The Queenship of Lena Headey

The Queenship of Lena Headey

DeShawn Hill

In the annals of American film and TV history, there have been several impressive character turns, in which a renowned actor, or actress, known for a certain type of role, and perspective, flips that image on its head to become the total opposite, and in doing so, shocks the film and TV world with a moving performance. Most times, leading to critical acclaim and success, come awards season.

Take, for example, Halle Berry in ‘Monster’s Ball’ as a distressed single-mother, desperate for a hint of relief from her tumultuous life. Before 2001, though obviously talented and beautiful, Halle Berry had been known mostly for fluffy girlfriend roles and had only just recently secured a role as ‘Storm’ in the action-based X-Men movies, giving the actress her first real layer of ‘range’ on the big screen.

Most often equipped with a cute face, a tight body, and a mostly-positive disposition, Halle Berry taking the turn into real drama and portraying a woman with such surface-level pain was a risky step in her career, but one that, ultimately, paid dividends. Even winning her a Best Actress oscar in the process!

Another famous turncoat that decided to shed their ‘Good-Guy’ persona and take a walk on the wild side, was Bryan Cranston. Originally known for the happy-go-lucky, and at times, dimwitted father on hit TV-series ‘Malcolm in the Middle’, Bryan Cranston was later casted as the gritty, and dangerous Walter White, and in the meantime, begun to change television as we know it forever.

Written and conceived by the now-legendary Vince Gilligan, this show was made as the counterpoint to decades of emotionally stagnant characters in television. Usually insulated with the inability to actually change, and a propensity to be "A-OK" at the end of each episode.

Before this, and also shows like 'The Sopranos', seeing a character regress as a person just wasn’t seen as a true way to capture the audience.

On the main stages of film and television, it is a treacherous attempt for a lead actor, or actress, to shift from their typical typecasting and break the mold. Not only in the offices of major production companies and casting agencies, where a locked-in base, or audience, is almost mandatory for continued work, but also in the eyes of the adoring fans who have grown accustomed to their tough guys being tough, and their vivacious female leads remaining so, and so on, and so on...

I mean, imagine if Arnold Schwarzenegger were to take a shot at Broke Back Mountain… You would never be able to see The Terminator the same again! –-Or even worse, imagine if an actor like Paul Reubens attempted to play Leonidas in the aforementioned Warner Bros' produced film 300. Yikes!

Basically, what we’re saying is that turning over a new leaf, ain’t so easy…

Just ask Lena Headey, the actress best known for playing the iconic 'Queen Cersei Lannister' in the mega-hit series ‘Game of Thrones’. With golden hair, and the constant gaze of smug and stern disgust, this character is known best for being dangerous, vile and having sex with her own brother! --That alone is enough for everyone living in the 21st century to hate her already!

As talented as she is though, it's tough to imagine this same woman also taking on the role of the upstanding and honorable 'Queen Gorgo' in the aforementioned 2006 action film ‘300’. -- A woman of regal grace, sacrificity, and strong do-right've-ness.

Well, it happened...

In 2006's hit action-film, '300', we meet Queen Gorgo. A woman of high stature, with grace, honor, and unbroken strength that is on full display, as she navigates the social and political landmines of Ancient Greece. At times, even leading the way for her warrior-king husband to press on. Being an unflinching backbone in his presence, and a stern voice of support in his absence.

“Come back with your shield, or on it.” – Her powerful words to her soon-to-be-murdered husband. Words that symbolize and signify the true honor and strength of her queenship in ancient Greece.

With her strong principles and willingness to speak out as the only woman in a room full of powerful men, Queen Gorgo exalts passionately about her husband’s plan to save Greece from sure enslavement and takes the punishment because of it.

Even being raped in the middle of the night, for her husband’s noble cause.

A far cry from her next, great performance, four years later, in the hit HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’.

Yes. The Bermudan actress still portrays royalty... and yes, her strength and will are both, still, equally undeniable. These dark traits may be most signafied in season 2's "Battle of the Blackwater" where Cersei preps to poison her son and herself instead of being taken captive by an arch rival's coming army.

The indignant queen, who, also, may or may not have killed her husband and simultaneously forced her underaged cousin to lay with her for her own comfort is widely known as one of the most evil characters in american television hisory. Rivaled by only a few, including her violent brat of a son, Joffrey Baratheon.

There are so many examples of Cersei Lannister's sadistic nature, and yet, we can't get enough of her! It's no doubt a nod to Lena Headey's talent, as well as the scripts that she has been lucky enough to come in contact with.

Of all the shocking character-turns in TV history,, this may just be my favorite! Drop a comment below and tell us what character-turn you like the most!