“It was actually the most comfortable casting I’ve ever had, considering,” Van Cleave says.
She also opted out of the casting process for her double.
“If somebody is brave enough to do this, I applaud it.”
Credit: Macall B. Polay/HBO
Director David Nutter called Van Cleave’s casting one of the most important parts of making the finale.
“We found a tremendous actress in Rebecca; she was a godsend.
EW was on theThronesset when the sequence was filmed.
Headey would walk Van Cleave through each shot, giving step-by-step insight into Cersei’s mindset.
“We were playing tag team’You’re it!
You’re so in touch with the scene and what you’re going for.”
Yet there were some rough moments, too.
During our on-set interview with Headey, the actress praised Van Cleave’s work ethic.
Fast-forward eight months later to Sunday night’s finale.
Van Cleave watched her performance combined with Headey’s for the first time.
So what was that like?
“It was very surreal and emotional, to be honest,” Van Cleave says.
“I had a good little cry afterward.
“Lena put her heart and soul into that scene.
“And I hope the next thing I do will have my head in it!”
EW’s mega-coverage of theThronesseason finale:
