The production team for Game of Thrones had some big shoes to fill when it came time to
cast Brienne of Tarth, and they pretty much nailed it when they hired Gwendoline Christie
for the part.
But even considering her natural aptitude for the role, Christie had to put in a lot
of work to make the look perfect.
Here's how the six-foot-three actress and model got her body into the shape of a committed,
lifelong warrior.
Pre-audition training
Months before Brienne was introduced in season two of the show, fans of the book series took
to the Internet and pegged Christie as an ideal actor for the role.
The online support is actually what pushed her to try out for the role, and in the months
before the audition, she was already hitting the gym to get herself in fighting shape.
Christie is one of the few performers remaining in Game of Thrones' sprawling cast who is
actually on record as having read all of the books, so she knew what kind of physique she'd
need to cultivate if she wanted a chance at snaring the role.
"I read the books and I really, really wanted to play the part.
I started kundalini yoga, kickboxing and running, and completely changed my diet.
I felt I wanted to undergo what was necessary for the part."
Dance background
When it comes to working out, a background in athletics goes a long way.
Christie had a great foundation, acknowledging in an interview with Stylist that "at a time"
she could have pursued a career as a professional gymnast.
"From the age of 7, I just loved dancing.
I did ballet, tap, and rhythmic gymnastics.
I did lots of dancing and was obsessed with it.
I lived and breathed it."
"And then I had a back injury when I was 11 and had to stop."
The injury precipitated a change in interests, which led to a career as an actress.
But that early gymnastics background must have helped her get her through the gruelling
training for Game of Thrones.
Knight's training
One benefit of getting a high-profile role on an expensive HBO production is that your
physique is going to get some serious Hollywood help.
In the early days of training, Christie worked with trainers Phil Learney and Dalton Wong
to pack on muscle and learn how to use the extra weight.
She told Games Radar,
"I was given extensive horse-riding lessons, so that not only was I confident on the horse,
but I could ride."
"My physicality was altered so I was much heavier in the way I walked, less upright
and a lot more masculine."
That's a lot to go through, but Christie approached it all with a true warrior's mentality.
"I just dedicated myself to it entirely.
There was no room for failure."
In the end, Christie lost 21 pounds and then gained back about 14 in muscle, leaving her
dramatically stronger and more fit.
Cold turkey
In the messed-up land of Westeros, a mug of stiff ale is about the only way to get through
the day.
But it's also a luxury the best knights have to steer clear of.
"Don't get drunk."
"No, m'lady."
To get into prime shape, Christie decided to cut alcohol out of her diet completely,
along with other diet changes.
She told Stylist:
"I completely changed my eating habits and didn't drink for about two months, just in
the service of this part."
That's a big sacrifice, but it definitely paid off.
Acting the part
You've gotta love Brienne's spirit, but the books rarely describe her looks in flattering
terms.
"Do you think Lady Stark's going to want a giant, toe-headed plank following her around
for the rest of her life."
So part of her training for Game of Thrones involved learning how to look and move in
a more masculine way.
Unlike Brienne, who feels at home in a suit of armor, Christie is much more feminine,
and she had to strip a lot of that away to prepare for the Game of Thrones role, saying:
"I used to have really long blonde hair, always wearing heels, lots of make-up.
I had been someone who was highly feminized and had chosen to look that way."
But as tough of that transition must have been, Christie took it all in stride with
her characteristic optimism:
"I love a challenge, and I love defying limitation, gender stereotypes and people's expectations
of me as an actress."
Real steel
Christie's training didn't stop when the cameras started rolling.
If anything, it intensified.
According to an interview with Vogue, her costume armor alone weighs 30 pounds, and
the sword isn't exactly a toy.
Even in fights - like her epic battle with the Hound in season 4 - Christie has to lug
all that weight around.
In fact, she called that fight sequence "one of the f****** hardest things I've ever done
in my life."
If that doesn't keep her in shape on its own, it's definitely a motivator not to let her
physical conditioning slip.
Fan loyalty
For all her hard work, Christie has been rewarded with worldwide renown and an ever-more-successful
career.
Former US President Barack Obama is on record as a fan of the show who's flexed his authority
to find out what's going to happen to Brienne's character between seasons.
And in the celebrity world, pop singer Madonna brought Christie specifically on stage to
compliment her in front of a crowd.
For being a hard-working performer who put in the extra effort to bring a beloved, inspiring
character to life, Christie deserves the admiration.
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