Before landing the role of the enigmatic Melisandre, Game of Thrones star Carice van Houten was asked to audition for Queen Cersei Lannister. The Dutch actress revealed in a 2012 interview that scheduling conflicts prevented her from trying out for the part. The story resurfaced amid her upcoming role in Prime Video's Malice.
The Audition That Never Happened
In a 2012 interview with Vulture, Carice van Houten shared that Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss had her in mind for the role of Cersei Lannister. 'I thought the queen would be a great part,' van Houten said, 'and they asked me to audition, but I couldn't do it, because I was shooting something else.' Ultimately, the role went to Lena Headey, who portrayed the cunning queen across all eight seasons, earning five Emmy nominations for her performance.
Melisandre's Impact on the Series
Van Houten instead joined the HBO fantasy epic as Melisandre, the Red Priestess of the Lord of Light. The character played a key role in supporting Stannis Baratheon's claim to the Iron Throne and later allying with Jon Snow, portrayed by Kit Harington. Known for her mystical powers and soothsaying, Melisandre met her end during the 'The Long Night' episode in season 8, providing a poignant conclusion before the series finale in 2019.
Headey, reflecting on her own experience, described Cersei's filming as relatively comfortable compared to other cast members. 'I am always in Belfast in a room,' she said during a 2019 appearance on the Virgin Radio Breakfast show, noting her limited 15 days per season often involved scenes of her character drinking wine.
Van Houten's Career Since Game of Thrones
Following the end of Game of Thrones, van Houten has continued to build her resume with European projects. She starred for two seasons in the British medical comedy-drama Temple opposite Mark Strong. Currently, she appears alongside David Duchovny and Jack Whitehall in Prime Video's psychological thriller miniseries Malice, set to stream starting November 14.