Born in Hamilton, Bermuda, in 1973 and raised in West Yorkshire and Somerset, Lena Headey is an actor, author and director. She made her movie debut in Waterland in 1992. Her profession spans 300, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Game of Thrones, by which she performed Cersei Lannister from 2011 to 2019, incomes 5 Emmy nominations. Intimacy, which she writes, directs and stars in, is an eight-part comedy audio drama for BBC Sounds and Radio 4.
I used to be an OG onesie wearer. This was taken on Christmas Day in our home in Bermuda. My dad and mom had been within the police power, and for some purpose in the future the Yorkshire department determined: “We’re all going to go to Bermuda for some training.” I don’t keep in mind a lot from that point, however I do know that it was scorching, everybody had scooters, and that it was enjoyable.
My mum says I used to be an impartial child. If my dad and mom ever tried to assist me, I’d shout at them: “Leave it, leave it, leave it!” I used to be playful and adventurous and appreciated to wander far from house. We left Bermuda once I was six and moved to Somerset, where my brother was born. Having police as dad and mom didn’t make them rule-abiding or strict. Instead – being a child of the 70s and 80s – they’d go to work whereas us children had been allowed to do no matter we needed. I had a feral decade, one full of harmful issues performed outdoors, and I really feel very grateful for it.
I had no ambitions to turn out to be an actor as a baby, however I used to be obsessive about movies and cherished drama lessons, primarily as a result of they had been the straightforward half of college. I discovered the tutorial aspect of studying tough, however socially I survived. I had buddies, and was at all times down for time.
From 11 to my late teenagers, I had a very tough time mentally, to the extent that once I was 14 I ran away from house. I received on a bus to Birmingham to meet some older guys that I’d met on vacation. I had their addresses as we had despatched letters to one another. What occurred subsequent? I smoked a bunch of weed, ran out of cash and went again house. After that, my dad and mom took me to the physician. When he requested what was incorrect, why I ran away, I mentioned: “I don’t know. Everything just feels shit.” The physician’s response was: “You seem depressed.” That was that, no additional assist.
When I began appearing correctly in my late teenagers, the entire world opened up and I felt a lot happier. I used to be 17 when our faculty entered a play into a contest, and we went to the National Theatre to carry out it. They put our images up within the foyer, and a few casting administrators noticed them and requested a bunch of us to audition for a movie referred to as Waterland. I didn’t have an agent, however I drove to London for the audition on the Groucho Club. I received the half and keep in mind pondering: “Great! Now I get to leave school.”
Even although I used to be inexperienced and clueless, my reminiscences of making that movie are of pleasure and collaboration. The director, Stephen Gyllenhaal, was sensible and the solid had been all younger and we received on with one another. On set, there was no hierarchy, no distinction between solid and crew – we had been all in it collectively. On the opposite hand, I felt deeply susceptible and uncomfortable being bare and pretending to have intercourse with one other actor. Nothing’s modified – I’m nonetheless by no means essentially the most enthusiastic with that aspect of the job. I don’t assume any actor wakes up and goes: “Oh my God, today’s the day I get to wear a thong and shag someone.”
After Waterland I launched into a decade of auditioning. Sometimes it was heartbreaking, and generally I’d nail a job and really feel incredible. But usually, my 20s and 30s had been powerful. I hadn’t discovered my very own worth as a lady and was buying and selling on exterior, social worth somewhat than who I actually was.
Throughout my profession, I’ve had nice experiences within the trade, and a few actually dangerous ones too. I used to be fortunate with Harvey Weinstein. He didn’t get his palms on me as a result of his keycard didn’t work for the resort room he had taken me to. I used to be younger, cocky and drunk in our first encounter – and so once I realised what was taking place I primarily told him to fuck himself. While I used to be lucky nothing worse occurred, I didn’t ever get one other Miramax movie after that. A decade and a half of possibilities disappeared. I felt I used to be blacklisted as a result of I refused to do what he needed.
I used to be 35 once I auditioned for Cersei in Game of Thrones. It was in a tiny room at HBO in LA. I put every thing I had into it. Then I heard a telephone go off – it was one of the exec’s. She received up and answered the decision and left the room. I watched her stroll out, and mentioned: “Are you joking?” At that second I believed: “I’m never getting this. I am obviously very uncharismatic and unengaging.” Turns out that’s fairly regular, and I used to be incorrect.
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Game of Thrones threw me into visibility on a scale I hadn’t skilled earlier than and it was a wierd dynamic to take care of. The present ran for a decade of my life, one by which I went via a divorce and have become a mom, twice. Even although I used to be in a giant present and making a living, and had monetary safety for the primary time as an actor – and for the final time, it seems – I used to be nonetheless wrangling with main life adjustments whereas being within the public eye. There had been heaps of bizarre moments, reminiscent of happening vacation with the children, being half-naked within the sand and somebody arising to me and saying: “Can we do a quick video?” I’d have to say: “Nah, not really.”
Fame is just not for me. I may make use of a stylist and go to the opening of this and that. But I’m actually lazy. I have a look at individuals who appear to get heaps of work and alternatives and ask: “Why didn’t I get that job?” My agent will reply: “Well, if you did a bit more press or agreed to having a publicist, things might be different.” After that, I typically assume: “Nah, forget it.” The trade-off for having heaps of work is that you’ve to get on the market, at all times pushing to be seen. Which is hard when you have got Jomo: the enjoyment of lacking out.
It’s typically mentioned that ladies turn out to be invisible once they attain midlife. While it’s true, I’ve by no means appreciated being out there; that feeling of shrinking underneath the load of feeling scared and alone if you’re by your self on a practice or in a cab. I’ve had far more horrible experiences than what occurred with Harvey, however that’s life. My essential takeaway is that I by no means, ever, need these issues to occur to my kids. The greatest stress of being a dad or mum is wanting your kids not to really feel the identical ache or disappointment or violence or unhappiness. When I’m out with my daughter, who’s attractive and solely 11, I see the ability of her magnificence within the eyes of males that actually shouldn’t be her. I hate it. So I don’t miss being leered at, in any respect. There’s a liberation to getting older.
When I see that picture, I want that I may shield my youthful self from some of the issues she would undergo. But I can’t. Instead, I’m appreciative that I can shield my lady as an alternative.
