Spartacus: House of Ashur takes us back to a time where gladiators contested for glory inside the arena, with audiences cheering on the bloodlust. Tenika Davis had to step into this alpha-male, macho world and make her mark, and she did it by finding her vulnerability.Speaking to Sportskeeda as a part of the Spartacus: House of Ashur press junket, the actress spoke about the duality of her character Achillia, the female gladiator. As much as her character had to display her prowess with sword and shield, the humanity of Achillia lay in her vulnerability.Davis delved deep into what made her character so very unique:"The most challenging part of being Achillia was finding her vulnerability. I think it’s easy to put on a façade, that you can do whatever you want. You know, I believe that she can be quite guarded at certain times. Puts on a bit of a mask whether it be through sass talk or talking back or pretending to be stronger than she actually is."The It: Welcome to Derry actress was a die hard fan of the franchise and relished the opportunity to be a part of Spartacus: House of Ashur:"When I got the role, I just felt extreme excitement because I knew it was going to be an epic world that I wanted to be a part of. And I knew that it was also going to be really challenging." View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAs a female gladiator, a sight unseen even in the Spartacus universe, Davis had an uphill task ahead of her. Thankfully, she was just perfect for the role:"And that is always exciting. Because I like to push myself. To do things that I never thought possible. And this was one of those things. Playing that character, I knew that it was going to be demanding. And yeah, I’m really, really glad that I was able to go on that journey and prove to myself that I can do it."Tenika Davis' special training for her Spartacus: House of Ashur characterMuch like her character, Davis too had to be proficient in a variety of weapons to prepare for her role. Luckily, her background in martial arts helped in this regard."There is special training for it. And I’m so grateful that I had a martial arts background because it lets you know what it is. How to take a licking and keep on ticking. Definitely. So, fighting with men I was not new to. Learning new things where I’m not the best, I am not new to," she said. The discomfort her character feels in certain scenes is certainly real. And this translates wonderfully in Spartacus: House of Ashur:"The sword, the bowstaff, the weapons, the shield even the sheer weight of the shield was stuff there was no preparation for. And I needed to pivot in those experiences and go through the discomfort and frustration of not being amazing at something because it’s new. "And I believe that audience members will be able to go on that journey with me, this character, to know that even if you might not know how to do something it takes practice. And the more you keep on practicing over and over again, eventually you will become proficient at that thing. And maybe in time, master it."The first two episodes of Spartacus: House of Ashur will stream on the Starz app and all Starz platforms on Friday, December 5, 2025. Stay tuned for more exclusive content from the show!