‘Masters of the Universe’ Star Camila Mendes Brings Effortless Heat to Sultry ‘Who What Wear’ Feature
Camila Mendes has been speaking about her role in the upcoming Masters of the Universe film, where she plays Teela, a sword-wielding warrior in the world of Eternia. The interview comes from Who What Wear, where Mendes is also featured as the magazine’s June 2026 cover star in a photoshoot shot by Gleeson Paulino.
The actress described the film as a very different experience from anything she has done before. She said the scale of the production, the global press tour, and the attention around the movie made it feel like a new chapter in her career. Mendes explained that she has never worked on a project quite this big, and she is still adjusting to what comes with it.
Speaking about the film’s production and promotion, she said, “I’ve never been a part of something of this scale. I’ve never been a part of a proper press tour before, and I hear it’s really chaotic in a fun way but also really exhausting.”
Masters of the Universe is a live-action reimagining of the classic He-Man franchise. It stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam and follows his journey back to Eternia, where he must embrace his destiny as He-Man and fight against Skeletor. Mendes plays Teela, a key fighter who joins him in defending their world.
In her Who What Wear interview, Mendes said she connected with her character in an unexpected way. While Teela is strong, disciplined, and focused on battle, Mendes said the emotional side of the character is what stood out most to her during filming.
She explained that Teela is not just a warrior, but someone dealing with deeper emotional struggles. Mendes said, “Teela was really in touch with her physical strength but not so much with her emotional side.” She added that the character often believes she has to handle everything alone, even when she is struggling inside.
Mendes also said the film explores themes that go beyond action and fantasy. For her, the story is also about vulnerability and learning that strength is not just physical. She described how Teela’s journey reflects that idea, especially as the character slowly begins to open up emotionally throughout the story.
She said, “In her mind, she’s like, ‘I’m on my own in this world. Everyone is incompetent, and I need to take care of everything,’ but at the end of the day, there’s just a really sad little girl inside of her who feels abandoned.”
Mendes also addressed the larger themes of the film, especially ideas around masculinity and emotional expression. She said the movie is not trying to push a message in a forced way, but rather tell a story that naturally includes those ideas.
She explained, “There is no agenda other than to breathe life back into a very beloved franchise.” She also said that the story naturally touches on masculinity, especially through Prince Adam’s journey, adding, “It’s not just about how masculinity can hinder us but also how it can help us.”
The interview also highlights Mendes’ current moment in her career. Alongside the film, she is working on multiple projects and balancing a busy schedule filled with filming and promotion. The Who What Wear feature shows her in a high-fashion photoshoot styled with luxury pieces, marking her as one of the key faces of the film’s release.
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