'Game of Thrones' Star on Her Crazy Death
Be careful: This features spoilers from last night's finale.
— -- Where do we start???
SPOILER alert.
So many characters died in last night's "Game of Thrones" season six finale, but the biggie came early on, when Cersei blew up the Great Sept of Baelor, killing not only the High Sparrow but also her daughter-in-law, Margaery Tyrell.
Natalie Dormer, the actress who played Margaery, spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the death and when she found out about the crazy twist of fate for the ingenious vixen.
In fact, Dormer said she had a hand in her character's death.
"I pre-empted the phone call because in true Natalie Dormer style, I tried to fit a million projects into a single year. I requested [while shooting season five that showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss] release me from working on the show earlier than usual so I could do another project, and they ended up phoning me — and that was the Call," she told the magazine.
She also said her character's death shouldn't be a surprise to "Thrones" fans.
"Every year something comes from the left field that no one could have predicted. It's great they can still shock people six years on. I watch as an audience member as well. You get sideswiped," she said, adding that the way she went out was "clever."
"I thought it was an inspired choice. And it's really interesting that I am given a moment of some vindication at the very end, which was the perfect way for Margaery to leave the show. She's given a platform to say that she was right, as she always is. But because the power was taken from her, she couldn't do anything about it," she continued. "The reason it all goes tits up is because Margaery wasn't in control of the battle against Cersei. She had to hand the reins over to the High Sparrow, and Cersei outplays him. By the end, Margaery is a victim of the High Sparrow's incompetence."
Dormer, who has been featured in blockbuster films like "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" since joining "Thrones" in season two, said this was the longest project she has worked on in her career.
"Margaery had a fantastic arc in comparison to what's in the books. David and Dan [Weiss] stood by what they originally said they would do, which is give me stuff to get my teeth into," she said. "It's time for the Westeros story to move on, and it's a perfect time for her to exit."
The last day on set for Dormer, 34, included a visit from Weiss and Benioff. "Dan and David made sure they were there at the very end. It seemed very fitting Margaery's last day is shooting a scene with the Queen of Thorns [Margaery's grandmother, played by Diana Rigg]. They gave me a big hug and made a fuss out of me. It was lovely," she said.
Meanwhile, Emilia Clarke also spoke to EW and made some season seven predictions.
In the season six finale, we see Dany sailing toward Westeros with a fleet of ships. She's gunning for the Iron Throne, and Clarke couldn't be more pumped.
"She's got the dragons. She's got the manpower. She's got the ships, thanks to the Ironborn. So there's nothing else to do. She's got to go now. Iron Throne!" she told the magazine. "She knows she can do rule better than anybody else."
Clarke also talked some smack about the queen now on the throne, Cersei, saying she doesn't stand a chance.
"I've got ships, I've got manpower, I've got dragons that breath fire, and I apparently cannot be killed. I don't even have an attractive man who wants to take his shirt off anywhere near me now, so there are no distractions. Though we have yet to see [Peter Dinklage] without his clothes on. The only thing missing is Jorah. He's gotta come back. I said I can't rule the Seven Kingdoms without him," she added.
As for the fan theories and her uniting with Jon Snow, she said, "I don't know. I could kill him. He could kill me. He could be dead before we even meet. I could be dead before we even meet. Arya could kill us both! You never know! Anything's possible. All I know is winter is coming … and I'm bringing the heat!"