Game of Thrones star Lena Headey reveals that the hit HBO show ending actually had a both positive and negative impact on her career. Based on the novels by author George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones first premiered in 2011, ultimately running for eight seasons before coming to an end in 2019. Headey played Cersei Lannister in the fantasy series, earning critical acclaim for her performance as one of the central antagonists throughout the show’s run.
Now, four years after Game of Thrones‘ divisive ending, Headey reveals in a recent interview with People that her time on the show coming to an end had a somewhat mixed impact on her career. Although it certainly helped her land other roles, it also left something of a hole in her life. Check out Headey’s full comment below:
“Thrones was such a surprise. But there was no part of me that went, ‘Oh, it’s done now. Life’s going to be easy.’ It opened doors, it made certain things easier. It also made things feel harder because you think, ‘What do I do?'”
What Lena Headey Has Done Since Game Of Thrones
Prior to Game of Thrones, Headey was widely known for her role in 300 in 2006. Playing Cersei, however, allowed Headey to really flex her muscles as an actor, which evidently opened up a number of doors. Shortly after Game of Thrones, Headey would appear as the central villain in Dredd in addition to starring opposite Ethan Hawke in The Purge. Following the show’s ending, the actor has continued to work regularly.
In 2019, Headey appeared in The Flood before then voicing Maudra Fara in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. After some more TV work, Headey had a prominent role in the Netflix action film Gunpowder Milkshake, which also stars Karen Gillan, Carla Gugino, Michelle Yeoh, and Angela Bassett. Headey would then appear in 9 Bullets opposite Sam Worthington and also has a role in White House Plumbers, a new TV miniseries from HBO Max.
Headey also has several exciting projects in the works, including a movie called Ballerina Overdrive, which tells the story of a group of ballerinas who must escape a remote inn after their bus breaks down. Headey is not hurting for roles following the conclusion of Game of Thrones, but it was evidently an adjustment to bid farewell to a regular filming schedule on one of the biggest and most popular TV shows of all time.
Source: People
