Post by Leo of Red Keep on Jul 10, 2017 15:37:43 GMT
time.com/4773785/lena-headey-cersei-game-of-thrones/?utm_campaign=time&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&xid=time_socialflow_twitter
“I don’t know if I sympathize with her. I admire her.”
The show's writers and George R. R. Martin's novels, of course — gave Cersei dimensions far beyond the archetypal evil queen. Her motivations must be so much fun to play.
"I love playing Cersei. I’m very intrigued to see what happens to her! She’s so layered, endlessly. Every time you think you know her, there’s another depth of insecurity or fury or resentment or drive or grief. George gave David and Dan the map. And David and Dan and Dave and Bryan write great episodes year after year."
Were you excited she got to finally rule at the end of season 6?
"I couldn’t believe that moment. I never saw that coming in a million years, I never thought she’d have the balls to finally go, “All right then, I guess I’ll f---ing do it." It was a great moment. I’m sure getting the seat of power is never comfortable on every level. But she’s aware. She’s aware of all of the s--t, the pain she’s created for everybody.
To a degree, the pain she's created for herself, too — because Tommen leaps out the window as a result of her actions. It’s almost as if the ends justify the means.
With Tommen, obviously, it was not really until last year that we realized the prophecy from the witch about Cersei losing her children and being usurped by a beautiful younger queen. Besides all the stuff that’s haunted her her whole life — her family, her father, her mother’s death, Tyrion, the relationship with Jaime — she’s always believed that she’s going to lose the children she has. And I think when Tommen goes, her last child, it’s almost… a relief for her. Some awful thing hanging over your head and then finally… it happens. This season we’ll see her dealing with her grief."
How did you work with Nikolaj to build chemistry in a relationship that makes most people deeply uncomfortable?
"We talk about it a lot. I love to talk about all of it. I’m such a nerd — I think David and Dan probably say, “Oh, not another f---ing email." I’m quite thorough with all of that, setting it straight, and then you can be free to really go there, as long as your foundation’s solid and something doesn’t seem ridiculous or unnecessary or sort of questionable. With Cersei and Jaime, we’ve always talked about it — Cersei’s always wanted to be him. Therefore, for her, that relationship is completion. There’s been an envy, because he was born with privilege just for being a man. I think their love was built on respect. He truly loves her, he’s truly in love with Cersei, but I don’t think her love was pure love, I think it was respect and a kind of need."
“I don’t know if I sympathize with her. I admire her.”
The show's writers and George R. R. Martin's novels, of course — gave Cersei dimensions far beyond the archetypal evil queen. Her motivations must be so much fun to play.
"I love playing Cersei. I’m very intrigued to see what happens to her! She’s so layered, endlessly. Every time you think you know her, there’s another depth of insecurity or fury or resentment or drive or grief. George gave David and Dan the map. And David and Dan and Dave and Bryan write great episodes year after year."
Were you excited she got to finally rule at the end of season 6?
"I couldn’t believe that moment. I never saw that coming in a million years, I never thought she’d have the balls to finally go, “All right then, I guess I’ll f---ing do it." It was a great moment. I’m sure getting the seat of power is never comfortable on every level. But she’s aware. She’s aware of all of the s--t, the pain she’s created for everybody.
To a degree, the pain she's created for herself, too — because Tommen leaps out the window as a result of her actions. It’s almost as if the ends justify the means.
With Tommen, obviously, it was not really until last year that we realized the prophecy from the witch about Cersei losing her children and being usurped by a beautiful younger queen. Besides all the stuff that’s haunted her her whole life — her family, her father, her mother’s death, Tyrion, the relationship with Jaime — she’s always believed that she’s going to lose the children she has. And I think when Tommen goes, her last child, it’s almost… a relief for her. Some awful thing hanging over your head and then finally… it happens. This season we’ll see her dealing with her grief."
How did you work with Nikolaj to build chemistry in a relationship that makes most people deeply uncomfortable?
"We talk about it a lot. I love to talk about all of it. I’m such a nerd — I think David and Dan probably say, “Oh, not another f---ing email." I’m quite thorough with all of that, setting it straight, and then you can be free to really go there, as long as your foundation’s solid and something doesn’t seem ridiculous or unnecessary or sort of questionable. With Cersei and Jaime, we’ve always talked about it — Cersei’s always wanted to be him. Therefore, for her, that relationship is completion. There’s been an envy, because he was born with privilege just for being a man. I think their love was built on respect. He truly loves her, he’s truly in love with Cersei, but I don’t think her love was pure love, I think it was respect and a kind of need."
