Movies - TV
Natalie Dormer Thinks Game Of Thrones Would Have Been Easier To Act In As A Villain
By SHANIA RUSSELL
One aspect that “Game of Thrones” understood was the power of a compelling antagonist and their hunger for power, like the cruel Ramsay Bolton or the scheming Littlefinger. However, the villains aren’t the only characters trying to manipulate others to achieve their goals; there were quite a few morally gray players seeking the throne, such as Natalie Dormer’s Margaery Tyrell.
While Margaery had an unwavering ambition for the throne, the character relied on her own political acumen and projected compassion instead of resorting to murder in pursuit of power. This aspect of Margaery made her compelling, but Dormer revealed the challenges of playing “a character so finely-nuanced that people believe you can be a good person who is also politically savvy.”
The actress added, “It’s easier to play a nihilistic person or a baddie; you have to get your hands dirty and have real talent, as Jack Gleeson [Joffrey Baratheon] proved, but it’s a simpler task to play a straight psychopath.” Dormer wanted Margaery to show that kind people can be in power, explaining, “I’ve tried to make her a plausibly real, sensitive, good human being with the skills of a good leader.”
It’s difficult to determine whether Margaery is a good person, as not even Dormer could tell if her character was lying or being honest about her repentance during Season 6. Dormer shared, “I’ve always held firm that Margaery’s heart is true — I don’t think she has a dark spirit. [...] Maybe she was able to mix a bit of the truth in there — that’s the most effective kind of lying isn’t it?”