Lena Headey
Biography
Lena Kathren Headey is a British actress born on October 3, 1973, in Hamilton, Bermuda. She is recognized for her extensive work in both film and television. Headey gained significant international acclaim for her performance as Cersei Lannister in the HBO epic fantasy drama series Game of Thrones, a role she played from 2011 to 2019. Her work on this series earned her five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Golden Globe Award nomination. Throughout her career, she has established herself as a versatile performer in various genres, maintaining a steady presence in both British and American productions. She is also known by the name Lena Heady.
Career overview
Headey made her professional film debut in the 1992 mystery drama Waterland. Following this, she appeared in several notable films throughout the 1990s, including The Remains of the Day in 1993, The Jungle Book in 1994, and Mrs Dalloway in 1997. Her filmography continued to expand in the early 2000s with roles in projects such as Possession in 2002 and Ripley's Game. She achieved further recognition for her lead performances in the 2005 film The Brothers Grimm and the 2007 film 300, where she portrayed Queen Gorgo.
In addition to her film work, Headey has held prominent roles in television. Beyond her long-running tenure on Game of Thrones, she starred in the Fox television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. With over 100 known credits to her name, Headey has sustained a career that spans multiple decades, moving between period dramas, fantasy epics, and television series. Her contributions to the industry have been marked by critical recognition and consistent work in international media.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Normal (2026) as Moira
- Ballistic (2026) as Nance Redfield
- The Abandons (2025) as Fiona Nolan
- H Is for Hawk (2025) Producer
- Long Pork (2025) as Lily
- Masters of the Universe: Revolution (2024) as Evil-Lyn (voice)
- Beacon 23 (2023) as Aster Calyx
- Beacon 23 (2023) Executive Producer
- White House Plumbers (2023) as Dorothy Hunt
- SmartLess: On the Road (2023)
- The Trap (2023) Executive Producer
- The Trap (2023) Director
- The Trap (2023) Screenplay
- DC League of Super-Pets (2022) as Lara (voice)
- 9 Bullets (2022) as Gypsy Moon
- Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021) as Evil-Lyn (voice)
- Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) as Scarlet
- Twist (2021) as Sikes
- Revelations: The Masters of the Universe: Revelation Aftershow (2021) as Self
- Wizards: Tales of Arcadia (2020) as Morgana (voice)
- Infinity Train (2019) as The Conductor / Amelia (voice)
- Infinity Train (2019) as Amelia / Teacher (voice)
- The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) as Maudra Fara (voice)
- Fighting with My Family (2019) as Julia 'Sweet Saraya' Knight
- Game of Thrones: The Last Watch (2019) as Self
- Under A Rock with Tig Notaro (2019) as Self - Guest
- The Trap (2019) Director
- The Trap (2019) Writer
- The Flood (2019) as Wendy
- The Flood (2019) Executive Producer
- Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018) as Big Mama (voice)
- Sally4Ever (2018) as Lena Headey
- Walk Like a Panther (2018) as Miss Winters
- Leading Lady Parts (2018) as Actress #6
- Thumper (2017) as Ellen
- Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia (2016) as Morgana
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) as Lady Catherine de Bourgh
- Danger Mouse (2015) as Jeopardy Mouse (voice)
- Zipper (2015) as Jeannie Ellis
- Unity (2015) as Narrator (voice)
- Game of Thrones The IMAX Experience (2015) as Cersei Lannister
- Game of Thrones: A Day in the Life (2015) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) as Queen Gorgo
- Running Wild with Bear Grylls (2014) as Self
- Low Down (2014) as Sheila Albany
- Uncle Grandpa (2013) as Aunt Grandma (voice)
- The Purge (2013) as Mary Sandin
- The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) as Jocelyn Fray
- The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box (2013) as Monica
- Dredd (2012) as Ma-Ma
- Grimm Fairy Tales Animated (2012) as Sela Mathers
- Grimm Fairy Tales Animated (2012) Co-Producer
- Game of Thrones (2011) as Cersei Lannister
- Pete Smalls Is Dead (2010) as Shannah
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Guest Judge
- RuPaul's Drag Race (2009) as Self - Special Guest
- White Collar (2009) as Sally
- Laid to Rest (2009) as Cindy
- The Devil's Wedding (2009) as The Devil's Bride
- Tell-Tale (2009) as Elizabeth
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008) as Sarah Connor
- Whore (2008) as Mom
- The Red Baron (2008) as Käthe
- The Broken (2008) as Gina McVey
- 300 (2007) as Gorgo
- The Contractor (2007) as DI Annette Ballard
- St Trinian's (2007) as Miss Dickinson
- Imagine Me & You (2006) as Luce
- Ultra (2006) as Penny / Ultra
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- The Brothers Grimm (2005) as Angelika
- The Cave (2005) as Dr. Kathryn Jennings
- Round About Five (2005) as Girlfriend
- The Long Firm (2004) as Ruby Ryder
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- The Actors (2003) as Dolores
- Ripley's Game (2002) as Sarah Trevanny
- Black Plague (2002) as Lady Matilda Mellerby
- The Gathering Storm (2002) as Ava Wigram
- Possession (2002) as Blanche Glover
- The Parole Officer (2001) as Emma
- Gossip (2000) as Cathy Jones
- Aberdeen (2000) as Kaisa
- Onegin (1999) as Olga
- Inside-Out (1999) as Window-dresser
- Merlin (1998) as Guinevere
- The Man with Rain in His Shoes (1998) as Sylvia Weld
- The Hunger (1997) as Steph Reynolds
- Mrs. Dalloway (1997) as Young Sally
- Face (1997) as Connie
- Ballykissangel (1996) as Jenny Clark
- Kavanagh Q.C. (1995) as Natasha Jackson
- Band of Gold (1995) as Colette
- The Grotesque (1995) as Cleo Coal
- Loved Up (1995) as Sarah
- Devil's Advocate (1995) as Clare Rigby
- The Jungle Book (1994) as Katherine 'Kitty' Brydon
- Fair Game (1994) as Ellie
- MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday (1994) as Elise Moran
- The Clothes in the Wardrobe (1993) as Margaret
- The Remains of the Day (1993) as Lizzie
- Century (1993) as Miriam
- Waterland (1992) as Young Mary
- Soldier Soldier (1991) as Shenna Bowles
- Spender (1991) as Emily Goodman
- Shark Week (1988) as Narrator
- Screen Two (1985) as Margaret
- New-Gen as Thea (Voice)
- Rita as Rita
- Rita Executive Producer
- Red, White & Royal Wedding as Princess Catherine
- Jacqueline Ess as Jacqueline Ess
- Oh, How Fun!
- Violet Director
- Project Codename
- Divine Blood as Ruth George