Lena Headey on Cersei, Season 4 and beyond

Lena Headey is promoting up a storm this month, with the release of 300: Rise of an Empire (in which she returns as the Spartan queen Gorgo) and of course, the fourth season of Game of Thrones arriving on April 6th. In recent interviews, the actress has been sharing her insight into her character, plus some great teasers for the coming season and hints of what we can expect in the future for Cersei Lannister.

First up: Lena talks with Moviefone about her personal take on the polarizing Queen Cersei.

I think Cersei for me, in particular, encompasses everything that I find interesting about someone and there’s so much to come from her. It’s like she’s a bit of a backwards puzzle and there are pieces, and when she builds, you’ll be like, “Ahh, that’s why she is who she is.” You know what I mean? It’s in reverse. Umm, so I find her – on the full spectrum – she kind of possesses everything that is interesting as a human being. And I think that there’s never darkness without a bit of light, but we’ve yet to really see that from her.

She goes on to say:

I think she’s incredibly frightened. That’s at her core, that’s how I see her. She’s kind of driven by paranoia and fear. She’s complicated.

Highlights from more interviews are beneath the cut, but Unsullied viewers should beware! Hints and major spoilers for the future are hidden under the Read More.

In an interview with Vulture, Headey elaborated on Cersei’s mindset this season and where that may take her:

I find her pretty delightful, Cersei. And I kind of understand why she does what she does. And yeah, yeah, this season is pretty much the beginning of her downfall. She’s on her way, she’s really climbing the stairs, and then she will eventually fall off the edge. Which is exciting! It’s endlessly exciting to me. She is just constant change. […] He arrives back, and he’s the most important relationship she’s got, aside from her children, and everything’s changed! Because she loves the one thing that she’s held in admiration. She thinks, I have everything, but I don’t have that. She never learned how to execute a sword and all of that stuff. And it’s a very complicated relationship, obviously for many reasons. And it’s quite heartbreaking, their journey.

On the ah- unusual reunion scene Jaime and Cersei shared in  A Storm of Swords (that looked as though it might be cut with Jaime turning up in King’s Landing in season 3), Headey confirms that the book’s reunion scene will appear in some fashion.

Well, I can tell you that will, uh … that’s in there. It’s horrendous. It’s kind of crazy. Interesting to film, because we were … she’s in deep pain, and he wants her, because he missed her, and he needs to know she wants him. It’s just a weird, fucked-up moment. It’s quite mad!

Blastr had a chat with Lena Headey as well, and touched upon a scene that actually would not be in season 4, but sometime in the future- the Penance Walk Cersei must undergo in A Dance with Dragons. Lena tells Blastr she thinks it’s “going to be next season” and shares her feelings on Cersei’s painfully exposed Walk through King’s Landing.

I think, you know, it’s interesting, that part for me. I’ve been very adamant about keeping her kind of clothed because I think that’s part of her power. And she can still be sort of sexual and weird and female, but she doesn’t have to be naked. And I think it makes for a more shocking disempowering moment when this happens. So, we’ll see. I’m a little scared.”

Ours is the Fury: I love how much Lena loves her character. She recognizes her faults, but relishes everything about playing Cersei. She’s going to have a fantastic time with her downfall.

• Published on 03/07/2014 at 8:42 PM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 12:43 PM CDT