How did your favorite Game of Thrones stars really feel while they were filming some of the most dramatic, intense moments in the series? Here are the scenes that the cast absolutely dreaded filming — and a few that certain actors refused to take part in altogether. Warning: Season 8 spoilers ahead!
Cersei’s “walk of shame” through King’s Landing in Season 5 was brutal enough to make audiences sympathize with one of the most diabolical characters in the entire show. To atone for the sin of adultery, Cersei was forced to walk naked through King’s Landing while the citizens verbally and physically assaulted her.
Although many Game of Thrones stars are used to wearing nothing but their birthday suits on camera, actress Lena Headey chose to work with a body double for this scene rather than baring it all. Headey said that the scene would have involved three full days of shooting sans costume, and she didn’t feel that she could accurately portray Cersei’s emotional state if she herself was exposed the entire time. Headey is also a mother, and she noted that stripping down for certain scenes might bring up some awkward conversations with her kids.
Headey’s usual stand-in, Rebecca Van Cleave, agreed to appear nude in the scene, with Headey’s face superimposed on her body. In response to claims that she was “less of an actress” for preferring to keep herself covered, Headey had to stand up for herself. She told Entertainment Weekly,
“You know what? It was really a bit shocking. I’ve done nudity. I’m not averse to it. But I know I’m a very emotional actor and I get really driven by that.”
he Game of Thrones Season 6 finale had every fan on edge. The season went out with a bang — literally. Rather than attend her trial with the High Sparrow, Cersei decided to pull off an unexpectedly devious revenge plot. She set the entire Sept of Baelor ablaze with wildfire, a highly flammable and rare substance that gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “scorched earth.” Lancel Lannister tried to save the day in vain — while in a tunnel under the Sept, he notices three candles burning in a small pool of wildfire, and he attempts to reach the end of the tunnel as fast as he can to blow them out. Due to his injuries, he can only crawl, and he does not make it in time.
Actor Eugene Simon said this was his most physically demanding scene. The directors had him spend the entire day crawling, using only his upper body strength throughout. He told Elle,
“I had to do it twenty-seven times. By the end of it, I was covered in sweat from exhaustion, by the time I got to the fire […] I felt like the Hulk.”
Watch the video to check out more uncomfortable scenes that these GOT actors didn’t want to film!
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Cersei’s walk of atonement | 0:15
Lancel under the Sept of Baelor | 1:19
Euron Greyjoy’s drowning ceremony | 2:11
Meryn Trant’s death scene | 3:08
Battling the wights on ice | 4:02
Ellaria and Tyene’s final moments | 4:54
Daenerys eating a horse heart | 5:52
Jon and Daenerys falling in love | 6:50
Ditching the Dragon Pit summit | 7:38