Responding to criticisms about the use of body double for the naked scene, actress Rebecca Van Cleave says having a body double doesn't detract from the scene.
- Jun 20, 2015
AceShowbiz - Cersei's Walk of Shame was one of the highlights in "Game of Thrones" season 5 finale. Now, another person who played an important role in the scene besides Lena Headey has been outed. She's actress Rebecca Van Cleave who served as Headey's body double for the naked scene.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she talks about her experience filming the scene. "It was one of the scariest, most wonderful, most gratifying experiences I could have imagined," she shares. "I never in a million years would have thought I would be in Dubrovnik surrounded by hundreds of extras and crew members throwing food at me, but it was amazing."
Van Cleave says Headey guided her through each shot. "Lena was so good about walking beside me and guiding me into what Cersei was thinking and the movements," she says. "We were playing tag team - 'You're it! - and trying to make light of the fact we're all covered in everything and going through this together."
She goes on recalling the filming of the "emotional" scene, "The first time I took off the robe there was all this anticipation building up to it. But it's such an emotional experience for Cersei, you almost check out of the fact that you're nude. You're so in touch with the scene and what you're going for."
Van Cleave reveals there were some tough moments too, "particularly moments when I got all kinds of stuff thrown at me, with the chamber pots [being dumped out]. Then on the last day, there was a well of emotion when she's finally getting to the end and I was getting to the end too-not in a bad way, it's almost like being one with the character."
When watching the final result on the Sunday (June 14) episode, she felt "It was very surreal and emotional," adding, "I had a good little cry afterward. Lena and I put so much into that scene and to see it all come together was really special."
On criticisms about the use of body double for the Walk, Van Cleave weighs in, "I personally don't agree with anybody who says having a body double detracts from the scene. Lena put her heart and soul into that scene. It should all be about the finished product, not about whose body was where and and whose head was where."
Headey herself reveals she chose not to be nude for the said scene "for several reasons," including to focus on the emotions in her performance. She also praises Van Cleave's work ethic, "It was a long process trying to find somebody who got what it means physically to be there with all that stuff going on, and Rebecca is a great actress. It takes a lot to walk through the crowd naked for three days in a row with the crowd braying at you."
