master g, is this true or a rumor? this article claims to break the news on cersei.

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/09/game-of-thrones-hbo-.html

Yes, yes, Lena Heady. :)

.... i just realized it must be correct with your little gorgo video. ha. well at least she's used to sex on camera...

Lena Headey? That would be amazing!

That Cercei is to be portrayed by Lena Headey, who starred as Queen Gorgo in the movie 300 and as Sarah Connor in the "Sarah Connor Chronicles." I'll bet she'll look smashing as a blond!

So it is Lena Headey then?

I'm guessing Lena Heady. She played Queen Gorgo in 300. Have no idea how the other clues are related, though!

And of course Lena Headey played Sarah Connor in the TERMINATOR TV show, the role played in the movies by Linda Hamilton who was the lead in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST which GRRM worked on.

* groan *

Wow. As a Hound fan, I need to thank you for not making the Sandor clues this hard, George!

Here I was trying to tie in Lena's portrayal of a mother (Sarah Connor) to Terminator 5 having Big Ben in it.

I'm sure my Godzilla & monster movie-loving dad made me watch Gorgo when I was a kid. He was born a year after you, I bet you've seen all the same monster/alien/horror movies from back then--as have I, a poor little girl raised on nothin' but sci-fi--I should have gotten this one! Never knew that stuff would be useful someday...

Anyway, thanks for all the clues so far, guessing has been so much fun!

The Gorgo/ Gorgo thing was too sweet to resist.

It also gave it away... Type "Gorgo" into IMDB, and Queen Gorgo from 300 comes up as the second entry. As soon as I clicked on it and saw Lena's picture, I knew she had to be the one. :)

Well, you did a good job of it...I don't think *anyone* guessed it right from those obscure obfuscations!

We've spent however many years coming up with a million and one crackpot ASOIAF theories. You have us all well trained for this kind of thing!

The Herodotus clue is what gave it away for me... Gorgo tells the Spartans to scrape the WAX OFF the secret message they had received or something. Herodotus documented this in his "Histories".

Way to go! This is awesome news!

One would hope that Lena is ready to tackle a role as a vile, reptilian monstrosity as well as a city destroying...-oh wait NOW I get it! *shuffles Magic cards*

This is a cruel turn indeed, but one very wisely played.

One that beggars a response...

Ah! I have it!!!

Ser Lord Bronco starts a political Action Commitee- heretefore never evinced in the lands of Midkemia--Excuse the correction...The Land of Hyrule-bah botched again!.

A new Political Action Committee for the Land of Westeros!

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Starks!

Specifially: S.F.T.P.O.C.T.S.

GreyJoys and their Drowned God no longer have Utter Dominion of the Oceans and incomprehensible spelling...

There is nothing to be done by this PAC-except to pray in your local GodsWood to the older god's who have no name...

Congratulations Lena-it is good to have you on board!

Weird. I just watched 300 again yesterday and until JUST THIS MINUTE I didn't even realise she had a name other than Queen.

Anyway: AWESOME! Can't wait to see her as a blonde. :)

Absolutely fantastic, Lena Headey will be perfect for the part.

Hurray for Lena Headey!

I youtubed a little to get some impressions: here she is in a scene with our Catelyn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZYwUdBr3dI
And here she is as a blonde! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc7DKCjS2U0

That's hilarious, because it's the Gorgo I always think of every time I watch 300 or read history. Gotta love being a Godzilla and monster movie fan since childhood. I laughed really hard when I found out who the actress was. Hahahah :)

If this is true, then this is the most disappointing casting news so far to me, though I may be surprised. Sure, Lena is very attractive and all, but I just can't see her as Cersei. Even with blonde hair, I may have trouble with her as Cersei.

Maybe it's because I've never seen her play a character as evil as Cersei. I've really only seen her in roles where she plays a strong and innocent role. Lena actually reminds me more of a Catelyn Stark.

She may do fine, but for some reason I was just really hoping for someone who looked more like Tricia Helfer since I believe she would've been the perfect choice based on physical appearance and personality.

Oh well.

Lena Heady.... Oh yes I get it! Why would they pick a natural blond actress for the Cercei role, that would be too easy!
Instead of that HBO will contact loreal or rilken and order 10 gallons of...hmmm.. let's say [LANISTER GOLD HAIR COLOR]...

Well, here it is: http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm198/Serbiansword/Lanister_Gold.jpg

I love this actress; I just don't know if she can capture the shallowness/cluelessness of dear Cirsei? Also, possibly not quite the physical type I pictured for Cirsei, not that there's anything wrong with the one she has.

Omg yesyesyesyes!!!! Lena Headey is one of the hottest women around. She's astonishingly gorgeous, though I admit I would have seconded her choice for Catelyn, given her past roles.
It will be also interesting how she will portrait a villain role, like she has been not cast yet.
Also I was convinced that the actress to play Cersei was going to be natural blond, this news really amazes me.

I am happy to announce that I can accept Lena Headey as a Cersei.
Sincerely:)

It was just after midnight and I was restless. After pacing around the house with no particular objective, I sat down and watched this hokey movie. I was shifting in my chair and fidgeting with the tassels on a pillow when Gorgo ate what I think was a small diving bell. I was only half paying attention. As Gorgo mauled the small vessel, my water broke and I understood why I was restless. (So much for the pain I was supposed to feel! Although it began soon enough after.) I was soon off to the hospital to give birth to my treasure. I always wondered what the name of the movie was. Now I know. My son loves the story about the night he was born. This is only a small part of that eventful night. I often tease that some of the monster's spirit traveled with us to the hospital and is now alive within him. ;-) Who would have thought I'd find the name of that movie here...