Gwendoline Christie

Gwendoline Christie is an accomplished English actress best known for her portrayal of Brienne of Tarth in the celebrated HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones (2012–2019), and the First Order stormtrooper Captain Phasma in the iconic Star Wars films - The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017). Her impressive portrayal of Brienne earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019. She has taken the reins of notable roles in the Netflix fantasy series The Sandman and Wednesday (both 2022). Born and raised in Worthing, West Sussex, Christie's youth was marked with unique experiences, having trained as a gymnast before pivoting to acting after a spinal injury. Gwendoline attended Varndean College in Brighton and Hove, and later, Drama Centre London where she graduated in 2005.

Her early career gained traction with a series of photographic work by Polly Borland between 2002 and 2008. Christie's height inspired the photographer - a body attribute that became a defining element of her identity as she challenged conventional notions of femininity. In the shadows of her mentor, Simon Callow, she honed her craft both on stage and on screen. Early performances include featured roles in Shakespeare's Cymbeline, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (2010). Her pivotal breakthrough came in 2011, as she was cast as the warrior Brienne of Tarth in the second season of HBO's Game of Thrones and drew on personal experiences of being bullied for her height and androgynous looks to animate her character. Following her stint on Game of Thrones, she appeared in Wizards vs Aliens (2012-2013) and a subsequent role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Her trajectory continued to ascend with roles in Top of The Lake (2015-present), and The Darkest Minds (2018). In 2019, she again received recognition for her performance in the final season of Game of Thrones, earning an Emmy nomination and a second Saturn Award nomination.