Gwendoline Christie dodges spoilers and dishes on the bear

gwendoline christie

With Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiering in just a couple weeks, Gwendoline Christie (who plays villainous Captain Phasma) is busy promoting the new film. The actress has been chatting with the press about her role and naturally the subject of her ‘day job,’ Game of Thrones, arises on occasion. In new interviews with The Late Late Show and E!Online, Christie touches upon her past in GoT and comments on her bosses.

Christie was a guest last night on The Late Late Show, hosted by James Corden, along with Empire‘s Bryshere “Yazz” Gray. She was joyful as usual, reminiscing about the time she fought a bear and sharing an awkward GoT-related encounter at the dentist’s office.

To watch the complete episode of The Late Late Show, visit CBS.com!


Christie E

Christie also ably dodged spoilers in her chat with E!Online. (Videos available at E! Autoplay though, so we’re not embedding.)

She denies having any knowledge of season 6, including the latest teaser and Jon Snow’s presence, and claims with a straight face that she hasn’t even read the script beyond her own bits.

“I mean I’ve wrapped on it but I didn’t read any of it. I just improvised this year. The whole thing.”

Given that the show will be entirely wrapped for everyone within a couple weeks, it’s not a surprise that Christie has finished filming for the year.

As for the question of whether it’s scary or exciting to be off the books this year, Christie says, “I really love what David Benioff and Dan Weiss are doing. I think they’re creating some really fascinating and intelligent storytelling, and George R.R. Martin is an executive producer on Game of Thrones so nothing is ever without his blessing.”

She also discusses moving between Game of Thrones and Star Wars. Christie says it at the GoT season 3 premiere when she learned she had a meeting for Star Wars. (Though based on the date of the announcement of her SW:TFA casting, I suspect it was actually the season 4 premiere.) Scheduling her filming Star Wars and GoT at the same time was a “wonderful problem,” according to the actress.

Well, if you’re going to avoid spoilers, at least be as charming about it as Christie is. She’s always delightful and full of energy in her interviews.

Sue the Fury
Susan Miller, Editor in Chief of WatchersOnTheWall.com

83 Comments

  1. At the Star Wars press event John Boyega asked her about Jon Snow. She told him the same… that she only read her parts.

  2. Sophie Turner’s interviews should be interesting (if she even does any). Kid doesn’t seem very adept at lying with a straight face, and if its actually true that she spends a lot of time with JS this season, she won’t be able to hide it for long. I expect about 3-4 interviews before she starts spilling beans.

  3. Always a pleasure to see Gwendoline?.On another note:NCW tweeted about his favorite gym in NI ,stating he would be back next year?. Guess he won’t die in season 6 (rather a long way from Denmark to NI just for a quick workout)?

  4. Gwendoline is as charming and entertaining as always! I’m so glad she is our Brienne (actually HBO’s Brienne) and I’m really happy she got those roles in Hunger Games and Star Wars.
    I have just received a Brienne sigil T-shirt from HBO Shop Europe and I ordered a Brienne figure. Maybe I’ll have to order also a Jaime figure for fear Brienne might feel lonely near my computer. At least on my desk she and Jaime will be together for ever.

  5. RosanaZugey,

    She seemed uncomfortable enough in some of the interviews she gave during the emmy’s when asked about JS 🙂 . Maisie on the other hand, seems to enjoy trolling us!

    Mother of madness,

    That just might have been a real slip by NCW. But really glad that he might make it thru S6!

  6. I like Gwen and I’m very excited to finally root for one of her characters as the new Star Wars will be out.Hope she doesn’t bite the dust and we see her in the next episode too.

  7. ghost of winterfell:
    RosanaZugey,

    She seemed uncomfortable enough in some of the interviews she gave during the emmy’s when asked about JS :).

    Lol. Oh yeah. I know. I watched them all. 😉 That’s why I say…she won’t last long. The interviewer will insist and she’ll cave like a house of cards. And since she’s never gone down the, “JS is dead…deader than dead,” road like Maisie and Finn (for example), I imagine she’ll give up the goose sooner rather than later. If HBO is smart, they won’t let her do interviews. 😉

  8. Well I think she’s overstating nothing ever being without George’s blessing, because George himself has said he doesn’t get consulted on things such as casting decisions anymore, and ultimately if D&D want aliens to come down from space and invade, they can do so because it’s their show. Also he has stated he only sees basic outlines of the season, nothing more. So his “say” on what occurs seems overstated.

    That being said, I don’t think he’s unhappy with the show by any stretch. I’m sure there are moments, but I truly doubt it’s as big a deal as people try to make it when changes occur. The man worked in Hollywood himself. He knows what it’s all about.

  9. Shy Lady Dragon:
    Maybe I’ll have to order also a Jaime figure for fear Brienne might feel lonely near my computer. At least on my desk she and Jaime will be together for ever.

    That’s awfully cute. 🙂 I have the same thing on my bookshelf, except mine are Tyrion and Sansa. *Blushes*

  10. RosanaZugey,

    Aw, I’m glad for your Tyrion! I hope your Sansa treats him as he wants to. He deserves to be loved and I’m afraid he won’t get much in the series.
    Look at us, like little girls with dolls 🙂

  11. Mack,

    https://twitter.com/nikolajcw/status/673947960464535552

    That’s the Nikolaj tweet with “See you next year.”

    Shy Lady Dragon,

    I can say from experience that Jaime dolls and Brienne dolls are much happier when they are together. When you’re not watching, they spar and bicker-flirt.

    Gwendoline Christie – LUV HUH. She is always so charming and enthusiastic and articulate. And so much damn fun. The Star Wars cast interview where she beats out Kashmir while Oscar Isaac and John Boyega are her “air” band, adorbs.

  12. Shy Lady Dragon:
    RosanaZugey,

    Aw, I’m glad for your Tyrion! I hope your Sansa treats him as he wants to. He deserves to be loved and I’m afraid he won’t get much in the series.
    Look at us, like little girls with dolls

    Hahaha. We never outgrow it. ? Everytime I look at my little Pop! Figures, I can’t help but think of this scene in Spaceballs.

    http://youtu.be/LMxTFqPET5I

    *Laughs* Ahhh. Classic.

  13. That tweet is no surpris,Jaime is here for the long run.I don’t know how some people could believe characters like Jaime or Melisandre are going to die soon,it makes no sense at all.

  14. Very proud of fellow brit Gwendoline, classy fun lady who always makes me smile in her interviews she’s so WYSIWYG its really refreshing

  15. HotPinkLipstick:
    Mack,

    https://twitter.com/nikolajcw/status/673947960464535552

    That’s the Nikolaj tweet with “See you next year.”

    Shy Lady Dragon,

    Yey!! There is a chance he thought other people wouldn’t see it….. but please let this be a spoiler. Jaime needs to survive this season 🙂

    So happy for Gwen, i read somewhere her role will be smaller in this one but she will be in the following Star Wars movie with a bigger part!
    Star Wars is huge, and she deserves it.! I just hope they will show her face in the movie, being in one of the most popular movies ever , people need to know it’s her under the costume.

  16. RosanaZugey,

    I haven’t watched Spaceballs for a while, thanks for reminding me! Well, that’s reasuring: not only I behave like a little girl, but also like a super villain 🙂
    I promise I won’t do that with my Brienne and Jaime 🙂

  17. “George R.R. Martin is an executive producer on Game of Thrones so nothing is ever without his blessing”

    Ah ah, thank you Gwendoline.

    We should print this sentence, frame it and send it to Linda and the other haters of the show.

  18. Shy Lady Dragon,

    You need a bear figurine to go along with them! Give them an adventure! 😉

    I totally idolize Gwendoline. Her and Lena. Such a classy and funny lady. All the cast members are being really good about not giving up the s06 secrets. It’s killing me!! Let’s hope Sophie will crack…

  19. Gwendoline is holding in GoT spoilers and Star Wars spoilers. I’d be exploding wanting to tell. She tells nothing and still manages to give great interview.

  20. God, Gwendoline is awesome. I always enjoy her interviews – her enthusiasm is just so infectious. And that laugh … it gets me every time. 🙂

    It may be too early to say this, but in a show with a cast of hundreds and a damn near perfect track record, I think that Christie might well prove to be Game of Thrones’ biggest discovery (by that, I mean an actor who either hadn’t worked much and/or was essentially unknown before they were cast). Of course, she has very stiff competition for that title. I’m certain we’ll be hearing about Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, and many others for a long time after the show ends (in particular, I think Turner’s star will rise even further once X-Men: Apocalypse is released). But it’s interesting that, at least for now, Christie is the one who seems to have reaped the most high-profile opportunities as a result of the exposure that Game of Thrones has given her.

    To be fair, being cast in Star Wars goes a long way towards tipping the scales in her favor. Her role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, while highly publicized, wound up being pretty small. And yes, I’m sure that her stature and the physically demanding nature of her role on the show have afforded her opportunities that her colleagues might not have been considered for on the first pass. If any director in the next several years needs to cast a tall, badass female warrior for their film, Gwendoline Christie’s name is always going to be entered into the conversation, if not at the very top of the shortlist.

    But all that would be for nothing if she wasn’t an extraordinarily talented actress as well. Those of us who have watched the show know that she can handle dramatic material with the best of them. Furthermore, while Brienne doesn’t get the luxury of many overtly comedic moments, Gwendoline seems to have a great sense of humor – she’s always hilarious when she’s out of character. I’d love to see her get a chance to play a more comedic role at some point. I think she’d crush it.

    Ultimately, I hope that the recognition that comes with having key parts in both the biggest show on TV and the biggest movie franchise in the world will enable Christie to pick whatever projects she wants in the future. I’ll never get tired of seeing her wield a sword or a blaster, but if she wants to branch out take roles that don’t require her to do those things, I’d say that she’s more than earned that opportunity.

    TL;DR – Gwendoline is awesome. Perhaps I should have left it at that. 😉

  21. Aryamad,

    So do I. I had been waiting impaciently to see who would play Brienne (I hadn’t known Gwen at the time) and I was mesmerized the first time I saw her.
    While reading the books I totally hated Cersei, but Lena managed to make me love her, even if I still want the seven hells to swallow Cersei. I have binge-watched for many times, but this time I surprise myself smiling when I see Lena as if I met an old dear friend. No matter how bitchy Cersei is! That’s a great actress!
    And both these two ladies have killing black homour at interviews. Have you seen that one when Lena is asked to drink wine and talk like Cersei?

  22. Jared,

    I want to sit at your table and listen to you rhapsodize about Gwendoline Christie for hours. I’ll stare dreamily into your eyes and twirl my hair on one finger too.

    No seriously, you’re right. GoT seems to be really translating into more for GC. She struggled finding roles, but Brienne really opened people’s eyes to her. She’s always talking about how women’s roles need to not be so much about appearance but about interaction and character. In that vein, I think she would rock the fuck out of a rom-com.

    I love Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, but he has made some terrible movie choices, The Other Woman, Gods of Egypt, but he seems happy to do his smaller, Danish films and just supplement with the bigger ones.

    Kit’s Pompeii was a mistake, but he’s making up for it.

    I think Emilia will get cast a lot because she has a warm, likable look, when not wearing that flammable wig.

    The problem with Sophie and the X-Men franchise is that it’s currently stacked with characters. I can’t imagine she’s going to get a ton of screen time in Apocalypse. Hopefully it translates well for her.

    But yeah…Gwendoline. That woman is amazing. Thank you Nina Gold for bringing her into the public eye.

  23. Aryamad,

    You should know! I mean, you know T-shirts, M’lady! I wish your “Corn!” T-shirt were available on the site’s store.

  24. Jared,

    No, you haven’t praised her too much! Not for a fellow Gwen fan, ser! I’m happy to see there are others who admire her as much as I do.

  25. All she needs to do now is land s role in the MCU and she would have that fantasy geek market totally cornered…

    And funny thing is she has the size and acting ability, plus she now has an in with Disney, so her landing some role in the MCU wouldn’t be far fetched.

  26. Speaking of the MCU, you all seen the new Captain America trailer right?

    It looks pretty amazing and I feel so bad for Tony at the end when Cap says “Sorry Tony but he’s my friend” and Tony says “So was I” all sad… Then Cap and Winter Soldier beat the shit out of him… I don’t like that Cap is taking part in an unfair beat down. Guess I will be on Starks side… LOL, I am always on any Starks side I guess!

  27. RosanaZugey: Everytime I look at my little Pop! Figures, I can’t help but think of this scene in Spaceballs.

    http://youtu.be/LMxTFqPET5I

    *Laughs* Ahhh. Classic.

    Hahahah, OMG that is my favourite scene in that movie, and it’s a tough field! I must have seen it about 50 times but I reckon it’ll be the perfect thing to watch before I go out to see Ms Christie and co in the new SW on the 18th 🙂

  28. Shy Lady Dragon,

    Yes! I have seen the “wine” interview! Loved that. 🙂 I have actually been on the hunt for a Cersei wine goblet look-a-like forever! Funny enough the closest thing I found was at a Dollar Tree store (similar to UK’s Poundland).

    Oh and if you want the Corn shirt for Christmas here’s the link. 🙂 I made it as cheap as Redbubble would let me.

  29. Don’t forget Jason Momoa ..Conan was both lame and box office bomb, but Momoa will now lead a DC movie, he is the one who made GoT work the best.
    Peter , Lena, NCW, Kit all made bad choices despite their talent ,(Emilia did a good choice, she couldn’t know if Terminator would work but it is a big franchise) and the others are still supporting… Jason Momoa is the only leading star that came from GoT and i still don’t understand why…. 🙂

  30. iridium: Hahahah, OMG that is my favourite scene in that movie, and it’s a tough field! I must have seen it about 50 times but I reckon it’ll be the perfect thing to watch before I go out to see Ms Christie and co in the new SW on the 18th

    Oh man! Spaceballs is freaking CLASSIC! Way too many good scenes to chose from. Pretty appropriate that in a topic about GC and the newest Star Wars, we watch clips from a classic Star Wars spoof. ? I think I’m going to follow your lead and watch it again here soon. ?

    But in the meantime…”COMB THE DESERT!!!”

  31. Maggie,

    Maybe I’m misinterpreting what some are saying, but I think they were talking about those who were complete unknowns before GoT. Peter, Lena, and Jason Momoa may not have been huge stars before GoT, but they were certainly not complete unknowns, at least not in the States.

    Add me to the list of people who are huge fans of Gwendoline.

  32. Nymeria Warrior Queen:
    Maggie,

    Maybe I’m misinterpreting what some are saying, but I think they were talking about those who were complete unknowns before GoT.Peter, Lena, and Jason Momoa may not have been huge stars before GoT, but they were certainly not complete unknowns, at least not in the States.

    Add me to the list of people who are huge fans of Gwendoline.

    A ok i thought we talk about the GoT actors in general. I am not from States…and to be honest i could recognize only Lena before GoT because of 300 and Natalie because of Tudors. Still doesn’t take back that Lena and Peter despite the praise they get and their obvious talent , don’t have a decent role after GoT…i mean that thing with Zombies lena has as an upcoming movie, Pixels or some straight to dvd movies for Peter( except x-men) …. while Momoa despite his first attept didn’t work, is getting a big movie on him( he didn’t had that before GoT) he is clearly the winner of this, next i will put Gwen and Pedro Pascal despite not getting a leading role she has SW and he has Narcos and that movie with Matt Damon. Nik is one of my favourites and i think he has the acting and the looks to get good roles, i am sorry when i see so bad critics….i wish he could do better…
    Kit will act in that Xavier Dolan movie and Emilia in that romatic one…i hope it works well for both of them. Sophie and Maise are too young, i am sure they will get good roles in the future. I want Lena and Peter to go for roles that could be award winning in cinema ….they have the talent to do that…

    In general i see that every GoT actor worth much better than they get…but i don’t do castings…or maybe i love this series too much… 🙂

  33. Maggie,

    I absolutely agree so many actors on GoT have the chops to go on to do some really fantastic work. I’d guess it’s tough, when offered a ton of money, even for a project which isn’t exactly a great choice, to turn it down.

    If you’ve never seen it, I’d recommend seeking out a film called The Station Agent. It’s a small, quiet little film, but, at least imo, brilliant. That’s where I first became aware of Peter Dinklage, and after seeing him in that film, knew I’d watch damn near anything in which he appeared.

  34. Nymeria Warrior Queen:
    Maggie,

    If you’ve never seen it, I’d recommend seeking out a film called The Station Agent.It’s a small, quiet little film, but, at least imo, brilliant.That’s where I first became aware of Peter Dinklage, and after seeing him in that film, knew I’d watch damn near anything in which he appeared.

    No i haven’t watched this. I will try to find it, peter is an amazing actor! Thanks for the recommendation!!

  35. Mother of madness:
    Always a pleasure to see Gwendoline?.On another note:NCW tweeted about his favorite gym in NI ,stating he would be back next year?. Guess he won’t die in season 6 (rather a long way from Denmark to NI just for a quick workout)?

    Ha ha, there goes my theory of him dying this season. I’m glad!

  36. Arthur,

    Unfair beatdown? First of all Iron Man could easily kill them, but he seems to be holding back against them. He is supposed to be wearing Bleeding Edge Armor or some advanced technology suit that makes him really strong. He went one on one with Hulk and hold his ground in Hulkbuster suit or against Thor. Kinda surprising considering what Winter Soldier did to him.

    I’m not on either side, because I actually agree with both of them. They should be under some control and understand Tony’s will to redeem himself after Ultron. Well, on the other hand fully understand Cap’s position on this after The Winter Soldier movie events. Hydra controlled Shield and who say they can’t do it with government or what will be the exact people controlling Avengers. He wants to help his best friend and actually only connection to his youth.

  37. Maggie,

    I second Nymeria’s recommendation. In my case also The Station Agent was the film which made me aware what a great actor Peter is. But I must admit I became his fan only with GOT.

  38. Sou,

    I belive, could wrong tough.

    Ser, was(is) used for knights.

    Sir, is a polite way too adress a man, like ”Miss” when you adress a women.

    Like I said, I could be wrong but that is how I know them..

  39. Jack Bauer 24,

    I’m not sure exactly when filming ends, but I believe it’s within the next couple/few weeks. Maybe someone else could give you a specific date.

  40. Sou,

    I think that’s GRRM’s way to show us it’s an imaginary world, not the one in which a gentleman would be addressed “sir”. So, he invented “ser” in the same manner he spells “Petyr” instead of “Peter”, “Olyvar” instead of “Oliver”, “Kevan” instead of “Kevin” and so on. See, it’s not Medieval England, it’s Westeros.

  41. Remember how Brienne gets her face all messed up by Biter? I think Ramsay is going to take his place and chew up Brienne. I could see him doing that, and Gwendoline did mention a fight that is “up close and vicious”
  42. The Season 6 teaser already has over 12 million views! For comparison, the Season 5 trailer has a little over 6 million. The teaser has doubled that already!

  43. HotPinkLipstick,

    “Stacked with characters” would also describe Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I should think.

    I do hope Maisie can land something really notable in the near future (her appearances on Doctor Who were fun and showed her range). She and Sophie will both be in their early 20s when the show wraps up, which is when there starts to be more opportunity for younger actresses (most “teen” roles don’t go to actual teenagers).

  44. Maggie: No i haven’t watched this. I will try to find it, peter is an amazing actor! Thanks for the recommendation!!

    Seconded; it’s great.

  45. Maisie was really fun (and quite sympathetic despite her character being completely nutso) on Doctor Who.

    Secret casting wish-list: Gwendoline Christie as The Doctor. If they will really have a female doctor sometime after Peter Capaldi, then I would love GC to play the role. She could show her comedic range while still acing the drama and pathos aspect of the character, and having the strength to manage such a tense shift. Plus, she’s a geekdom darling already.

  46. I was expecting Gwen to break and falter from exhaustion of doing all the Star Wars press rounds and give us even a tiny hint on GoT. But no, this girl is tough! I’d hire her to keep my secrets. I enjoyed all her interviews though. She is mesmerizing

  47. God I am madly in love with this woman, she’s such a delightful, gregarious beautiful lady. I can’t wait to see her career sky rocket after Dec 18th.

  48. I would love to hang out with Gwen, shenanigans would abound! She’s lovely and unique in a world of carbon copies.

    MeeraForrester:
    Maisie was really fun (and quite sympathetic despite her character being completely nutso) on Doctor Who.

    Secret casting wish-list: Gwendoline Christie as The Doctor. If they will really have a female doctor sometime after Peter Capaldi, then I would love GC to play the role. She could show her comedic range while still acing the drama and pathos aspect of the character, and having the strength to manage such a tense shift. Plus, she’s a geekdom darling already.

    I really like this idea!

  49. She has/had spoilers from GOT, The Hunger Games and Star Wars at the same time… she’s a powerful lady right now XD

    Add me to the Gwen Hype Train!

  50. MeeraForrester:

    Secret casting wish-list: Gwendoline Christie as The Doctor. If they will really have a female doctor sometime after Peter Capaldi, then I would love GC to play the role. She could show her comedic range while still acing the drama and pathos aspect of the character, and having the strength to manage such a tense shift. Plus, she’s a geekdom darling already.

    Agree 100% on this. She’d be fabulous I’m sure.

    In GoT I’d love Jaime to ditch his Kingsguard cloak and marry Brienne. They’d produce some fearsome little fighters no doubt. Can’t see it happening but I think they’d make a great match.

  51. HalfMan,

    Aw, I wish you were right! I fantasized myself about Brienne and Jaime getting together (as half of the fandom might know by now *blushing*), but marriage… and little fierce warriors! That’s too cute!

  52. MeeraForrester:
    Secret casting wish-list: Gwendoline Christie as The Doctor. If they will really have a female doctor sometime after Peter Capaldi, then I would love GC to play the role. She could show her comedic range while still acing the drama and pathos aspect of the character, and having the strength to manage such a tense shift. Plus, she’s a geekdom darling already.

    I second this. Not sure if I’m sold on the idea of a female Doctor, BUT I must admit that Christie would probably be fabulous in that role.

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