Lena Headey, the actress behind Game of Thrones character Cersei Lannister, has said she lost out on roles for not flirting in her auditions
The actress was speaking to co-star Maisie Williams (who plays Arya Stark) in a new interview for Net-A-Porter's magazine The Edit when she described her experience of Hollywood sexism early on in her career.
She said: “When I was in my twenties, and doing a lot of audition tapes in the States, a casting director told me: 'The men take these tapes home and watch them and say, 'Who would you f*ck?'
“I’ve never played the game of going in [to auditions] and flirting; I’ve never done it.”
Heady went on to reveal she is glad to be a working actress in her 40s, saying: “I'm happier now I'm older, playing women who aren't expected to be beautiful. That pressure has gone for me. [Male] actors can be 'interesting,' but there's a real pressure on women to be beautiful and skinny.'
Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown
Game of Thrones season 7 trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown
-
1/42 Cersei walks towards her newly installed map room, her shadow dominating the screen
As she continues to move forward, a group of armoured Lannister men are revealed.
-
2/42 'Enemies to the East'
Jacob Anderson's Grey Worm makes an appearance, standing before Danny's Unsullied army. Worm now wears a silver dragon sigil, as do all the Queen of Dragon's team.
-
3/42 Rosby and Duskendale make an appearance
Two towns to the North of King's Landing. One of three shots as the camera glides to the North above the map kept at Dragonstone.
-
4/42 'Enemies to the West'
Likely Euron Greyjoy, who currently hunts Theon and Yara, along with trying to take Danny as his wife. The ship looks surprisingly dragon-like. Also of note, Euron could hold the dragonbinder, a magical horn capable of subduing dragons. Perhaps Cersei and Euron will join forces - 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'.
-
5/42 The Vale of Arryn
The knights of Arryn recently came to Jon Snow's rescue, helping reclaim Winterfell. More enemies, no doubt.
-
6/42 'Enemies of the South'
Likely someone from Dorne sharpening their spear, perhaps one of the Sand Snakes?
-
7/42 Castle Black and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea
Home of The Night's Watch. Funny how Cersei seems preoccupied on human enemies when, as we all know, The White Walkers are coming.
-
8/42 'Enemies to the North'
Maisee Williams' Arya still wandering alone (minus the horse). Looks like she's managing OK though.
-
9/42 'Whatever stand in our way'
First glimpse of Jaime, standing upon the Queen's wonderful, unfinished map of Westeros. There's a ladder top right and miniature maps being used to finish the painting.
-
10/42 'We will defeat it'
Cersei means business.
-
11/42 The Lannister army marches forth
Probably towards one of Cersei's many enemies.
-
12/42 The Throne Room
Back in King's Landing, Cersei's sitting upon the throne, Jaime and the Mountain by her side. Speculators believe that's Euron standing before them. The beginning of #TeamCerseiEuron.
-
13/42 'We're the last Lannisters'
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's Jaime looking suitably aged. Probably stressed by the new regime. Oh, and all his children having been killed.
-
14/42 'The last ones who count'
Poor Tyrion, hated by his family. Still, the Lannister gets to spend more quality time with Danny's dragons. This shot seems reminiscent of the season five poster where Tyrion stood at the front of a boat, meeting a dragon for the first time.
-
15/42 Dragon tale
The pair still hitting it off. Could Tyrion ride a dragon this season?
-
16/42 She's finally home!
Emilia Clarke's Daenerys enters Dragonstone. We have touchdown in Westeros! (Dragonstone is actually San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.)
-
17/42 'I was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms'
Feisty.
-
18/42 'And I will'
Danny sits in Dragonstone's throne room, looking over her disciples.
-
19/42 Unsullied soldiers take Casterly Rock
Danny's army are already causing havoc in Westeros, here killing numerous Lannister men as they take the family's home.
-
20/42 'The King in the North'
Kit Harrington's Jon Snow makes an appearance.
-
21/42 'THE KING IN THE NORTH'
Jon's closest confidents meet, Sansa by his side.
-
22/42 'Your father and brothers are gone, yet here you stand'
Aidan Gillen's Littlefinger trying to manipulate Sophie Turner's Sansa. Her character has gone through hell and back, chances are she's not going to let anyone - including Balish - boss her around.
-
23/42 'Last best hope against the coming storm'
As Littlefinger talks, The Wall's gates open. Who is coming through? Bran?!
-
24/42 Theon on fire
Well, he's not on fire, but what seems to be the ship he's standing in. Perhaps Theon is tasked to tackle Euron's army and the two battle on the sea. Later, there are shots featuring boats on fire, no doubt linking to this quick glimpse.
-
25/42 The Red Witch
Carice van Houten returns as Melisandre, who was last seen expelled from Winterfell.
-
26/42 Dragonstone
She looks down upon Danny's new home, no doubt looking for the new Prince That Was Promised. As the shot passes, we get Littlefinger's 'Last best hope' line. Perhaps that's how Melisandre feels about Danny?
-
27/42 Arya
Looking pretty chilly.
-
28/42 'If we don’t put aside our enmities, and band together we will die'
Davos talks as a snowstorm crashes on, implying this shot is taken North of The Wall. Men/Wildlings defend themselves from an unseen threat/White Walkers.
-
29/42 Dothraki v Lannisters
Our money's on the Dothraki. The Lannisters really are taking a beating from Danny's many armies.
-
30/42 Sea battle
Likely Euron's men taking on Theon
-
31/42 'And then it doesn’t matter whose skeleton sits on the Iron Throne'
Davos gives wise council as Danny and Tyrion appear, looming over the previously seen map of Westeros. Could Davos be meeting with them to talk about a partnership?
-
32/42 The Mountain is back, and with new armour
CleganeBowl hype
-
33/42 Jon chokes Littlefinger in the crypts of Winterfell
One of the more intriguing shots, let's explain...
-
34/42 Down in the crypts
Chances are, Littlefinger is talking about Lyanna Stark, whose buried in the crypt. Balish could very well be revealing to Jon his true parentage, revealed last season to viewers through Bran's vision.
-
35/42 Casterly Rock
The Unsullied demolishing the Lannister army
-
36/42 What the....
This horrible looking hand likely belongs to Jorah, last seen inflicted with Greyscale, which started in his arm. Imprisoned or being cured? Who knows.
-
37/42 Dothraki
The Lannister's are getting slaughtered in this trailer!
-
38/42 Jon and Tormund Giantsbane run from White Walkers
Why are they beyond The Wall?
-
39/42 Missandei and Grey Worm
It's happening!!!!!
-
40/42 Yara and Ellaria Sand
Another marriage to form alliances?
-
41/42 Tyrion knocks over a Lannister lion
'Fuck the Queen'
-
42/42 'The Great War is here'
Danny flies above the Dothraki as they charge into battle. An awe-striking shot to finish a tantalising new trailer.
She believes women face obstacles in getting the respect they deserve, highlighting the point with a recent conversation she had with another woman in the industry.
“I was talking about this with another actress, and I said, 'Do you find that you have to say the same things seven times, whereas a man says it once and everyone listens?'
“Male counterparts can say the same thing [I just did] and everyone's like, 'Oh, that's a great idea' and I'm like, 'I just said that 19 times but you chose not to listen or take it on board,”' she said.
You can find the episode titles and plot details for Game of Thrones season seven's first three episodes here.
Game of Thrones returns to HBO on 16 July before arriving on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV the following evening (17 July).
- More about:
- Game of Thrones
- Game of Thrones season 7
- Lena Headey
Reuse content
