Cersei Lannister may have lost in the end, but Lena Heady ‘s magnificent portrayal of the queen in the HBO series Game of Thrones won the adoration of viewers worldwide. That icy stare, that cold voice, that merciless smile—Headey depicted Cersei with seemingly effortless ease. Cersei wasn’t her only role as an intimidating woman. Among numerous other characters, Headey has also played the savvy huntress Angelika in The Brothers Grimm, the formidable Queen Gorgo of Sparta in 300 and 300: Rise of an Empire, the resolute Sarah Conner in the TV series Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, and the cut-throat Ma-ma Madrigal in Dredd. No wonder her fans packed the Marriott Atrium Ballroom on Saturday at 2:30PM for her panel “Long May She Reign: An Hour with Lena Headey,” moderated by Rob Roberts.
The queen arrived with regal grace, then said in a relaxed drawl, “What’s up?” After the laughter subsided, Headey added that this was our 40th, but her first, Dragon Con. She was impressed by our commitment in this heat. “That’s all I can think as a menopausal woman,” she added with a laugh. After a quick introduction, the Q&A began.
In her replies, Headey talked about her experiences during the filming of Game of Thrones. The writing, she noted, was incredible. Even so, she wasn’t thrilled with the idea of Cersei’s *overly intimate* relationship with her brother. Before trying out for the role, Peter Dinklage showed her the script, told her she’d dig it, and impishly added that little tidbit about the twins. Headey’s response was, “Well, let me see…”
As the series progressed, Headey realized that Cersei was actually “really funny and a prototype feminist.” At times, it was difficult for Headey to keep the plot a secret—especially when imbibing a bit too much, but she noted that the terror of being fired helped.
Headey spent a lot of time trying not to laugh on set. She couldn’t look at Conleth Hill, who played Lord Varys, because he would always make her lose it. “He’s so naughty,” she said. When asked what Cersei would be like on social media, Headey replied that she’d probably be drunk-posting all the time and furiously deleting everything the following morning.
When asked how she would compare her mothering skills to Cersei’s, she joked, “Cersei taught me how to parent. I think she could help a lot of parents.” Getting more serious, Headey said she didn’t realize until she had children how strong that tie can be, how you “can love someone in such an inconceivable way…unfathomably.”
Inevitably, a fan asked what Headey thought of Cersei and Jamie’s final scene in the series. “If we can all have a moment of silence,” Headey commanded. After a dignified pause, she added, “I was displeased.” Like many fans of the show, she thinks Cersei deserved a more fitting end than “under some LEGO.” As for the full ending of the series, she said, “I think we are all agreed,” and left it at that.
Some questions focused on her other roles, such as Ma-Ma Madrigal in Dredd. She loved not having to dress up and “look pretty” for that part, but the pretend facial scar she wore actually gave her a scar that lasted for a few months. Heady was asked to return next year and invited to march with the cosplayers of 300. When told about their revealing costumes, Headey quipped, “Well, I’d like to see those men!”
Other interesting details emerged during the Q&A, like the fact that Headey has about 52 tattoos, her first a tramp stamp. She’s a fan of horror. She adores The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, thinks it was brilliantly done, and would like to write a film where Leatherface is the hero. She loves filming outdoors in places where she can “just be in that moment.” She wants to write and direct, and enjoys roles in indie films because of the freedom and creativity they allow.
As the panel closed, Roberts reminded the audience that they could see Headey in the Walk of Fame. Heady gasped, and said, “I didn’t know there was a Walk of Shame!” After the laughter subsided, she ended the panel with, “I want to wish you all a happy 40th!”
