'Game of Thrones' actresses on heartbreak, character's shocking last stand
Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones."
With only two episodes left, "Game of Thrones" is leaving more and more fans on the edge of their seats with anticipation of what's to come. But in Sunday's episode, two actresses in particular had to deal with shocking twists.
First, Gwendoline Christie's beloved Brienne finally took her relationship to the next level with her dear friend Jaime. But before the duo embraced, she revealed to the King Slayer that she was a virgin. The actress told Entertainment Weekly that meant a lot to her.
"I felt it was important to see a moment of choice from Brienne where she chooses to do this," she said. "As far as we know, Brienne hasn’t had a sexual or romantic encounter before. In the books, the character sleeps in her armor to protect herself. It’s important that she choose to explore life in that way and have that experience. I was pleased that if something happens between her and another character that she wants it. I like that she instigated it. As an unconventional woman that we’ve seen grown, I enjoy that she decided to grow in a different way."
When she and Nikolaj Coster-Walda, who plays Jaime, found out about the romance, their text message exchange shows how close friends the two have become off-screen.
"I received a text from [Nikolaj] just laughing. I sent back a being sick emoji. How modern," she joked. "I care for the character so deeply so it was important to me that it was taken care of well and I believe it was ... She is a woman, she’s a human, she fights brilliantly, she also has some desire of companionship and sensual love."
And then there was Jaime leaving Winterfell to either be with Cersei or stop her. All we know is there will be some kind of conclusion to that love story.
"I was so upset for her," she said about Brienne breaking down when Jame left. "I know it’s just a character and I’m an actor who’s lucky to do her job. It’s so heartbreaking. But it’s life isn’t it? Life is heartbreaking. I never assumed they would be together. I didn’t think that would happen. And now I can feel a million hearts breaking."
She added, "I love that she doesn’t crumble from it. She goes back to work. Because she always loves work — that feels refreshing, a woman can be happy without a companion. Woman don’t have to be defined by their partner and that’s good. But my god. That’s the 'Game of Thrones', isn’t it? Just when you think things are going to go well it punches you harder than ever in the guts."
In a separate interview, Nathalie Emmanuel, who plays Missandei, spoke about her character's death at the end of the episode and her last stand, basically calling out to her queen for war and dragon's fire.
After being taken captive by Euron, Cersei calls on the Mountain to kill her right in front of Grey Worm, Daeny and the rest of her army. Before she dies, she says "Dracarys!” with her queen watching.
"I thought it was a fantastic scene," she told EW. "I’ve said in so many interviews that I don’t mind if I die. I’m just happy to be here and be a part of the show. But I just wanted it to be really cool and a moment that people remember and I feel like they really give me that moment."
When others have begun to question the young queen's mindset, this death "seems likely to push Daenerys to a scary level," Emmanuel said.
"I do think my last scene will be a real moment. It’s probably my favorite scene that I’ve read," she said. "If she lived, I think [she and Grey Worm] would have gone back to her home. They would have lived happily ever after."
