At first, Gwendoline Christie seemed highly amused.
And when I asked her reaction to the season 8 scripts, she laughed again: I hadlotsof questions.
James, Iknowwhat you want me to get to!
Helen Sloan/HBO
Eventually, we indeed got into It.
As usual, Christie offered plenty of fascinating insight about playing Brienne of Tarth.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You said before you had questions for showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff about the season?
What did you ask?GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE: Yes.
It was partially because I love this character and I read about this character [in George R.R.
Martins novels] before I saw the show.
So we all have our own ideas about how we think the character is going to develop.
[Playing Brienne] has challenged many of my beliefs and has been really resonate.
So there were some things I didnt expect.
Theres a feeling of wanting to honor the character and also to bring her to life.
Theyre in a rare situation where they can completely trust and depend on each other.
You take a complicated and solid relationship into a brutal and mind-blowing apocalyptic war.
Does it break them apart or force them closer together?
I havent been certain of the relationship between Jaime and Brienne.
It hasnt been a love story.
Its been this strange relationship between a man and woman thats never been able to find its true form.
Brienne has also felt something of an obligation toward Jaime due to losing his hand to save her honor.
Its something he chooses to do, but shes sensitive and aware of it.
So youre dealing with two people who are not terribly functional in the emotional world.
Physicality often releases emotion and I think thats what happens working together unlocked them.
Not the what, its the how.
Its important to mehowthese things come about.
I felt it was important to see a moment of choice from Brienne where she chooses to do this.
Brienne is a virgin.
As far as we know, Brienne hasnt had a sexual or romantic encounter before.
In the books, the character sleeps in her armor to protect herself.
Its important that she choose to explore life in that way and have that experience.
I was pleased that if something happens between her and another character that she wants it.
I like that she instigated it.
I sent back a being sick emoji.
[She pauses and leans forward].
What doyouthink of the fact that Brienne has sex with Jaime?
I was surprised because I never thought it was going to happen.
Personally, I dont think having sex somehow lessens Brienne.
Why shouldnt she have that?Yes.
This is what makes a character three dimensional, truly.
It gives her the agency to explore all the different elements of her life.
Shes not just a woman who can fight incredibly well and doesnt have any need for anything else.
However, I believe they both elect to have a sexual liaison.
Also, its about a coming together of two people.
Both will enjoy this, so why not have that experience?
And its dealt with in a manner thes fairly elegant and isnt incredibly detailed.
Shes a woman and that means she has a sex drive so why shouldnt she explore it?
I always wanted to see her get together with Dany.
That would be amazing.Thats what I wanted, always!
Wouldnt that have been amazing?
[Another pause] Do you know what happens next?
That he chooses to leave?
[Christie sadly nods].
I think fans are going to be heartbroken.I wassoupset for her.
I know its just a character and Im an actor whos lucky to do her job.
But its life isnt it?
I never assumed they would be together.
I didnt think that would happen.
And now I can feel a million hearts breaking.
Thats when I went very red.
I was very upset and I had to go for a walk.
So Jaime leaving bothered you far more than the two of them getting together in the first place.Yeah.
And I know its silly.
Its just a character, not a living human being, but I feel for her so deeply.
I love that she doesnt crumble from it.
She goes back to work.
Because she always loves work that feels refreshing, a woman can be happy without a companion.
Woman dont have to be defined by their partner and thats good.
Thats theGame of Thrones,isnt it?
What it means to me conceptually.
I thought about it so much.
Its emotional for the character to get something she wants and is acknowledged.
She was in Renlys Kingsguard but has never been part of the establishment, really.
Shes created herself and a role for herself.
I found it very moving.
Thats what that moment represents.
And theres also the possibility of equality all this fighting and doing the honorable thing.
