‘Game Of Thrones’ Star Lena Headey Shamed And Bullied Over Breasts

Game of Thrones often comes under fire for its treatment of women, but rarely, if ever, has an actress come under direct criticism from fans for her participation in one of these scenes — until now. Lena Headey reveals that one Game of Thrones scene in particular resulted in personal torment for her as an actress, all due to the issue of the actress using a body double for her nude scenes. If the criticism wasn’t enough, Ms. Headey reveals that one overzealous Game of Thrones fan was a little too rough with her nipples, during the scene.

Game Of Thrones Sends Lena Headey On A Real Walk Of Shame

On Game of Thrones, Lena plays the tough as nails, manipulative matriarch Cersei Lannister, but the end of Season 5 had Headey’s character taking a very public fall from grace, due to her own schemes. Forced to apologize to a group of religious devotees whom Cersei helped rise to power was just the beginning of her humiliation. Cersei was then forced to take a walk of shame throughout King’s Landing in which she was nude and subjected to public ridicule. Crowds lining the streets yelled at Headey’s character, calling her “Liar! Slut! Whore!” as she walked past.

The scene was dramatically intense, mostly due to Headey’s acting talents, but the use of a body double for shots exposing the Lannister character’s nude body prompted criticism from fans. Almost overnight, the Game of Thrones actress says she was shamed by critics and insulted by fans in much the same way her character was bullied by the people of King’s Landing.

“Some people thought I was less of an actress because I didn’t get my t–s out.”

Lena says she’s not offended by nudity and has done nude scenes in the past, but she decided that using a body double for her Game of Thrones character would be better in this instance. Ms. Headey felt that appearing nude would affect her ability to continue playing the ruthless, conniving Cersei in a believable manner.

“[That reaction] 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 … Things really affect me. And the thought of being naked for three days and trying to contain her in the way she would be I think I would feel very angry.”

Lena Headey is not a vain woman and wants it known that she didn’t participate in the casting of her body double. The Game of Thrones actress says she has been accused of choosing a “hot” actress to serve as her double, but she insists that isn’t the case.

Speaking Of Breasts, Lena Recalls Getting A T—y Twister From One Game Of Thrones Extra

The walk of shame scene and the subsequent criticism reminded Lena of another incident on Game of Thrones, in which an exuberant fan used a little too much force with her. Headey says she had just given birth at the time and was still in the stages of breastfeeding her newborn. As it turned out, Lena’s nurse was a big fan of Game of Thrones, raving to the actress that she was especially fond of her own character, Cersei.

The nurse, unnamed by Ms. Headey, offered to help Lena breastfeed her baby, and needing the assistance, the actress accepted, but soon learned that she might have been better off managing on her own.

“She came around and sat next to me, she squeezed my nipple and went, ‘shame,'” Headey says, referring to that Game of Thrones walk of shame. “She was holding my nipple so I couldn’t really, I was—and then she said it again.”

Lena says the nurse apologized and the two women laughed it off, afterward.

The Game of Thrones Season 6 premiere will air on Sunday, April 24, on HBO.

[Image by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]