Gwendoline Christie says her body draws 'extreme responses' from people

‘Game of Thrones’ star Gwendoline Christie has opened up about the “extreme responses” her body draws from people and says she’s proud to help women feel “represented” on screen.

The actress, who played the powerful and heroic Brienne of Tarth in the cult hit show was speaking in GQ Style for the magazine’s autumn/winter 2019 issue.

In the interview Christie emphasised the importance of embracing who you are particularly if you do not “fit into society” by conventional standards.

“I think, because my body seems to draw such extreme responses from people, that, well... it’s fight or flight, isn’t it? Sink or swim,” she said of her 6 ft 3” frame, according to The Independent.

“You either exist in a state of shame about not fitting into society or you embrace what you have.”

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The star also discuss how touched she has been to feel able to play a role in helping some women feel more “represented” on film and television.

“So many women come up to me and talk about what it means to feel represented outside of the constraints of conventional society,” Christie said.

“In 2011, I didn’t think I would ever see women that looked like me in mainstream entertainment. It felt like there was one mould that wouldn’t be broken and diversity was not part of the conversation.

“So the fact that Brienne existed? Wow.”

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The star’s determined attitude has won fans worldwide and was illustrated earlier this year when she submitted herself as a potential nominee for a Best Supporting Actress Emmy for her role on the HBO series.

“It’s something I find hard to do, like everyone else, but I would like to be in charge of my own destiny,” Christie told the Los Angeles Times.

“And I would like to endeavour to give myself opportunities. Particularly when working very hard on something very special and you’ve pushed yourself beyond your limits.”

The full interview can be read in the Autumn/Winter issue of GQ Style.