Notably, Lena Headey, who is known for portraying Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones, recently talked about how the Hollywood industry has managed to protect powerful men who engaged in inappropriate behavior for years and ignored many actresses in film sets. In an interview where she talked about her upcoming BBC radio drama Intimacy, the actress confessed that when she was younger, she had experienced the downsides of acting in intimate scenes.
Lena Headey Says Young Actresses Were Often Left Vulnerable
Lena Headey shared that when she first began acting, romance scenes were part of many characters that required young women to portray. In her opinion, the young actors rarely thought about what precautions should be made because finding the opportunity to work was everything at that point.
Lena Headey admitted that there were things that she felt uncomfortable about but she accepted them without realizing that she had deserved much better treatment. Now that she looks back, she realizes that many of those things were not easy.
New BBC Drama Inspired by Real Industry Experiences
The actor has penned and starred in Intimacy, a BBC radio drama in which she plays an intimacy coordinator who learns that the director of a big movie is the same guy who raped her years ago.
Headey stated that the drama is based on conversations and situations she has witnessed during her acting career. She wishes that the drama will help create a safer environment for all performers and will teach everyone about how actors should be treated when shooting intimate scenes.
Hollywood’s Culture Still Makes Her Angry
Headey also commented on the culture in general within the entertainment business, saying that she is upset by the fact that people with great influence had been protected because of their power.
She thinks that many young actresses were forced not to speak up so as not to ruin their careers. Although Headey thinks that the situation has changed, she still thinks that there is room for improvement.
It was the #MeToo movement that helped reveal how big this problem was in the entertainment industry.
Why Lena Headey Used a Body Double in Game of Thrones
Headey also took another look at one of the most controversial scenes from Game of Thrones, which was the Walk of Shame scene of Cersei Lannister in season 5.
Instead of filming the scene completely naked herself, she decided to use a body double. This news caused a backlash, with some fans criticizing Headey and stating that she had misled them.
Headey confessed that she had not expected such reaction and explained that, considering the popularity of the series at that time, filming a scene with thousands of extras would make it hard for her to concentrate solely on her emotions.
Using a body double helped her to focus on depicting the emotions of Cersei without being distracted by everything else.
Fame Didn’t Change Everything
Despite Game of Thrones becoming one of the greatest series ever, Headey stated that the show didn’t completely change her career.
While admitting that the series opened many doors for her, she stated that she still has to work hard to get those opportunities and develop projects, especially those dedicated to women.
Lena Headey Focused on Meaningful Stories
Now in her 50s, Headey says she feels more confident both personally and professionally. She believes age has given her the freedom to choose projects that matter to her instead of trying to meet other people’s expectations.
With Intimacy, she hopes to continue conversations about respect, safety, and equality within the entertainment industry while encouraging positive change for future generations of performers.