She might continue to survive for months or even years … unfortunately for her.

[Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss] called me, but I kind of knew already.

Obviously there’s lots of trimming going on.

Helen Sloan - HBO (Photo 1)[1]

Credit: Helen Sloan/HBO

So I was expecting it.

I wasn’t heartbroken.

But of course Idon’tdie on screen.

I stay alive, I’m just not going to reappear.

I think it’s really clever.

It’s more haunting, I think, doing it this way…

It’s really dark.

I just thought the delivery of that information was so clever.

Especially since the kiss comes before the information.

What was it like shooting that scene?

It was hard work.

A lot of blood snot and sweat and tears.

Myself and Rosabell had to be shackled.

At the end of the day I was like, “I’m stuck!

I need somebody to help me!”

and they had to cut me out of them.

All in a day’s work.

It probably helps getting into Ellaria’s mindset by having something to pull against.

But the older I get the more I just leave myself alone in my work.

I don’t need to beat myself up before a take.

I just go there in my thoughts.

I don’t have to think about my dead cat or anything.

I like that sense of play.

One of the great things about the scene is it plays with audience expectations and allegiances.

Because, I think, we’re naturally inclined to feel sorry for Ellaria and Tyene, the victims.

I hope people feel that.

Ellaria hasn’t had quite the screen time so people are inevitably more invested in Cersei.

It’s quite a challenge from an acting perspective to be interesting with no lines.

It was fun trying to play anger resentment and impotence in that situation, but still wanting to fight.

At what point do you give up wanting to fight?

It’s a human paternal instinct where you just want to keep fighting for your child.

What was your favorite scene?

I loved all the work I did with Pedro, but I also loved working with the girls.

We were playing Scrabble behind the scenes, it was great fun.

Did you get to keep anything from the show?

I have kept Ellaria’s leather wristband.

It’s getting harder for them to give actors stuff because everybody wants something from the show.

It’s an ensemble piece that’s constantly creative and fun.

I think that why it’s lasted so long.

What’s next for you?

I just shot a one-off drama from Channel 4 calledThe Truth.

I think it’s really good actually.

And it’s what happens over the next 48 hours.

It’s basically an emotional journey of what happens to this woman as she becomes more and more paranoid.

So I’m busy-busy, which is great.

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Game of Thronesairs Sundays on HBO.