ball challenged Allan’s ideas
Allan said she had developed ideas about Mae’s backstory, and that Ball challenged them with possibilities she had not considered. In an interview with Rolling Stone UK, she said: “He was one of the few directors I’ve been able to trust fully. He would surprise you with ideas you hadn’t even necessarily considered.” Allan said the challenge mattered because she had already come to know the character.
She also described the film as having “a coming-of-age feeling.” In her view, its visual world is brighter and more adventurous than that of the earlier films. The description points to a youthful, transformative quality, while Mae’s guardedness keeps her individual story from becoming simple or fully explained.
Best Value
Where Mae’s story sits in the franchise
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes takes place many generations after War for the Planet of the Apes. In a 2024 interview, The Walt Disney Company describes it as a new chapter after Caesar’s arc and says it takes place before the events of the 1968 film. D23 presents the film as a story viewers can follow on its own while still belonging to the wider franchise.
That setting gives Allan’s preparation its context: Mae is a human living in a world shaped by a very different balance of power. Her assumed feral behavior, her ability to speak, and her connection with the apes all make her difficult for others—and for the audience—to read at first. Allan’s comments clarify how she approached that uncertainty without revealing every secret Mae keeps.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
