You never know how an interview is going to go. Case in point, Lena Headey, the star of “Game of Thrones” and 300: Rise of an Empire, is a respected actress with impressive films to her credit. I was fully prepared to discuss in depth her acting craft, the legacy of the 300 franchise and yes, even that HBO series, but that’s not what happened. After a few serious questions the interview almost completely fell apart and transformed instead into a casual conversation, full of jokes, swearing, facetiousness and even a little flirting.
So this is not a proper interview, this is a back-and-forth, and I present it to you in its entirety so you can get a better sense of what it’s like just hanging out and shooting the shit with a charismatic movie star with a great sense of humor. It’s an opportunity to find out not how she would answer meaningful questions, but what she’s like when she’s not being entirely serious. If you’re a fan of Lena Headey, that means this may just be the interview for you.
CraveOnline: I’ve been a big fan of yours for a while. You co-starred in two of my favorite movies, Remains of the Day and Ripley’s Game, so…
Lena Headey: Ha! Slightly different genres. [Laughs.]
Remains of the Day is still a period piece.
Yes, yes!
So “functionally” it’s the same thing as 300: Rise of an Empire.
I guess so.
How did working with James Ivory differ from working on a 300 movie?
[Thinks.] I would say when you work on a movie of this scale, you don’t necessarily get hours of rehearsal and intense emotional… I’m trying to think of the word… It’s not necessarily driven by this, so you have to find these moments. Otherwise it could be a vapid experience. So Remains of the Day is a smaller, more focused piece of course. You know that you’re going to watch an emotional piece. And in terms of something like 300, it’s loud and it’s big, and at the center you have hopefully these relationships that make some emotional dent in you so you can enjoy the movie.
It’s interesting that you say that, because the emotions that are in the film are very big.
Mm-hmm.
You’re conflicted at times, but you’re conflicted about things like, “Should I go to war!” or “Should I bury my husband!” Everything is clashing all the time in this film and that sounds like a really intense experience as an actor.
Yeah, I mean I obviously came from the first one, having had this marriage of love with Leonidas. In this, she has in the beginning and then she loses him. He really is the love of her life. They marry for life. It’s done. Also she lives for honor and there is no question of her not avenging his murder. So I think in terms of that, I didn’t want to go in, like, “ON THE BOAT!” I just felt like that was a way to do it, but I figured that a woman in mourning who hasn’t led an army yet is taking steps to… You know, these men are by rights on her side. They loved Leonidas, and therefore she’s kind of a hand-me-down leader to them. I think things like this are experimental in terms of that. That’s all I know. [Laughs.]
One thing I really dug about this was the way it put women in positions of power in a very traditionally masculine genre.
Right.
Was that part of the appeal of coming back, or would you have done this no matter what because 300 was so cool?
It was the millions of dollars that I was offered.
Really?
No.
That couldn’t hurt, though. Right?
I wish.
“You’re paying HOW much…?!”
It was Zack [Snyder]. Because I had such a great time. And then it just made sense in terms of the story that she was kind of the jigsaw of the two pieces. And also I got to wield a sword.
I wish I had seen more of you wielding it. A whole movie of just you carving through guys.
With a sword. That would have been awesome.
Wouldn’t it just?
The next one. It will just be called “Carving.” 300: The Carving.
It feels like this one is almost getting us on track for a more direct follow-up. In this one we have to see what’s going on before 300, and during 300, and after 300. And now all the Greeks are together! Finally! Credits. God damn it… No! I want another hour of you just cutting dudes up.
You should say that.
I will. I’m on record now.
I’m gunning for that. [Laughs.]
Would you be on for 303?
303: Part 19! Yes. Yeah, of course. If it was fun. I think people love to bog these things down with political… Hello? Come on. It’s a big fucking piece of film. You have a sit, you eat popcorn, you’re like, “WHOAAAAA!”
Did that surprise you that everybody responded to 300 as a political polemic?
No, because I think people like to make additions to things. Nothing’s ever allowed to just be entertaining. We have to talk about it. Da-da-da.
Did you ever talk about that on the set?
No, fuck no. I was concentrating on not falling off half a boat.
So, like 300, most of the sets weren’t there.
It was literally half of everything. Kind of a half ship, or half a pillow…
It’s like Willy Wonka’s office.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. “Just imagine…”
I imagine “Game of Thrones is a little more practical. They actually build all that stuff.
Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Is that easier?
Yes. It’s easier because in something like 300 you just have the other actors to… Your emotional place is the anchor of it because you’re not seeing something real. Plus, green screen makes me want to puke. In “Thrones” everything is built. There’s things on every table. There are things that you believe you would have had when you were five, and you can give stories to everything. So it’s immersive in that way, which is a real treasure as an actor.
Tell me about the costumes. In 300, the original, you had more “sexy” scenes…
Yeah, I was more naked.
Well, okay, yes, there was less costuming in that particular scene.
A lady of a certain age must keep her top on. That’s what I feel. [Laughs.]
Is that the rule now? Because I don’t think that’s entirely necessary.
[Laughs.]
But tell me about Gorgo’s look, because unlike the last one we’re not basing it off a comic book so that it has to look “just so.”
Yeah.
Did you have any input on that, or do they just know what Lena Heady looks good in?
No, we had a couple of fittings. I was doing “Thrones” at the time so it was a bit of a scramble, because I just went and shot the last four days on the set with these guys. The designer was brilliant. Eva [Green]’s costumes are magnificent, you know what I mean?
She’s wearing this awesome costume with a spine on the back?
Yes…!
And I’m like, “How do you sit down?”
I know, she looked rad, right?
She looks awesome.
I think had costume envy. I was like, “My god, she’s like some kind of Queen Warrior.” I was like, “I’m wearing a fucking toga.” You know, still fun. It’s all fun.
She gets more eye shadow.
She gets more smudgy eye shadow.
Were you jealous of the eye shadow as well?
I was a little eye shadow jealous.
I think eye shadow looks good on everyone.
Right?
I would be wearing eye shadow all the time, but I just can’t find the right tone.
If you find the right shade, I think you can do it.
You think I should go with something smoky?
Smoky, baby!
I need to take more advice from the stars when it comes to what I’m wearing. Amber Heard made fun of my shoes not too long ago. Granted, these are not special shoes. These are the shoes I wear out when it’s raining.
Let’s discuss the shoes.
Must we?
Yes.
Alright, fine.
You wanna? Was that a fashion choice? It wasn’t, was it?
It wasn’t a fashion choice.
It was comfort and practicality.
It was certain amount of comfort and practicality.
Mine is those too. [Shows shoes.]
Oh my god, those are adorable. Those look like cat ears.
Right…?
Those are extra cute. Was that part of the decision-making process?
This morning, after my son didn’t sleep, I got up and went, “What is in my closet… That and that. And it’s really raining, I’m not wearing heels.” That’s what happens.
And they match your top, too. You’re coordinated.
Listen… This was a moment of… Trust me, this was not a thought out process.
But it all comes naturally to you.
It works. It all works.
You’re a star.
I’m dressed. What can I tell you? I don’t know about “star,” but I’m dressed, which is socially acceptable.
I respect that.
I got dressed for you.
That was completely unnecessary.
[Laughs.]
Ah, good times. What else have you got coming up? I mean, obviously “Game of Thrones,” but who cares?
Who cares about that…?
Too many people are talking about it.
We should talk about it. No one knows about it.
What’s up with that “Game of Thrones?”
What?
I don’t even know.
I don’t know what that is. Is that a store?
It’s a thing.
It’s a store.
It’s a toilet store.
[Laughs.]
“Throne.” Because…
Yeah…
Good times. But what else have you got movie-wise? You’re not in The Purge 2.
No.
I’m disappointed. I was hoping you would be out for revenge.
I’m sad I’m not in The Purge 2.
A friend of mine writes about kung fu movies, and he said the end of The Purge, when you slam that woman’s face in the table and say, “No more killing…?”
Yeah.
He said that was the epitome of kung fu.
[Laughs.] Yeah, that was great.
I love that movie. I thought that movie kicked ass.
Yeah!
It raised a lot of fun questions.
I like those movies like that, that you shoot in 19 days, on a low-low budget, it’s a tiny crew, and you just do it. There’s no going to trailer and sitting down for seven hours, you know what I mean? You just fucking make a film, which is what I like to do, is to work. And then you see what happens. Also, you’re present in a process, because nobody’s like, “We should do this because we need to make all that money and blah-blah-blah.” You’re just in it, as a kind of piece of filmmaking. So I enjoyed that. I just did a little indie that I finished like weekend with Patrick Wilson, called Zipper. It’s kind of a political thriller drama with Ray Winstone.
This time it’s actually supposed to be political. It’s not like 300…
It’s a political tone.
“A political tone.” How does that work exactly?
I don’t know, because I’m deeply unpolitical.
Yeah?
I just think it’s all talked up. People like to talk about it.
So you don’t even like to watch “The Daily Show” or anything like that?
I like all of that stuff, like Bill Maher. I kind of enjoy commentary on it, I just wouldn’t say I was a political animal.
There’s so much to be depressed about, any time you talk about politics.
Also when you can clearly see through it, like, “Really? This is really simple.”
It’s the easiest thing in the world.
“This is simple.” Let’s take money away and it becomes simple. Money and gain.
That’s why I have no money.
Let’s not pretend there’s any honor in it.
I make no money just to escape that whole process.
[Laughs.] There you go. Me too. If I was into politics I would be rich.
There you go. Maybe when you get money you get a vested interest in politics all of a sudden because now your taxes really matter.
Yes! See? That’s when it changes.
It makes you think. Maybe that’s why all these celebrities get politically involved.
Yes, well…
They mean well.
It’s an interesting stance to take.
“I’m famous now. I have to raise awareness of something.”
“I’m really smart!”
“I’m so smart! Don’t kill sharks! Cool. I did my job today. I’m going to go bathe in money.”
“Human rights is another issue which I very much stand up for.”
Oh yes, certainly. There are a lot of rights we should stand up for.
“I just think that… blefefefefefe…” I’m like, “Really, we just watched that?”
And on “blefefefefefe,” I have to go.
Well, it was very nice talking to you.
It was lovely talking to you. Thank you.
Thank you, for being fun.
William Bibbiani is the editor of CraveOnline’s Film Channel and co-host of The B-Movies Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
