Lena Headey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lena Headey
Headey in 2019
Born	Lena Kathren Headey (1973-10-03) 3 October 1973 (age 51) Hamilton, Bermuda
Nationality	British
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1992–present
Spouse(s)	Peter Loughran ​ ​ (m. 2007; div. 2013)​ Marc Menchaca ​ (m. 2022)​
Children	2

Lena Kathren Headey (born 3 October 1973) is a British actress. She is famous around the world for playing Cersei Lannister in the popular fantasy TV show Game of Thrones (2011–2019). This role earned her five nominations for the Emmy Award, a top prize in television.

Headey is also known for playing Gorgo, Queen of Sparta in the action movie 300 (2006). She started her acting career in 1992 in the movie Waterland. She has appeared in many other movies, including The Remains of the Day (1993), The Jungle Book (1994), and The Brothers Grimm (2005).

She also starred as Sarah Connor in the science-fiction TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008–2009). Headey has also done voice acting for animated shows like Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Infinity Train.

Early Life

Lena Headey was born in Hamilton, Bermuda, where her father, a police officer from Yorkshire, England, was working. She has a younger brother named Tim. Her family is of English and Irish heritage.

When she was five, her family moved back to England. As a child, she took ballet lessons. Headey first tried acting at Shelley College. At age 17, she was in a school play at the famous Royal National Theatre in London. A casting agent saw her perform, took her picture, and asked her to audition for a movie. This led to her first role in the 1992 film Waterland.

Acting Career

Early Roles (1992–2004)

After her first movie, Waterland, Headey got a big role in the TV movie The Clothes in the Wardrobe (1993). She also had a small part in the award-winning film The Remains of the Day (1993).

In 1994, she played Kitty Brydon in Disney's The Jungle Book. She was the childhood friend of the main character, Mowgli. The movie was a success and critics liked the actors' performances. She also appeared in other British TV shows and movies during the 1990s.

In 2000, Headey starred in the movie Aberdeen, for which she won a Best Actress award at a European film festival. The next year, she played a police officer in the comedy The Parole Officer with actor Steve Coogan. In 2002, she was in the thriller Ripley's Game, where critics said she gave a powerful performance.

Becoming Famous (2005–2010)

Headey became more widely known after starring in The Brothers Grimm (2005) with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger. She played Angelika, a tough woodsman's daughter. Headey liked that her character was a "tomboy" who was strong and survived in the forest.

Headey at the 2007 Scream Awards

In 2005, she also starred in the romantic comedy Imagine Me & You. A film critic for the San Francisco Chronicle said Headey had an "irresistible appeal" in the movie.

Her most famous film role from this time was Queen Gorgo in the epic war movie 300 (2007). The film was based on a comic book series about the ancient Battle of Thermopylae. Her character had a much bigger part in the movie than in the comic. The film was a huge box office success, making over $450 million worldwide.

From 2008 to 2009, Headey starred as Sarah Connor in the TV show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The show was a spin-off of the popular Terminator movies. For her role, she was nominated for a Saturn Award twice.

Worldwide Success (2011–Present)

In 2011, Headey began her most famous role as Queen Cersei Lannister in the HBO series Game of Thrones. The show was based on the books by George R. R. Martin. Her friend and co-star, Peter Dinklage, suggested her for the part. Her performance as the powerful and cunning queen was praised by critics. She was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards for her work on the show.

Headey in 2017

In 2012, she played the main villain in the science-fiction action film Dredd. The following year, she starred in the horror film The Purge (2013). The movie was a big hit, earning over $89 million around the world.

She returned as Queen Gorgo in the sequel 300: Rise of an Empire (2014). Like the first film, it was a commercial success. In 2016, she played Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the movie Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

In recent years, Headey has also done voice acting for shows like Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia. In 2020, she started her own production company called Peephole Productions. In 2022, it was announced she would direct her first movie, a thriller called Violet.

Charity Work and Advocacy

Headey supports several causes. She works with the LGBT rights organization NOH8. In 2015, she appeared on a T-shirt to help raise money for the group.

She is also involved with the International Rescue Committee, an organization that helps migrants. She has spoken about the need to help people in need, especially during the European migrant crisis.

In 2018, she did a voice-over for an advertisement for Alzheimer's Research UK, a charity that works to fight Alzheimer's disease. In 2024, she took part in a video series supporting South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice regarding the conflict in Gaza.

Personal Life

Headey in 2007

Headey married musician Peter Loughran in 2007. They have a son, who was born in 2010. The couple separated in 2011 and their divorce was finalized in 2013.

In 2015, she had a daughter with filmmaker Dan Cadan. They separated in 2019.

In October 2022, Headey married American actor Marc Menchaca. They had been dating since 2020.

Filmography

Headey has appeared in over 50 films. Some of her most successful movies include The Remains of the Day (1993), The Jungle Book (1994), 300 (2007), Dredd (2012), The Purge (2013), and Fighting with My Family (2019).

Her most famous television roles include Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008–2009) and Game of Thrones (2011–2019). She has also lent her voice to animated series like The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) and Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021).

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Lena Headey para niños