When it comes to showcasing extreme violence on TV, very few shows come close to HBO’s fantasy epic Game of Thrones. The series reached new heights of popularity during its decade-long run. However, it also set new trends when it came to showing torture and punishment on-screen. There’s not a single Game of Thrones fan who doesn’t remember Lena Headey’s character Cersei’s brutal and humiliating ‘Walk of Shame’ scene, with Hannah Waddingham’s Septa Unella following her with the famous ‘Shame’ chant. Two years after the show wrapped up, the two ladies have finally decided to get together and chat about the horrific scene that followed later.
We are talking about Cersei’s revenge scene when she’s ‘wineboarding’ Unella as a punishment for torturing her during her time in captivity under the High Sparrow in Season 6. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the duo reminisced what really happened on set that day.
“My first day ever on Thrones was standing at the top of those stairs,” says Waddingham. “My daughter had popped out maybe nine weeks previously, so I didn’t even know what my name was that day. And I said to you, ‘Oh, my God, this is so epic.’… ‘Oh, my God, do you ever get used to this?’ And you were so cool about it all. And I thought I want to be like her when I grow up.”
Headey added, “I think I was probably terrified about being semi-naked for two days in front of 6,000 people.”
“A lot of people probably had the horn, as well, looking at you!” quips Waddingham.
“I wanted to ask you, which we never really talk about because I think both of us found it quite traumatic at the time: Our waterboarding, or rather wineboarding, scenes,” Waddingham says. “People are always quite shocked that that actually did happen in reality and there was nothing CGI’d. One thing I’ve said a lot is that both of us were quite uncomfortable about it, but as with all these things, you know that they’re not actually going to kill you so you just get on with it and do it. It made wicked telly and I just wondered what your take on all that was, because I think you found it quite difficult too.”
“Yes, that was, for you, horrendous,” says Headey. “Someone else asked me about that the other day and I was like, you know, as an actor we all have boundaries or no boundaries. And no boundaries are obviously very thrilling when you can go to a place… but something like that when you’re tied down [during filming for 10 hours], it made me feel horrendous doing that scene with you.”
“I have to say one thing that that traumatic experience — and you walking through the streets practically with your nunny out — gave us was that you and I absolutely [became incredibly close],” says Waddingham. “And I was really nervous joining you [on Game of Thrones] because you were like queen lady of the ladies and I was some knobhead who had popped a baby out nine weeks previously.”
“Well, and then you met me and you realized [that I was an] equal knobhead!” laughs Headey.
What do you think about the traumatic wineboarding scene? Tell us in the comments below!
Game of Thrones prequel House of The Dragon is fast on its way for a possible early release in 2022. It is one of the topmost priority projects being developed by HBO currently, and they are going all-in for making it a huge success. The prequel series has created a huge hype so far, with fans demanding more spinoff shows to look forward to. Many of them wished to see Kit Harington’s character Jon Snow return to the TV screens once more, in one of the spinoffs. But it doesn’t seem likely that he’ll return any time soon in the foreseeable future.
In a recent interview with USA Today, Kit Harington talked about Game of Thrones spinoffs including the upcoming prequel House of The Dragon. He said, “There have been no discussions, God knows. I’m really looking forward to seeing “House of the Dragon.” I’m a really big fan of Miguel (Sapochnik, an executive producer and director), who’s doing that. I think there’s going to be a rawness about watching it for me, feeling so emotionally attached to that series. But I’m going to watch it because I want to support his work and I wish the people continuing that story the best of luck.”
Do you think Jon Snow will ever return to the TV screen? Talk to us in the comments below!
Game of Thrones was a life-changer for a number of its cast members. Several of the show’s actors grew up with the show, while others saw their fame rise to unprecedented heights. But for actor Kit Harington, the series proved to be even more significant in life, when he met his wife Rose Leslie on the set. He admits his little family is a direct result of Game of Thrones, thanks to his meet with Leslie.
Harington recalled in an interview with USA Today, “Our whole early romance felt like one long meet-cute. We were on an amazing TV show that was going global; we were in Iceland playing lovers. The whole thing felt horrifically romantic. So it’s nice doing something like this where it’s two people meeting for the first time and you can transport yourself to what butterflies felt like.”
However, he didn’t reveal exactly when he knew she was the one. He said, “I won’t go into it, but I just remember thinking, “God, I’m in trouble here. This could be trouble.” Wonderful trouble, that is.”
Harington also opened up about how scared he felt when Rose went into labour with their child, “There were scary bits about it. Rose went into labour during the lockdown, and you’re always worried you’re not going to be by their side as a birth partner. But luckily, I was and you get through (it). Hopefully, I’ll be able to tell my son about it when he’s old enough to understand and tell him he was a COVID baby, as they’re called.”
Are you feeling the butterflies fly around you while reading this interview? Tell us in the comments below!
Game of Thrones is undoubtedly the biggest show of the 21st century, and it keeps finding its way into other platforms. We often find it being referenced in political speeches, sports and other shows and movies. One such reference pulled the attention of Game of Thrones alum Kit Harington (Jon Snow), who couldn’t resist the temptation and agreed to do the job.
In an interview with TV Insider, Harington revealed the Game of Thrones joke that made him take up his role in Season 2 of Modern Love. He said, “That was John Carney’s idea, and it was in the original script he sent to me. When I spoke to him he said, “Look, we can take that out if you feel awkward about it,” and I was like, “No, no, no, that’s one of the reasons I’m doing this piece. It’s hilarious.” There’s something wonderful about Michael looking at his brother like, “I’ve never seen that show,” but also it can come across as [myself] going, “Don’t even mention it.” It’s got a double meaning.”
“John is great like that. He’s really bold when it comes to those sorts of ideas in his work, and I loved that moment. I love the motif of strangers on the train, where it sort of swoops in being this 1940s kind of war drama. Love Lucy walking into her childhood bedroom and it’s tiny. I think that there were some really interesting decisions in this piece that kind of speak of the absurdity of the situation they’re in.”
Are you excited about Modern Love Season 2? Talk to us in the comments below!
