Lena Headey

Lena Kathren Headey was born on October 3, 1973, in Hamilton, Bermuda, where her father, a police officer from Yorkshire, was stationed. Her family returned to England when she was five, settling in Somerset. Her acting career began at 17 when she was discovered during a school production at the Royal National Theatre. This led to her film debut in the drama “Waterland” (1992), followed by a significant role in “The Clothes in the Wardrobe” (1993). She continued to build her career with appearances in British television, such as “Band of Gold” (1996) and “Kavanagh QC” (1997), and films like “The Jungle Book” (1994), where she played Kitty Brydon.

Headey gained broader recognition in the early 2000s, starring in films like “The Brothers Grimm” (2005) with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger, and taking on the role of Queen Gorgo in Zack Snyder’s epic war film “300” (2007). Her performance in “300” earned her a Saturn Award nomination. From 2008 to 2009, she starred as Sarah Connor in the science-fiction television series “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” for which she received two Saturn Award nominations. This period solidified her presence in both British and American productions, showcasing her range in horror, action, and dramatic roles, including “The Broken” (2008) and “Laid to Rest” (2009).

Her career reached mainstream success with her role as Queen Regent Cersei Lannister in the HBO series “Game of Thrones” (2011–2019), a performance that garnered her five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Golden Globe Award nomination. During this time, she also took on the villainous role of Ma-Ma in the 3D sci-fi action film “Dredd” (2012) and starred in the horror film “The Purge” (2013). She reprised her role as Queen Gorgo in “300: Rise of an Empire” (2014) and continued to appear in diverse projects, including the historical action comedy “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” (2016) and lending her voice to animated series and video games. In November 2020, her production company, Peephole Productions, signed a first-look deal with Platform One Media (now Boat Rocker Studios), and in March 2022, she announced her feature directorial debut with the thriller film “Violet.”