'Game Of Thrones' Star Lena Headey Reveals Struggle With Anxiety And Depression
On Game of Thrones, Lena Headey plays the fierce and fearsome Queen Cersei Lannister.Cersei is [...]
Anxiety is a beast. You have to talk to beasts. Release them back into the wild. Easier said than done I know but still. Good to Practice.
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
Headey has been acting since she was 17, getting her first big break in the film The Remains of the Day, which starred Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson and garnered eight Academy Award Nominations.
Following that, in 1994, she scored the female lead in Disney's first live-action remake of The Jungle Book.
@IAMLenaHeadey Join the club. I tend to turn it around by the only known antidote, by judging myself favourably and compassionately.
— JEFF MAKOR (@MAKORMAN) April 13, 2017
prevnextAnd yes and yes and yes.... major breakthroughs with this beauty https://t.co/Y7rtYb80GZ
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
Anxiety. Depression. It's real and it's chemical. It's also spiritual. .. stay with me everyone (and before you ask, yes I'm ok)
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
Even though she's been acting in films and TV for a decade, it wasn't until the early 2000's that audiences really began to notice the strength and depth that Lena brought to each of her roles.
Turns in The Brothers Grimm, Ripley's Game, and the critically maligned but often fan-appreciated horror film The Cave.
Globally we see constant destruction of human lives. Which no matter your belief, has an effect. If we scale it back to family and community
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
prevnextIt's been lost to greed and aspiration, no wonder we have anxiety, no wonder we overthink ..we're slammed with bullshit. ...
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
Tricked into thinking. You don't have enough. You're not enough. Pretty enough. Thin enough. Rich enough. Capable enough. Successful enough.
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
Easily her first defining role, and very likely what lead to her securing the role of Cersei, was when she played Gorgo, the Queen of Sparta, wife to Gerard Butler's King Leonidas, in 300.
Gorgo is in many ways similar to Cersei. They're both fearless and put family before anything. Headey wowed audiences and critics in 300, putting her well on her way to the Hollywood A-list.
Let's REMEMBER that. Don't be afraid to let someone really SEE you. Magic happens when you are vulnerable and truthful and HUMAN.
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
prevnextTry one conversation face to face without hiding your true self. You'll feel terrified maybe .. for a second .. and then BOOM ...
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
Drop the Mike. You fucking did it. Swagger home with some complex fucked up shared human realness ???????
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
In 2008, Headey took on the role of Sarah Connor in FOX's Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which tells the story of Sarah and her son John Connor following the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Starting to see a trend? Headey's roles are strong, brave women. Once you realize that it makes her career-defining turn as the Lannister matriarch feel even more serendipitous.
@IAMLenaHeadey can't. I'm a super-introvert. nice thought though ?
— Ms Hyde (@ms_hyde) April 13, 2017
prevnextYour thought will become an action. I know it. Deep breaths. https://t.co/VYVc90jV5D
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017
@IAMLenaHeadey but what if you're scared because people might judge you or hurt you if you show your true self ??
— nicole ? (@queeencole) April 13, 2017
With Game of Thrones' season 7 premiere slowly approaching, we're forced to face that after that there's only going to be one more season of the globally popular HBO show. It's OK to be sad. This is distressing news.
But on the upside, that's still two full seasons of Headey's cunning and courageous Cersei Lannister slaying all those who oppose her we have to look forward to, so it could be worse.
prevThis is the hard part. LOVE YOU first. Don't second guess someone's reaction. ?? https://t.co/Q4CDtbkYKG
— lena headey (@IAMLenaHeadey) April 13, 2017