Game of Thrones already boasts a sizeable cast so only a few new casting announcements have thrilled fans in the runup to season 6; Ian McShane and Richard E. Grant have been cast in mystery roles. Pilou Asbaek is suiting up as psychopathic pirate Euron Greyjoy. And Samwell Tarly’s brother Dickon made headlines because super-hot actor Freddie Stroma is going to play him, as if most actors weren’t more attractive than 95 percent of us anyway.
Now Aussie actress Essie Davis joins the cast in a role credited only as “Theater Actress” on IMDb. The Braavosi troupe her character travels with will mock the world of Westeros, with her in the role of good Queen Cersei. In a telling comment, when my husband (who doesn’t even follow the show) asked what I was writing about his follow up question was “How long until she get’s raped?” If she crosses Cersei, as it appears she might, her acting skills may land her in the Red Keep.
Prior to the casting announcement GoT fan site Watchers on the Wall received fan photo of the actress on-set dressed as Cersei. The show was filming in Girona, Spain at the time. The site referenced the “Leading Actress” character mentioned in the casting write-ups that leaked back in May, though by then Thrones producers had learned to leave actor names off the summaries to prevent spoilers. The Hollywood Reporter quickly confirmed the casting.
Though completely unconfirmed, another user on Watchers on the Wall wrote in the comment section (POTENTIAL SPOILERS?) that Arya will escape the Faceless Men by hopping the boat with the theater troupe and she’ll end up murdering Walder Frey from the stage. The commenter also claims to know details of season 7 however, so nothing can really be verified at this point. However one eagle-eyed Instagram user did seem to spot Maisie Williams in costume along with Essie Davis in Girona so perhaps there is some truth to the speculation.
Davis starred in the 2014 horror/thriller The Babadook. Sci-fi fans may also recognize her from her brief but important role as Maggie in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Her medical officer character monitored Neo, realizing he was still in the matrix though not physically attached. In Australia she is well-known for TV series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
