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Which movies and TV shows is Lena Headey a part of?

Published

9 months ago

April 9, 2024

Credits: HBO

Lena Headey is a well-known and impressive presence in the world of movies and TV. She’s famous for her skillful acting and has appeared in many memorable roles on both the big and small screens. From playing Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones to starring in big movies like “300” and “The Brothers Grimm,” Headey’s talent has made a significant impact on the entertainment world. In this article, we’ll closely examine Lena Headey’s long list of movies and TV shows, exploring the wide range of characters she’s portrayed with her fantastic acting skills.

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11 Minutes Read

Who is Lena Headey?

Credits: Cindy Ord/Wireimage

Born on October 3, 1973, Lena Headey is a British actress famous for her roles in TV shows and movies. She became known for playing Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. Headey’s performance in the show was praised widely, and she was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award.

Before her big role in Game of Thrones, Headey acted in many different movies and TV series. One of her notable roles was as Queen Gorgo in the 2006 movie 300. She started her acting career early, appearing in her first movie, Waterland, in 1992.

Apart from acting, Headey is also involved in charity work. She supports groups like NOH8, which fights for LGBT rights, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which helps people in need.

Headey has been open about her personal life, discussing her struggles with postnatal depression and her decision to become a vegetarian. She has been in various relationships and marriages with celebrities, including musician Peter Loughran and filmmaker Dan Cadan. In October 2022, she married American actor Marc Menchaca.

Additionally, Headey is good friends with actors Piper Perabo and Peter Dinklage. Dinklage even recommended her for the role of Cersei Lannister in “Game of Thrones.”

Which movies does Lena Headey appear in?

The Jungle Book (1994)

Credits: Walt Disney Pictures

Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, a 1994 American adventure film directed by Stephen Sommers, retells Kipling’s famous Mowgli stories. This live-action adaptation portrays animal characters without the ability to talk. The screenplay, written by Ronald Yanover and Mark Geldman, follows Mowgli’s adventures in the jungle during British-ruled India.

Starring Jason Scott Lee as Mowgli, alongside Cary Elwes, Lena Headey, Sam Neill, and John Cleese, the film received positive reviews upon its release on December 25, 1994. Despite costing $30 million to make, it earned $70 million worldwide, becoming a success under Buena Vista Pictures’ distribution.

Set in colonial India, the story follows Mowgli, the son of a guide named Nathoo, as he joins Colonel Geoffrey Brydon and his daughter Kitty on a jungle expedition. Their journey is fraught with danger, especially from the fearsome tiger Shere Khan, seeking vengeance for jungle laws broken by hunters led by Buldeo.

In the midst of peril, Mowgli forms bonds with Bagheera, the wise panther, and Baloo, the friendly bear cub. Lena Headey portrays Kitty Brydon, Mowgli’s childhood friend and love interest.

This adaptation differs from Disney’s 2016 live-action remake, which stayed closer to the animated classic. Nevertheless, Stephen Sommer’s version remains a significant part of Kipling’s timeless tale’s cinematic history.

Ripley’s Game (2002)

Credits: Fine Line Features

“Ripley’s Game,” released in 2002 and directed by Liliana Cavani, is a thriller based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel of the same name. It’s the third installment in the series featuring the mysterious anti-hero Tom Ripley. John Malkovich stars as Ripley, supported by Dougray Scott and Ray Winstone, earning praise for his performance.

The film was well-received by critics. In 1977, director Wim Wenders adapted Highsmith’s novel as The American Friend, starring Dennis Hopper and Bruno Ganz.

The story centers on Tom Ripley’s involvement in an art forgery scheme in Berlin with British gangster Reeves. When Ripley discovers Reeves’ betrayal, he takes action to reclaim the money and artwork intended forgeries, ending their partnership.

Three years later, Ripley lives in a luxurious villa in Veneto with his wife, Luisa. However, his peace is disrupted when Reeves resurfaces, seeking Ripley’s help to eliminate a rival mobster. This request reignites old tensions and challenges Ripley’s carefully crafted life.

As the plot unfolds, tension builds as Ripley grapples with loyalty and deception while maintaining his facade of respectability. Cavani’s direction and Malkovich’s performance breathe life into Highsmith’s dark and intricate tale, captivating audiences with its sinister allure and psychological depth.

The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Credits: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

“The Brothers Grimm,” released in 2005 and directed by Terry Gilliam, stars Matt Damon, Heath Ledger, and Lena Headey. The movie portrays the Grimm brothers as clever tricksters traveling through France-controlled Germany in the early 1800s.

Their adventures take a magical turn when they face a real curse from a fairy tale, requiring them to show genuine bravery instead of relying on their usual tricks. Alongside the main actors, notable performances come from Peter Stormare, Jonathan Pryce, and Monica Bellucci.

Filmed in the beautiful landscapes of the Czech Republic, the production faced challenges, including conflicts between Gilliam and producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein. This resulted in a nearly ten-month delay in the film’s release. Eventually, “The Brothers Grimm” hit theaters on August 26, 2005, receiving mixed reviews from critics but earning $105.3 million worldwide.

The story follows Will and Jake Grimm, skilled tricksters who use Jake’s knowledge of folklore to trick villagers into paying for their made-up monster-fighting services. However, their lies catch up with them when they encounter the dark forces plaguing the village of Marbaden.

Tasked by French General Delatombe to investigate the disappearances of local girls, the brothers discover a real supernatural threat: a centuries-old Thuringian Queen who captures maidens to maintain her fading youth.

300 (2006)

Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

“300” is a 2006 American movie based on a comic book series by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. Directed by Zack Snyder, it tells a fictionalized version of the Battle of Thermopylae during the Greco-Persian Wars.

King Leonidas, played by Gerard Butler, leads 300 Spartans against the Persian leader Xerxes and his large army. Meanwhile, Queen Gorgo, played by Lena Headey, seeks help for her husband in Sparta.

The movie adds some fantasy elements to the historical story, putting it in the historical fantasy genre. It uses special effects to make it look like the scenes from the comic book.

“300” was released in the United States on March 9, 2007, and on home media on July 31, 2007. While some critics liked the visuals and style, they didn’t like some of the inaccuracies and how the Persians were portrayed. But the movie grossed over $456 million. It also got nominated for ten Saturn Awards and won two.

The story is told by a soldier named Dilios, who talks about Leonidas’s life. Leonidas refuses when a Persian messenger insults Queen Gorgo and demands Sparta’s surrender to Xerxes. Even though the Ephors, Sparta’s leaders, disagreed, Leonidas gathered 300 soldiers to fight the Persians at Thermopylae.

Dredd (2012)

Credits: DNA Films

Dredd is a 2012 science fiction action film directed by Pete Travis and written and produced by Alex Garland. It is based on the “Judge Dredd” comic strip created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra. Karl Urban stars as Judge Dredd, a law enforcer in Mega-City One, a dystopian metropolis in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Dredd and his rookie partner, Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), are assigned to restore order in a 200-story high-rise block controlled by drug lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey).

Development of the film began in 2006, with production announced in December 2008. Principal photography started in November 2010 in Cape Town and Johannesburg, utilizing 3D cameras for filming on practical sets and locations.

Released on 7 September 2012 in the UK and on 21 September worldwide, “Dredd” received praise for its visual effects, casting, and action sequences. However, critics noted excessive violence and a perceived lack of satire compared to the source material. Despite mixed box office results, the film gained a cult following after its home release. While a theatrical sequel seemed unlikely, strong home media sales and fan support, backed by publisher Rebellion Developments, kept the possibility alive.

The plot is set in 2080, in Mega-City One, where Judge Dredd upholds law and order in a city plagued by crime. He evaluates recruit Cassandra Anderson, a psychic who narrowly failed her Judge aptitude tests. As they confront the growing chaos orchestrated by Ma-Ma, Dredd, and Anderson face relentless challenges in their fight for justice.

Which TV shows does Lena Heady appear in?

Band of Gold

Credits: ITV

Band of Gold is a British TV show about crime made by Kay Mellor. It started airing on ITV on March 12, 1995, and was produced by Granada Television. The show is about the lives of prostitutes who work in Bradford’s red-light district. It stars Geraldine James, Cathy Tyson, Barbara Dickson, and Samantha Morton. The show ran for three seasons, and the last episode aired on December 1, 1997.

After each season aired, they released it on VHS and later on DVD under the Cinema Club brand in July 2004. Then, they released the whole series on DVD by Network on February 6, 2006, and again on May 22, 2009. John Burke turned the stories from the first two seasons into books called “Band of Gold: Ring of Lies” and “Band of Gold: Chain of Power,” published by Headline Books.

Anthony Hayward wrote a book about how the show was made, “Gold: The Making of Band of Gold.” It was published on September 2, 1997, around the time the last season aired.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Credits: Warner Bros Television

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, sometimes called Terminator: TSCC, is a science fiction TV series aired on Fox from January 13, 2008, to April 10, 2009. It had 31 episodes over two seasons. The show is connected to the Terminator movies but ignores the events of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and continues after Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

The story is about Sarah Connor, played by Lena Headey, and her son John, played by Thomas Dekker. They try to stop the creation of Skynet, an artificial intelligence system that will start a nuclear war against humans.

Josh Friedman, the writer and executive producer, created the show. It was produced by Warner Bros. Television and C2 Pictures, which later became The Halcyon Company. Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna, who founded C2, created the show along with James Middleton and TV director David Nutter, who directed the first episode. Bear McCreary composed the show’s music.

The first season was initially supposed to have 13 episodes, but it only had nine because of a writers’ strike. The show got good reviews, but fewer people watched it as the second season went on. Fox canceled the show on May 18, 2009, even though fans wanted it to continue.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

Credits: The Jim Henson Company

“The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” is a fantasy TV series created and produced by The Jim Henson Company, the same folks behind the original Dark Crystal movie. It’s a prequel to the 1982 film, exploring the world of Thra before the events of the movie.

The story follows three Gelflings named Rian, Deet, and Brea. They team up to fight against the Skeksis, the rulers of Thra. Their goal is to save their planet from “the Darkening.” The show started on August 30, 2019, and people loved it. However, in September 2020, it was canceled after one season.

Rian, Brea, and Deet learn something surprising about the Skeksis rulers in the show. This discovery leads them to rebel against the Skeksis and try to save their planet from a big disaster.

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Wizards: Tales of Arcadia

Credits: DreamWorks Animation Television

“Wizards: Tales of Arcadia” is a TV series made by Guillermo del Toro and produced by DreamWorks Animation Television. It’s the third and final part of the Tales of Arcadia trilogy. The show first came out on Netflix on August 7, 2020.

In “Wizards,” we follow a fantasy story involving time travel and exploring the ancient beginnings of the world. It introduces a character named Hisirdoux “Douxie” Casperan, who was once an apprentice to the famous Merlin. Douxie wants to prove himself as a sorcerer and make his old master proud.

The show has received much praise for its storytelling. In 2021, it won an Annie and Kidscreen “Best New Series” award. It was also nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Children’s Animated Series.

In the series, Douxie Casperan sets out on a mission to find the Guardians of Arcadia and travel back in time to the 12th-century Camelot. Along the way, they discover the events leading up to the Battle of Killahead Bridge.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation

Credits: Mattel Television

“Masters of the Universe: Revelation” is a series made by Kevin Smith and Powerhouse Animation Studios. It continues the story from the old show “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” which aired from 1983 to 1985.

The new series explores what happened after the old series ended. Netflix released the first series in two parts.

In the story, Skeletor attacks Castle Grayskull for the last time and is defeated. He-Man disappears, and the source of all magic is damaged. This causes significant problems in Eternia, so Teela sets out to find the missing Sword of Power to save the universe. Along the way, she learns secrets about Castle Grayskull.

Later, He-Man returns, but Teela becomes the new Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. Meanwhile, Skeletor wants revenge. A virus made by his old boss, Hordak, has changed him.

With this new power, Skeletor attacks Eternos again. Teela tries to fix the damage Evil-Lyn caused to the afterlife world of Preternia. Lena Headey does the voice for Evil-Lyn in the series.

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