Gwendoline Christie

Gwendoline Tracey Philippa Christie (born 28 October 1978 ) is an English actress. She is known for portraying Brienne of Tarth in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones (2012–2019), and the First Order stormtrooper Captain Phasma in the films Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). For the former, she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019. Christie has since appeared in the Netflix fantasy series The Sandman and Wednesday (both 2022), and the Apple TV+ sci-fi thriller series Severance (2025), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series nomination in 2025.

Early life and education Gwendoline Tracey Philippa Christie was born in Worthing, West Sussex. She has two older half-brothers. Her mother was a housewife, and her father worked in sales and marketing. attending Henfield Primary School and Warden Park Secondary School. As a child she trained as a gymnast but took up acting after a spinal injury at the age of 11. Around 2002, she worked in a boutique in Brighton.

After attending Varndean College in Brighton and Hove, she graduated from Drama Centre London in 2005.

Career

Stage actress and early screen career (2006–2011)

In 2002, Christie's height attracted the attention of photographer Polly Borland, who made Christie the subject of a noted series of photographs, titled Bunny, between 2002 and 2008.

On screen, Christie debuted with a 2007 short film titled The Time Surgeon, written and directed by Nathaniel Mellors. In the following years, she continued to appear in his works, such as Seven Ages of Britain Teaser, a short TV film acting as an introduction to the final episode of the documentary series Seven Ages of Britain, and the first four films of his Ourhouse series of experimental short films, released between 2010 and 2011 as parts of art exhibitions or in selected public screenings. She was also involved in Ourhouse behind the scenes, acting as associate producer and being credited for casting, costumes, props, and make-up. Meanwhile, she made her feature film debut with a minor role in the Terry Gilliam film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in 2009. In 2009 she joined Patrick Wolf in the music video for "Damaris".

Joining Game of Thrones and Wizards vs Aliens (2011–2015)

In July 2011, Christie was cast as the warrior Brienne of Tarth in the second season of HBO's fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. Her character, an unusually tall, muscular, and plain-looking woman, is a favourite among many readers of the novels, and Christie had been proposed for the role by fans long before auditions took place. After being cast in the role, she prepared for it by working out extensively, taking horsemanship, sword-fighting, and stagefighting lessons. For her performance as Brienne in the show's third season, Christie was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television in 2014. As a part of the cast, she was also nominated for a total of four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (she was not a part of the nominated cast in certain years depending on her number of appearances each season).

In addition to her role in Game of Thrones, Christie appeared in the British science fantasy series Wizards vs Aliens by Doctor Who writers Russell T Davies and Phil Ford from 2012 to 2013, in the main role of Lexi, the 17-year-old Princess of the Nekross, the alien species invading earth. For the role, she wore heavy make-up, although she also appeared with her usual physique as Lucy, the human form of Lexi. The same year, she joined the cast of Swallows and Amazons as Mrs. Blackett, but later dropped out.

Also in 2015, Christie co-starred in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as Captain Phasma, one of the film's supporting antagonists. Her performance and the character's design were both praised, but some were critical of her character's relatively small role in the film, particularly proportionate to her prominence in promotional materials.

In 2017, Christie had a main role in China Girl, the second season of Top of the Lake, as Miranda Hilmarson, a Constable in the Sydney Police Force, and the new partner of the show's main character played by Elisabeth Moss; the character was written especially for Gwendoline by series co-creator Jane Campion, after Christie asked her to be a part of the series. The same year, she reprised her role of Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, a sequel to The Force Awakens. She would later reprise the role for three episodes of the animated series Star Wars Resistance in 2018.

In 2018, she appeared as the bounty hunter Lady Jane in The Darkest Minds, an adaptation of the book trilogy The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken, as Gwen in the Peter Strickland film In Fabric, and as the Russian caretaker Anna in the Robert Zemeckis film Welcome to Marwen.

Game of Thrones concluded in 2019 with its eighth season; for her performance in the final season, Christie received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, having submitted herself for the nomination; she also received a second Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television nomination for her performance in the final two seasons.

In January 2021, Christie was cast as Lucifer in the Netflix adaptation of The Sandman.

In November 2022, Christie played Principal Larissa Weems in the Netflix comedy horror series Wednesday.

In January 2024, Christie walked for Maison Margiela during Paris Couture Week, wearing the closing look of the collection. In May of the same year, Christie hosted the Vogue livestream coverage of the Met Gala, alongside La La Anthony, Ashley Graham and special correspondent Emma Chamberlain.

On 20 August 2024 Firaxis Games announced that Christie would be the narrator for their flagship game Civilization VII, which was later released in February 2025.

In October 2025, she featured on the track "The Good Life" by Sleaford Mods with Big Special.

Personal life Christie is 6ft 3¼in tall. Her height led to her being bullied when she was younger.

Since 2014, she has been in a relationship with British fashion designer Giles Deacon.

Filmography Feature films Year Title Role Notes 2009 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Classy Shopper 2 2013 The Zero Theorem Woman in Commercial 2015 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Commander Lyme Star Wars: The Force Awakens Captain Phasma 2016 Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Herself 2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi Captain Phasma 2018 The Darkest Minds Lady Jane In Fabric Gwen Welcome to Marwen Anna 2019 The Personal History of David Copperfield Jane Murdstone Our Friend Teresa 2022Flux Gourmet Jan Stevens 2024 Robin and the Hoods Aura 2025 After This Death Alice

Television Year Title Role Notes 2010 Seven Ages of Britain Teaser The Operator Television film 2012–2013 Wizards vs Aliens Lexi Main role (seasons 1–2) 2012–2019 Game of Thrones Brienne of Tarth Recurring role (seasons 2–3); main (seasons 4–8) 2017 Top of the Lake: China Girl Miranda Hilmarson Miniseries 2018 Star Wars Resistance Captain Phasma (voice) 3 episodes 2022 Green Eggs and Ham Marilyn Blouse (voice) Recurring role (season 2)2022–present Wednesday Larissa Weems Main role (season 1); recurring role (season 2) 2022–2025 The Sandman Lucifer 5 episodes 2025 Severance Lorne Recurring role (season 2); 2 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2006 Pravda Cindy Chichester Festival Theatre Mirandolina Ortensia Royal Exchange, Manchester 2007 Cymbeline Queen Barbican Theatre 2009 Giantbum Sir Boss London's Tate Britain Skin Deep Susannah Dangerfield Leeds Grand Theatre Breakfast at Tiffany's Mag Wildwood Theatre Royal Haymarket, London 2010 Dr. Faustus Lucifer Royal Exchange, Manchester 2019 A Midsummer Night's Dream Titania/Hippolyta Bridge Theatre

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2016 Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Captain Phasma 2017 Star Wars Battlefront II2025Sid Meier's Civilization VIINarrator

Short films Year Title Role Director(s) Notes 2007 The Time Surgeon The Tape Nathaniel Mellors 2010 Ourhouse, Episode 1: 'Games''' Annalise "Babydoll" Wilson Nathaniel Mellors Also associate producer, and responsible for casting, costumes, props, and make-up Ourhouse, Episode 4: 'Internal Problems| Annalise "Babydoll" Wilson Nathaniel Mellors Also associate producer, and responsible for casting, costumes, props, and make-up

Ourhouse, Episode 2: 'Class''' Annalise "Babydoll" Wilson Nathaniel Mellors Also associate producer, and responsible for casting, costumes, props, and make-up Ourhouse, Episode 3: 'The Cure of Folly Annalise "Babydoll" Wilson Nathaniel Mellors Also associate producer, and responsible for casting 2016 The Dress The Woman Barnaby Roper 2026 Confessions II Herself TORSO She also appeared in the music video for "Damaris" by Patrick Wolf in 2009.

Audio dramas Year Title Role Notes 2020 The Sleeper and the Spindle The Queen 2022 The Callisto Protocol: Helix Station Percy Prequel to the video game The Callisto Protocol In 2025, she featured in the Sleaford Mods song The Good Life (also with Big Special).

Awards and nominations