Lena Headey has spoken candidly regarding the “weird protection” afforded to “predatory men” within Hollywood, while also addressing the unexpected backlash she faced concerning nudity in Game of Thrones.
In a recent interview, the actress—best known for her role as Cersei Lannister in the HBO fantasy epic—discussed the criticism she received for employing a body double during the Season 5 “walk of shame” sequence.
“I was truly shocked by the anger and the notion that I had deceived the audience,” Headey told The Telegraph. “However, by that stage, the cast understood the absurdity of the situation; I was performing amidst 3,000 extras. While acting is a joy, it is also demanding. I wouldn’t have been able to focus on the emotional requirements of the scene; I would have been stuck in a defensive mindset.”
Back in 2017, Headey accused Harvey Weinstein—who is currently imprisoned for multiple sexual assault charges—of making suggestive remarks during the Venice Film Festival while promoting The Brothers Grimm. In subsequent years, she revealed that Weinstein had previously invited her to his hotel under the guise of reviewing a script.
“It makes me incredibly angry how the industry offers a strange form of protection to predatory men due to their disproportionate power, especially when contrasted with the necessity for vulnerable actresses to secure work to survive,” she told the publication. “A single individual who is permitted to act without consequence can completely ruin a professional environment. It was only with the onset of the #MeToo movement in 2017 that we realized how pervasive this issue truly is.”
She added, “I believe most young women I encounter in the industry today are incredibly savvy. The prevailing attitude now is, ‘I’m not doing that.’”