Gwendoline Christie

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1 Mar 2024

Gwendoline Christie

Gwendoline Christie, born on 28 October 1978, is an accomplished English actress. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Brienne of Tarth in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones (2012–2019). Additionally, she portrayed the First Order stormtrooper Captain Phasma in the Star Wars films Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). Her portrayal of Brienne earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019. Following her success in Game of Thrones and Star Wars, Gwendoline Christie has continued to showcase her talent in the Netflix fantasy series The Sandman and Wednesday, both released in 2022.

Gwendoline Christie, born in Worthing, West Sussex, has two older half-brothers. Her mother was a housewife, while her father worked in sales and marketing. Growing up in a hamlet near the South Downs, she initially trained as a gymnast during her childhood but shifted her focus to acting after sustaining a spinal injury. Around 2002, she worked in a boutique in Brighton.
After completing her education at Varndean College in Brighton and Hove, Christie graduated from Drama Centre London in 2005.

Despite facing discouragement about her unconventional tall physique, being told she might not work in the industry, she persisted in her pursuit of acting. Her determination was fueled by the inspiring performance of Tilda Swinton in Orlando. Reflecting on this in a 2017 interview, she recalled thinking, "Well, she is in a film, she is otherworldly, and is definitely outside the room. I realized that maybe there is a place for me too."

In 2002, Gwendoline Christie's height captured the attention of photographer Polly Borland, who chose her as the subject of a prominent series of photographs titled Bunny, spanning from 2002 to 2008. Gwendoline expressed that, at the time, she believed the mostly nude photographs could assist her in embracing her body and challenging conventional notions of femininity. However, in hindsight, she admitted to being shocked that she had agreed to participate in them.

Throughout her career, Gwendoline's mentor has been actor and author Simon Callow, a relationship that began during drama school. Her theatrical ventures include playing the role of the Queen in Shakespeare's Cymbeline alongside Tom Hiddleston, embodying Mag Wildwood in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and notably portraying Lucifer in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (2010).

On the screen, Gwendoline made her debut with the 2007 short film titled The Time Surgeon, written and directed by Nathaniel Mellors. She continued to collaborate with Mellors in subsequent years, featuring in works such as Seven Ages of Britain Teaser, a short TV film serving as an introduction to the final episode of the documentary series Seven Ages of Britain, as well as the first four films of his Ourhouse series of experimental short films, released between 2010 and 2011 for art exhibitions or selected public screenings. Gwendoline played a behind-the-scenes role in Ourhouse, serving as an associate producer and earning credits for casting, costumes, props, and makeup. Concurrently, she made her feature film debut with a minor role in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in 2009. In the same year, she appeared alongside Patrick Wolf in the music video for "Damaris".

In July 2011, Gwendoline Christie secured the role of the warrior Brienne of Tarth for the second season of HBO's fantasy TV series, Game of Thrones. Her character, an unusually tall, muscular, and plain-looking woman, had been a favorite among many readers of the novels, with fans suggesting Gwendoline for the role long before auditions were held.

Drawing on her own experiences of being bullied for her height and androgynous appearance, Gwendoline channeled those emotions into her portrayal of Brienne, a character she was passionate about after reading the A Song of Ice and Fire novels on which the show is based.To prepare for auditions, she started wearing unisex clothing to immerse herself in her character's more masculine mindset and embarked on an intensive training regimen, gaining over a stone (6.4 kg) of muscle mass. According to George R. R. Martin, the series co-writer, producer, and author of the novels, she secured the role almost effortlessly after delivering a compelling audition where she appeared already transformed and costumed as Brienne.After being cast, she further prepared for the role by engaging in extensive workouts, horsemanship, sword-fighting, and stage-fighting lessons.

Her debut as Brienne was in the third episode of the second season, titled "What Is Dead May Never Die," which aired on April 15, 2012. Critics lauded her debut performance, with Nina Shen Rastogi praising her "eloquent and economical physical performance," highlighting how her walk, stance, and demeanor effectively conveyed Brienne's unwavering dedication to her quest to become a knight.Gwendoline's portrayal earned her a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television in 2014 for her performance in the show's third season.As part of the cast, she also received four Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, varying each season based on her number of appearances.

Beyond Game of Thrones, Gwendoline Christie appeared in the British science fantasy series Wizards vs Aliens, created by Doctor Who writers Russell T Davies and Phil Ford, from 2012 to 2013. She played the main role of Lexi, the 17-year-old Princess of the Nekross, an alien species invading Earth. In this role, she wore heavy makeup, but also appeared in her usual physique as Lucy, the human form of Lexi. Additionally, she had a minor role in another Terry Gilliam movie, The Zero Theorem, released in 2013.

Gwendoline Christie, a talented British actress, has been part of various films. While she is perhaps best known for her role as Brienne of Tarth in the television series "Game of Thrones," her filmography also includes:

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009): A fantasy film directed by Terry Gilliam, where Christie played a small role.
The Zero Theorem (2013): Directed by Terry Gilliam, Christie had a supporting role in this dystopian science fiction film.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015): She appeared in the final installment of "The Hunger Games" series as Commander Lyme.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017): Christie portrayed the character Captain Phasma in these Star Wars sequels.

While Gwendoline Christie is renowned for her television work, particularly in "Game of Thrones," she has made notable contributions to the film industry with diverse roles in various genres.