Summary
Gwendoline Christie is an English actress and model. She was born on October 28, 1978, in Worthing, West Sussex, England.
Christie is best known for her roles as Brienne of Tarth in the HBO television series “Game of Thrones” (2012-2019) and as Captain Phasma in the “Star Wars” film series (2015-2019). She has also appeared in other films such as “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” (2015) and “Welcome to Marwen” (2018).
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Table of Contents
In addition to her acting career, Christie has also worked as a model. She has modeled for a number of fashion and beauty brands, including Vivienne Westwood and Miu Miu.
Christie is known for her tall stature (she stands at 6’3″ or 191 cm) and for breaking stereotypes about what a female lead should look like in film and television. She has been praised for her performances and has been nominated for several awards, including an Emmy for her role in “Game of Thrones.”
Early Life
Gwendoline Christie was born on October 28, 1978, in Worthing, West Sussex, England. She grew up in a village in South Downs, England, and was interested in acting from a young age.
As a child, Christie was very tall for her age and experienced bullying as a result. However, she later used her height to her advantage, both as a model and as an actress.
After completing her secondary education, Christie studied drama at the Drama Centre London, where she graduated in 2005. She also worked as a gymnast during this time and performed as part of a trapeze act in a circus.
Christie has been open about her experiences with dyslexia and has spoken about how acting helped her to overcome some of the challenges she faced in school. She has also been an advocate for mental health awareness, speaking publicly about her struggles with anxiety and depression.
Career
Gwendoline Christie started her career as a model, working for designers such as Vivienne Westwood and making appearances in fashion magazines such as V magazine and i-D.
Christie’s acting career began in 2006, when she landed a role in the production of “Prism” at the Battersea Arts Centre in London. She then appeared in several television shows, including “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (2009) and “Wizards vs. Aliens” (2012).
Christie’s breakthrough role came in 2012 when she was cast as Brienne of Tarth in the HBO series “Game of Thrones.” Her performance in the role was highly praised, and she went on to appear in the series for eight seasons, from 2012 to 2019.
In addition to “Game of Thrones,” Christie has appeared in a number of other film and television projects, including “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” (2015), “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (2015), “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (2017), and “Welcome to Marwen” (2018).
Christie has also appeared in theater productions, including “Cymbeline” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” in London’s West End.
Throughout her career, Christie has been recognized for her performances, receiving nominations for awards such as the Primetime Emmy Award, the Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Critics’ Choice Television Award.
Stage actress and early on-screen career (2006–2011)
After graduating from the Drama Centre London, Gwendoline Christie started her acting career on stage. In 2006, she made her professional stage debut in the production of “Prism” at the Battersea Arts Centre in London. She also appeared in several other stage productions, including “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Dr. Faustus” in London’s West End.
Christie began to make appearances on television in the late 2000s, starting with a small role in the British medical drama “Doctors” in 2008. She then had a recurring role in the science-fiction series “Wired” in 2008 and 2009.
In 2010, Christie appeared in the British crime drama “The Time Surgeon,” and also had a small role in the British comedy film “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” which was directed by Terry Gilliam and starred Heath Ledger in his final film role.
Christie continued to make appearances on British television in 2011, with guest roles in shows such as “Top Boy” and “The Zero Hour.” She also had a role in the British comedy film “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” which was released in 2020.
Joining Game of Thrones and Wizards vs Aliens (2011–2015)
In 2011, Gwendoline Christie auditioned for the role of Brienne of Tarth in the HBO series “Game of Thrones.” Despite initial concerns about her gender and appearance not fitting the role, she was eventually cast in the part, making her debut in the second season of the show in 2012. Her portrayal of Brienne of Tarth, a skilled warrior who defies traditional gender roles, was praised by critics and audiences alike, and Christie continued to appear in the show until its eighth and final season in 2019.
In addition to “Game of Thrones,” Christie also appeared in the science-fiction series “Wizards vs Aliens” in 2013 and 2014, playing the character of Lexi.
Christie also continued to make appearances in film during this time. In 2014, she appeared in the British crime drama “The Smoke,” as well as in the Terry Gilliam film “The Zero Theorem,” alongside Christoph Waltz and Tilda Swinton.
In 2015, Christie had a prominent role in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” playing the character of Captain Phasma. She also appeared in the final installment of “The Hunger Games” film series, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2,” as Commander Lyme.
Star Wars and Top of the Lake (2015–present)
In addition to her continuing role on “Game of Thrones,” Gwendoline Christie’s career continued to flourish after 2015. That year, she had a prominent role in the highly anticipated “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” playing Captain Phasma, the chrome-plated stormtrooper commander. She reprised the role in the 2017 film “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”
Christie also appeared in the second season of the television series “Top of the Lake,” which aired in 2017. She played the character of Miranda Hilmarson, a police officer investigating a case involving the death of a Chinese woman in Sydney, Australia. Her performance was highly praised by critics.
In 2018, Christie appeared in the film “In Fabric,” a horror-comedy about a cursed dress that wreaks havoc on the lives of its wearers. She also had a supporting role in the film “Welcome to Marwen,” a biographical drama about a man who creates a miniature World War II-era town as a form of therapy after a brutal attack.
In 2019, Christie reprised her role as Brienne of Tarth for the final season of “Game of Thrones.” Her performance in the final season, particularly in the series finale, received widespread acclaim.
More recently, Christie appeared in the 2020 film “The Personal History of David Copperfield,” a comedic retelling of the Charles Dickens novel. She also had a recurring role in the 2020 television series “The Sandman,” based on the comic book series of the same name by Neil Gaiman. In 2021, she was cast as Lucifer in the upcoming film “The Death of the Nile,” based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name.
Personal Life
Gwendoline Christie is known to be a very private person, and not much is known about her personal life. She is rumored to have been in a relationship with British fashion designer Giles Deacon since 2013, although the couple has never confirmed this.
Christie is known for her distinctive sense of style, often wearing bold, androgynous outfits on the red carpet. She has been praised for her fashion choices and has become a muse for several designers.
Christie has also been open about her struggles with mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. She has spoken publicly about her experiences in order to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
In her spare time, Christie is an avid reader and has spoken about her love of literature in interviews. She also enjoys practicing yoga and has said that it helps her to stay centered and focused.
All Gwendoline Christie Movies and TV Shows
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Director(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | Classy Shopper 2 | Terry Gilliam | |
| 2013 | The Zero Theorem | Woman in Commercial | ||
| 2015 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 | Commander Lyme | Francis Lawrence | |
| Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Captain Phasma | J. J. Abrams | ||
| 2016 | Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie | Herself | Mandie Fletcher | |
| 2017 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Captain Phasma | Rian Johnson | |
| 2018 | The Darkest Minds | Lady Jane | Jennifer Yuh Nelson | |
| In Fabric | Gwen | Peter Strickland | ||
| Welcome to Marwen | Anna | Robert Zemeckis | ||
| 2019 | The Personal History of David Copperfield | Jane Murdstone | Armando Iannucci | |
| Our Friend | Teresa | Gabriela Cowperthwaite | ||
| 2022 | Flux Gourmet | Jan Stevens | Peter Strickland | Nominated – British Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance (2022) |
TV Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Seven Ages of Britain Teaser | The Operator | Television short |
| 2012–2019 | Game of Thrones | Brienne of Tarth | 42 episodes Empire Hero Award (2015, together with the cast)[52] Nominated – Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2019) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2019) Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television (2013, 2019) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2013–15, 2017, 2019) |
| 2012–2013 | Wizards vs Aliens | Lexi | 26 episodes |
| 2017 | Top of the Lake: China Girl | Miranda Hilmarson | 6 episodes |
| 2018 | Star Wars Resistance | Captain Phasma (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Green Eggs and Ham | Marilyn Blouse | Voice |
| The Sandman | Lucifer | 2 episodes | |
| Wednesday | Larissa Weems | Main Role | |
| TBA | Severance  | Season 2 |
