Annabeth Gish plays the role of Deidre Mayfair, Rowan’s biological mother. The actress was very familiar with the book series, having read them when they first were released. “I just was so fascinated and intrigued by this particular world of Anne Rice in The Witching Hour, that I even wanted to option it to play Rowan,” the actress told SciFi Vision during a recent interview. “…It was mystical and ethereal, but also [had] female empowerment and intellect. So, it had all of these elements that I was fascinated by and still am.”
The role came with a lot of physical challenges, as for a lot of it, Deidre is catatonic and confined to a wheelchair. Gish also had to wear contacts that were hard to see through.
When it came to what she connected to with the character, it was the fact that Deirdre, like Gish, is a mother. “At the beginning, she is a victim, but then she's reawakened with her power through a monstrous force,” she explained. “So, yes, there are lots of things to get through with Deirdre, but the goal of seeking her daughter and the empowerment of finding Rowan is the motivating factor, and as a mother, I certainly can relate to that.”