Lena Headey (Cersei) and Emilia Clarke (Daenerys) Forecast Game of Thrones Season 7

Last night on Game of Thrones gave two of its major characters what they’d wanted since the first season. But what happens when their desires come into conflict with each other in Season 7?

SPOILERS AHEAD.

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Last night’s extra ten minutes were crucial in wrapping things up in Westeros and Essos. On one side of the Narrow Sea, Cersei Lannister ascended to the Iron Throne, a goal that was never one she truly believed she would achieve for herself, but is the ultimate goal of anyone who seeks power. On the other, Dany gave up the man who loved her because it was the politically expedient thing to do, and set sail across the Narrow Sea, finally on her way to conquer the Seven Kingdoms.

Both Lena Headey (Cersei) and Emilia Clarke (Dany) spoke to Entertainment Weekly after “The winds of Winter” aired. Both were nominated last year for Emmys, and are on the list as possible nominees again this season. Before getting into what came next, they talked about the momentous events from “The Winds of Winter.” Headey couldn’t stop grinning when she read the script for the episode, and revealed that the scene between Cersei and Unella was actually different than what ended up onscreen.

"The scene was meant to be worse, but they couldn’t do it. This is like the tame version. It’s pretty bad still though. I’d take being exploded in the Sept over that any day."

We’re not sure how it was worse, but maybe it’s best not to think about it. Clarke, meanwhile, gave a pretty funny summation of Daenerys’ time on the show up to now:

"Since marrying Khal Drogo, her one aim has been to get back to Westeros. But, oh bugger, I gotta learn how to rule. Oh god, we gotta get here first. Oh f—, I might as well rule this city. Ah, a revolt – bugger! Dammit, now I’ve got to go over there! No more slaves! Done! Brilliant! She’s got the dragons. She’s got the manpower. She’s got the ships thanks to the Iron Born. So there’s nothing else to do. She’s got to go now. Iron Throne!"

But Season 6 is over, and both actresses are focused on what might come next for their characters. After all, as Lena Headey sees it, Cersei can’t possibly reign that long (“It’s a moment of punctuation in the madness.”), even if she is thrilled to have had the Iron Throne roulette wheel land on her.

"I couldn’t believe it, obviously. I was really shocked. I read it like nine times, like, “You’re joking!” Then I’m left to wonder who’s going to take her down. She may only be there for a second. You do think, “What the f— comes next?” Then we start again to play that game we all play each season, “Who’s going to be on the Iron Throne next?”"

As for Clarke, she is also thrilled to be finally crossing the Narrow Sea after years of road blocks, but she’s not taking anything for granted, especially when the interviewer jokes that a storm could come along and sink her entire fleet before it lands on Westerosi shores.

"Don’t even suggest that! You might give them ideas. I’m going to go back and see my mates, so Emilia feels really happy, I get to come home. It’s amazing. But the idea [Dany] might might not see [Jorah Mormont actor Iain Glen and Daario Naharis actor Michiel Huisman] again, that idea suddenly makes the show feel like it has a finite ending and that’s really sad. So there’s the excitement of getting there and being with everyone else and also being like, “Yo! Other queens! Bye!”"

Headey considers who might take Cersei down, and figures it’ll be Arya or Tyrion, somehow completely missing the fact that Jaime was standing in the Iron Thrones room looking on in silent shock and horror as his sister is crowned the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.

"I’m as excited as anyone to get Cersei and Tyrion back together. It just works. Those two characters are so interesting because there’s so much hate, yet slight respect too. They’d kill each other if ever given the chance. I’ve always said that when it happens, as long as it’s kinda glorious and gory and it’s by the right person… No one would relish her death as much as he would… Maybe we could have a dying kiss or something."

Emilia Clarke apparently also fears Arya as the possible person to take her out next season, especially once it’s suggested to her that the “marriage” she’ll find she needs to make for political reasons is with the Ice counterpart to her Fire, Jon Snow.

"Those rumors have never been substantiated within the Game of Thrones circle. It’s never been said. So I don’t know. I could kill him. He could kill me. He could be dead before we even meet. I could be dead before we even meet. Arya could kill us both! You never know! Anything’s possible. All I know is winter is coming … and I’m bringing the heat!"

Targaryen-branded hand and foot warmers for everyone!