A sexist reporter once said Lena Headey looked “disappointing” in real life
As Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones, Lena Headey is the unflinchingly cruel queen of Westeros. However, in real life, the badass actress is a champion for the people — especially when it comes to women’s issues. And in a recent interview, she recalled a time when a male reporter told her that she looked “disappointing” in real life.
Headey appeared on NBC’s Running Wild with Bear Grylls in May, but the clip of her and the TV survivalist jumping off of cliffs while chatting about press junkets is only now making the rounds, thanks to an article from Insider. In the episode, as Grylls and Headey paused their adventuring, the host asked her about her experience with the press. Headey recounted how once, a journalist told her he preferred her Game of Thrones wig to her real hair.
"I went in and was seven months pregnant and [there was] a whole room of journalists, and this guy stood up and he said, 'Uh I just want to say that you're really disappointing in real life,'" Headey told Grylls. “He went, 'Is that your real hair?' And I went, ‘Yeah,’ and he went, ‘The wig is much better. I like you as a blonde.'"
“I was like, ‘Okay.’ I was just crushed,” Headey continued. “How is that all right to say?”
You can see Headey recount the story below (at around minute four)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-lY6kCte7Q?feature=oembed
IOHO, the journalist is lucky he avoided the full wrath of Casterly Rock after crossing a Lannister.
After condemning the reporter’s hurtful remarks, Grylls complimented Headey on her adventurousness in exploring the wilderness with him, saying that she had “been amazing on this journey.” Headey responded by saying that she’d like to spend more time outdoors.
"Trees don't go, 'You're really disappointing' as you walk past," she said with a laugh.
While we’re glad that Headey is able to joke about the reporter’s rude, misogynistic comment now, we’re also outraged that strangers still feel the need to give women unsolicited comments about their appearance. Let’s all do better.
