For years, Gwendoline Christie has been able to hold her own against giants on screen, whether as Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones or Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. So when I got the chance to ask her about her weightlifting regimen, I was expecting some kind of alibi regarding how she lifts despite having Brienne’s impressive armor to wear on set and how her training differs from what other actors do who don’t have such costumes. But that’s not what Christie said at all. Gwendoline Christie is the Strongest Woman on TV
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Her early life and career
Born Gwendoline Tracey Philippa Pakenham in London, England, she was raised as a Roman Catholic. She attended an all-girls school and then went to a boarding school. At age 17, she won a scholarship to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
In 1983, she made her professional acting debut in The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman and was nominated for Most Promising Newcomer at The Evening Standard Awards. Gwendoline Christie is the Strongest Woman on TV
What she’s best known for
She’s best known for portraying Brienne of Tarth in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones, and Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Gwendoline Christie was born on April 27th, 1976 and has a net worth of $5 million USD. She first became an actress as a teenager, appearing in BBC2’s 1989 version of Nineteen Eighty-Four and then making her West End debut in Wuthering Heights.
Her physical strength
She was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland and raised in a coal mining town. Her first ambition was to be a ballerina and she trained for nine years as a dancer at both the Royal Ballet School in London and later with The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. She also trained as an equestrian at stables near her home…
Her mental strength
Gwendoline Christie, one of our favorite actors from Game of Thrones, has a story worth telling. Born in England, she was raised by her mother in North London. Her father was a Nigerian man who left when she was just five years old; her mother worked as a nurse and lived with her daughter in a council flat. She attended university at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), but dropped out after two years to start working to help pay for her living expenses.
Why she’s an inspiration to women everywhere
She began her acting career as an actress in theater and has since become a household name for playing Brienne of Tarth, one of Game of Thrones’ most heroic characters. She’s currently starring in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and has a lead role in Philipa K. Dick’s Electric Dreams series on Amazon Prime Video.
Christie was born with no left hand, so she learned to do everything from tying her shoes to writing with her right hand.
Q.&A.
Q. How old were you when you started acting?
A. I think I was about four, but my first formal audition was at 15 years old. Q. What’s your favorite part about playing Brienne of Tarth?
A. She has more clothes than most of the female characters in Game of Thrones, so that always feels good. Q. Who does your hair and makeup for your character, Brienne?