Gwendoline Christie kept asking for the scripts.
Christie was at a hotel in Vancouver at the time, filming the Robert Zemeckis dramaWelcome to Marwen.
They came through at 4:30 a.m. Christie recalls.
Helen Sloan/HBO
I woke at half past 5 and read them all.
She did not, unlike a couple of her cast mates, skip to the end first.
I always read, as part of my training, from beginning to end, she says.
Marc Hom for EW
This is something I do partially because Im a fan of the show.
I want to know whats going on with the other characters.
Every couple of pages I thought I was dead, the 40-year-old says of her characters intense journey.
If youre lucky enough to get to season 8, you expect to die on the first page.
Thats the worst case scenario.
The very worst case scenario is dying off screen.
I had to go for a very long walk, Christie says.
A long walk and I did not stop.
I had lots of questions.
Yet Christie added that the final season storyline is also hugely satisfying.
Theres something about this story thats compulsive and essential, she says.
I dont think theres any way people arent going to want more.
We get to see Brienne going full throttle doing what we all love to watch her do.
Its the crew I feel for.
But the storyline is so great.
And the Winterfell set ishuge, its enormous.
Ive worked on big things and this is enormous.
This season we see more of Brienne than ever before, she says.
Im more involved this season and Im delighted the character has been learning from everyone shes been around.
Theres been a timidness and a tense vulnerability that was the opposite of her physical strength.
Its been interesting to watch her embrace her intellect and humor and step forward in life and make decisions.
I think this is a season where Briennes gender is really no longer an issue.
Shes treated as an equal by all and thats very pleasing.
And how does Brienne get along with Daenerys?
Briennes allegiance is to Sansa, Christie says crisply.
Then she adds with a laugh: I do think shed like a go on her dragon!
