Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie says her ‘body seems to draw extreme responses from people’

‘Fashion for me was the most immediate way of transforming’

Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie has opened up about the “transformative” effect of fashion, and how her body appears to “draw extreme responses from people”.

The actor, who played the heroic Brienne of Tarth in the hit fantasy HBO show, was interviewed by GQ Style for the quarterly magazine’s autumn/winter 2019 issue.

During the interview, Christie explained the impact fashion has had on her throughout her life.

“When I was growing up, fashion for me was the most immediate way of transforming. Different energies. Different emotions. Different people,” the Emmy Award nominee said.

Christie emphasised the importance of “inhabiting who you are fully”, especially when you do not “fit into society”, according to conventional societal standards.

Gwendoline Christie wearing Myla London (GQ Style/Photograph by Liz Collins)

“I think, because my body seems to draw such extreme responses from people, that, well... it’s fight or flight, isn’t it? Sink or swim,” she said, in reference to her 6ft 3in height.

“You either exist in a state of shame about not fitting into society or you embrace what you have.”

Christie continued, stating: “As time goes by, you become very aware of your own mortality and you want to inhabit who you are fully.”

During the GQ Style interview, the Star Wars actor also touched upon the heartwarming interactions she has had with female fans whom she made feel “represented” on film and television.

“So many women come up to me and talk about what it means to feel represented outside of the constraints of conventional society,” Christie said.

“In 2011, I didn’t think I would ever see women that looked like me in mainstream entertainment. It felt like there was one mould that wouldn’t be broken and diversity was not part of the conversation.

“So the fact that Brienne existed? Wow.”

Earlier this year, Christie made headlines when it was announced she had submitted herself for a Best Supporting Actress Emmy Award for her performance in Game of Thrones.

The actor told The Los Angeles Times she did so as a “testament” to the character she played on the hit HBO show for seven years.

“It’s something I find hard to do, like everyone else, but I would like to be in charge of my own destiny,” Christie said.

“And I would like to endeavour to give myself opportunities. Particularly when working very hard on something very special and you’ve pushed yourself beyond your limits.”

Autumn/winter 2019 issue of GQ Style (Photograph by Liz Collins)

Read the full feature with Gwendoline Christie in the autumn/winter 2019 issue of GQ Style, available on digital download and on newsstands Thursday 19 September.