Lena Kathren Headey is a British actress. She gained international recognition and acclaim for her portrayal of Cersei Lannister on the HBO fantasy drama series Game of Thrones (2011–2019), for which she received five Emmy Award nominations and a Golden Globe Award nomination. She was also nominated for a Saturn Award for her portrayal of Gorgo, Queen of Sparta, in 300 (2006) and a BAFTA Award for directing the short film The Trap (2019).