Connie Nielsen joined “CBS Mornings” to discuss stepping back into the world of “Gladiator” to reprise the beloved role of the character Lucilla, 24 years after the original film.

“I was nervous,” she said. “People feel really, really protective, I think, with the first one. A lot of people say to me on the street, ‘Don’t do number two, because number one is so perfect.'”

Nielsen explained that her decision to return depended on the quality of the film “Gladiator II” script.

“We obviously wanted to make sure the script would be great,” she said.

Her agents reassured her after speaking with producers.

“They said, ‘Just tell her she’ll be happy.'”

Reflecting on her character’s evolution, Nielsen expressed gratitude for the opportunity to portray a more mature Lucilla.

“I played that as a young woman, and it’s incredible to have the opportunity to show or go through the story of what happened to her in almost half a lifetime,” she said. “To tell that story and show what this adult Lucilla is like – who has she grown into?”

Nielsen praised the director Ridley Scott for his collaborative approach.

“Ridley expects you, he counts on you, he casts you because he wants you to be part of telling the story,” she said. “He gives you the feeling that there is a lot of room for you creatively.”

She also reflected on the on-screen tension during her character Lucilla’s first meeting with her long-lost son Lucius, played by Paul Mescal.

“We didn’t really talk until we filmed that scene,” Nielsen said. “I come from the perspective of a mother who made the ultimate sacrifice to save her son’s life… For him, the story is, ‘How could you let me down?'”

“Gladiator II” is distributed by Paramount Pictures, part of CBS News parent company Paramount Global. ‘Gladiator II’ can be seen in cinemas from Friday, November 22.