Julie Cox (Princess Irulan)

London-based Julie Cox stars as Princess Irulan in Frank Herbert's Dune, in a character role that has been expanded from the novel.

The British native has lived an international life. Born in Scotland, Cox moved at age seven, and would continue to move every few years during her childhood, due to her father's work in the oil business. She attended school and drama classes in Jakarta, Indonesia; Melbourne, Australia; Houston, Texas; and Malaysia. When Cox was 19, she moved from Melbourne to London--where her grandparents lived--to study acting.

Cox starred as Dora Spenlow in Hallmark's 1999 David Copperfield and in the Oscar-winning short film, Franz Kafka's It's A Wonderful Life, made in 1995. Cox has also starred in television productions such as the BBC's The Scarlett Pimpernel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Tales from Crypt and The Ring. Her first significant role came after she appeared in a television commercial in France; the director of the commercial later cast her in the BBC television movie Tears Before Bedtime.

Cox, already a fan of the Dune novel, was elated when approached with the prospect of having a part in the film. She commented on writer-director John Harrison's characterization of Princess Irulan in the script: "I liked what John did, because my character in the book is very much the narrator. And, those who know the book will be surprised that Irulan is such a major on-screen character," Cox said.

Irulan is also a scholar. Cox commented that Irulan could have been a great emperor, but due to being a female, was relegated to role of princess, and so, by choice, becomes an academic scholar and educated in history and politics of the universe.

"She's very much more aware of moral issues behind the wars that are going on and very sensitive about the way her father is dealing with these things," Cox said of Irulan. "She makes it her point to find out what's really going on behind it for the sake of everybody, not for herself."