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{{short description|Character in A Song of Ice and Fire}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox character
{{Infobox character
| series = [[A Song of Ice and Fire]]
| series = [[A Song of Ice and Fire]] ''character'' <br /> [[Game of Thrones]]
| name = Cersei Lannister
| name = Cersei Lannister
| image = queencersei.jpg
| image = Cersei_Lannister_in_Black_Dress_in_Season_5.jpg
| caption = [[Lena Headey]] as Cersei Lannister
| caption = Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
| first = {{Plainlist|
| first = '''Novel''': <br />''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (1996) <br />'''Television''': <br />"[[Winter Is Coming]]" (2011)<br>'''Video game''': <br>"[[Iron From Ice]]" (2014)
* '''Literature''':
| portrayer = [[Lena Headey]]<br />[[Nell Williams]] (young)<br />''[[Game of Thrones]]''
* ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'' (1996)
* '''Television''':
* "[[Winter Is Coming]]" (2011)
* '''Video game''':
* "[[Iron From Ice]]" (2014)
}}
| last = {{Plainlist|
* '''Television''':
* "[[The Iron Throne (Game of Thrones)|The Iron Throne]]" (2019)
* '''Video game''':
* ''[[Reigns: Game of Thrones]]'' (2018)
}}
| portrayer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Lena Headey]]
* [[Nell Williams]] (young)
}}
| adapted_by = [[D.B. Weiss]] & [[David Benioff]] <br> (''[[Game of Thrones]]'')
| voice = Lena Headey
| motion_actor =
| creator = [[George R. R. Martin]]
| creator = [[George R. R. Martin]]
| title = {{Plainlist|
| title = Queen of the Andals<br>Lady Paramount of the Westerlands<br>Lady of Casterly Rock
* Queen Consort (to Robert I)
| alias = Light of the West
* Queen Regent (to Joffrey and Tommen)
| family = [[House Lannister]]<br> [[House Baratheon]]
* Lady of Casterly Rock
* Light of the West
* Dowager Queen
* '''Television:'''
* Queen of the Andals and the First Men
}}
| alias =
| gender = Female
| family = {{Plainlist|
* [[House Lannister]]
* [[House Baratheon]]
}}
| spouse = [[Robert Baratheon]]
| spouse = [[Robert Baratheon]]
| significant_others = {{Plainlist|
| children = [[Joffrey Baratheon]]<br />[[Myrcella Baratheon]]<br />[[Tommen Baratheon]]<br>(with Jaime)
* [[Jaime Lannister]]
| relatives = [[Tywin Lannister]] (father)<br>[[Joanna Lannister]] (mother)<br>[[Jaime Lannister]] (twin brother/lover) <br> [[Tyrion Lannister]] (brother)
* [[Lancel Lannister]]
| lbl21 = Kingdom
* Osmund Kettleblack
| data21 = [[Westerlands (A Song of Ice and Fire)|The Westerlands]]<br>[[Crownlands|The Crownlands]]
* Osmund Kettleblack
* Osfryd Kettleblack
* Taena Merryweather
* '''Television:'''
* [[List of A Song of Ice and Fire characters#Euron Greyjoy|Euron Greyjoy]]
}}
| children = {{Plainlist|
* with Jaime:
* [[Joffrey Baratheon]]
* [[Myrcella Baratheon]]
* [[Tommen Baratheon]]
*
* '''Television:'''
* with Robert:
* Unnamed infant son
* with Jaime:
* Unborn child
}}
| relatives = {{Plainlist|
* [[Tywin Lannister]] (father)
* [[Joanna Lannister]] (mother)
* [[Jaime Lannister]] (twin brother)
* [[Tyrion Lannister]] (brother)
* [[Kevan Lannister]] (uncle)
* [[Lancel Lannister]] (cousin)
}}
}}
}}


'''Cersei Lannister''' is a [[fictional character]] in the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' series of [[fantasy]] novels by American author [[George R R Martin]], and its television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]''. She becomes a prominent [[Narration#Third-person|point of view]] character in the novels beginning with the 2005 fourth installment ''[[A Feast for Crows]]''.
'''Cersei Lannister''' is a fictional character in the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' series of [[epic fantasy]] novels by American author [[George R. R. Martin]], and its television adaptation ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', where she is portrayed by actress [[Lena Headey]]. Introduced in 1996's ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', Cersei is a member of [[House Lannister]], one of the wealthiest and most powerful families on the continent of [[Westeros]]. She subsequently appears in ''[[A Clash of Kings]]'' (1998) and ''[[A Storm of Swords]]'' (2000), and becomes a prominent [[Narrative mode#Third-person view|point of view]] character beginning with ''[[A Feast for Crows]]'' (2005). Cersei will continue to be a point-of-view character in the forthcoming volume ''[[The Winds of Winter]]''.<ref name="notablejune2022">{{Cite web |title=Good Stuff, Bad Stuff, Strange Stuff {{!}} Not a Blog |url=https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2022/06/01/good-stuff-bad-stuff-strange-stuff/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623145416/https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2022/06/01/good-stuff-bad-stuff-strange-stuff/ |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=2022-07-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>


Cersei is Queen of the Seven Kingdoms of [[Westeros]] by marriage to King [[Robert Baratheon]], who abuses her throughout their marriage. Her father, [[Tywin Lannister|Tywin]], arranged the marriage after his attempt to betroth her to Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]], whom she idolized as a child, failed. Robert took the Throne with the help of the Lannisters when he ended the Targaryen dynasty. Cersei has been involved in an incestuous affair with her twin brother, [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]], since childhood. All three of Cersei's children are Jaime's, unbeknownst to Robert. The rumored illegitimacy of her children causes a power struggle in the wake of the king's death, known as the War of the Five Kings.
Cersei is portrayed by [[Lena Headey]] on the [[HBO]] series ''Game of Thrones''. Headey received [[Emmy Award]] nominations for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]] for her performance in 2014<ref name="huffpost 2014-07">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/10/emmy-nominations-2014_n_5571555.html? |title=Emmy Nominations 2014: ''Breaking Bad'', ''Orange Is The New Black'' Among Top Nominees |first=Matthew |last=Jacobs |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=July 10, 2014 |accessdate=July 10, 2014}}</ref><ref name="latimes 2014-07">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/tv/la-et-st-emmy-nominations-2014-list-story.html#page=1 |title=Emmys 2014: Complete list of nominees |first=Tracy |last=Brown |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 10, 2014 |accessdate=July 10, 2014}}</ref> and 2015.<ref name="variety 2015-07">{{cite web |url=http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/emmy-award-nominations-2015-full-list-1201537852/ |title=Emmy Award Nominations: Full List of 2015 Emmy Nominees |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 16, 2015 |accessdate=July 16, 2015}}</ref> In [[Game of Thrones (season 5)|season 5]], a young version of the character is portrayed by [[Nell Williams]] in flashbacks.


Cersei's main character attributes are her lust for power, scheming, transgressive viewpoint, and her love for her children, whom she seeks to protect. She is considered one of the most complex characters in the story. Headey received widespread critical acclaim for her portrayal of the character on the [[HBO]] series ''Game of Thrones''. She was nominated for five [[Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]] and a [[Golden Globe Award]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Supporting Actress]] for her performance. Headey and the rest of the cast were nominated for seven [[Screen Actors Guild Award]]s for [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series]]. In [[Game of Thrones season 5|season 5]] of the series, a young version of the character is portrayed by [[Nell Williams]] in a flashback.
==Character description==


== Character background ==
Introduced in 1996's ''[[A Game of Thrones]]'', Cersei is the politically ambitious, manipulative and willful eldest child of Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] and Lady Joanna. She is the twin sister of Ser [[Jaime Lannister]], with whom she shares an incestuous relationship. According to George R. R. Martin, Jaime is the only person she truly loves apart from her children.
===''A Song of Ice and Fire''===
Fifteen years before the events of the series, Cersei married King [[Robert Baratheon]] to seal an alliance between House Lannister and the throne and so became Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, but she neither loves nor respects Robert after years of abuse and violence. The contempt she feels towards her husband stems from the woman he was first betrothed to and was in love with, [[Lyanna Stark]].
Cersei is the only daughter and the eldest child of 56-year-old [[Tywin Lannister]] and his late wife, Joanna; her twin brother, [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]], was born soon after Cersei. At the beginning of the novels, Cersei is 32 years old and has been queen consort for 14 years.
She has three children, but all three are fathered by Jaime rather than Robert although all carry the surname Baratheon and are heirs to the throne. In her role, Cersei proves herself to be cunning in handling political turmoil. However, as the series progresses, her incompetencies become more conspicuous. Cersei grows increasingly paranoid and unstable, believing her younger dwarf brother, Tyrion, to be the center of all of her problems after being haunted by a prophecy in her childhood that described the valonqar (High Valyrian for “little brother”) who would end her life.
Described as having classic Lannister looks, Cersei is seen as strikingly beautiful with her green eyes, golden blonde hair, slender figure and fair skin however, as of [[A Feast For Crows]] she has begun to gain weight as a result of alcohol abuse.


Cersei and Jaime looked so similar as children that Cersei occasionally wore Jaime's clothes and was mistaken for him.<ref name="ACOK">{{cite book |first=George R. R. |last=Martin |author-link=George R. R. Martin |title=[[A Clash of Kings]] |year=1998}}</ref> The twins experimented sexually at an early age but were discovered by a servant, who informed their mother. Joanna tasked a guard to keep the twins separated and kept the matter a secret from their father, threatening the twins that she would inform him if they ever repeated it.<ref name="ASOS">{{cite book |first=George R. R. |last=Martin |author-link=George R. R. Martin |title=[[A Storm of Swords]] |year=2000}}</ref>
==Storylines==

Soon afterward, Joanna died giving birth to the twins' younger [[dwarfism|dwarf]] brother, [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]] when the twins were seven. Cersei blamed Tyrion for Joanna's death and started to abuse him as a baby.<ref name="ASOS" /> Martin said in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'':

{{blockquote|There's certainly a great level of narcissism in Cersei. She has an almost sociopathic view of the world and civilization.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/george-r-r-martin-the-rolling-stone-interview-20140423? |title=George R.R. Martin: The ''Rolling Stone'' Interview |first=Mikal |last=Gilmore |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=April 23, 2014 |access-date=April 14, 2017 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808114707/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/george-r-r-martin-the-rolling-stone-interview-20140423 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

From the time she was very young, Tywin hoped his daughter would marry [[Rhaegar Targaryen]], and he rejected the Princess of Dorne's proposal to betroth [[Oberyn Martell]] and [[Elia Martell]] to Cersei and Jaime, respectively. Cersei became worthy with Rhaegar;{{Unclear inline|date=July 2024}} feelings she hid from her brother as her father advised her.<ref name="AFFC">{{cite book |first=George R. R. |last=Martin |author-link=George R. R. Martin |title=[[A Feast for Crows]] |year=2005}}</ref>

At the age of 11, Jaime was sent away to serve as a squire for Lord Sumner Crakehall.<ref name="ASOS" /> A year later, [[Aerys Targaryen]] rejected the proposal that Cersei marry his son, humiliating Tywin.<ref name="AFFC" /> Tywin took Cersei to [[King's Landing (A Song of Ice and Fire)|King's Landing]] and, in the following years, refused every offer of marriage for her. In 281 AC, when Cersei and Jaime were 15, Jaime, newly knighted on the battlefield and on his way to Casterly Rock, came to King's Landing to visit his sister, from whom he had been separated for four years. She informed Jaime that their father planned to marry him to [[Lysa Tully]] and persuaded him to join the Kingsguard in order to be near her, after the twins had slept together for the first time.<ref name="ASOS" /> Thus started an affair that continued throughout Cersei's marriage to [[Robert Baratheon]].

While she was initially happy about marrying Robert,<ref name="GoT">{{cite book |first=George R. R. |last=Martin |author-link=George R. R. Martin |title=[[A Game of Thrones]] |year=1996}}</ref> he didn't return Cersei's affections and repeatedly cheated on her. She continued her incestuous affair with Jaime, resulting in the births of [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey]], [[Myrcella Baratheon|Myrcella]], and [[Tommen Baratheon|Tommen]].

During her teenage years, believing that her betrothal to Rhaegar would soon be announced, Cersei brought her companions Melara Hetherspoon and Jeyne Farman to a witch named Maggy the Frog. Jeyne was instantly frightened and left the tent. Cersei and Melara stayed and tried to get the witch to tell them a prophecy. In the face of Cersei's threats, Maggy agreed to answer three questions. In response to those questions, Maggy told Cersei she would marry the king and not the prince, that she would be overthrown by a younger and more beautiful queen, that Cersei's children would die during Cersei's lifetime, and that the ''valonqar'' (High Valyrian for "little brother") would come to end her life.

Melara then asked if she would marry Jaime; Maggy answered that Melara wouldn't marry anyone and would die that night. It is implied that Cersei killed the girl to prevent her from speaking of the prophecies and for having ideas above her social status.<ref name="AFFC" /> Cersei spends her entire adult life attempting to subvert the prophecy and develops a strong paranoia, [[Self-fulfilling prophecy|which eventually causes the prophecy to come to fruition]].

===TV adaptation===
Cersei is the only daughter and the eldest child of [[Tywin Lannister]] (portrayed by [[Charles Dance]]) and his wife, Joanna; her twin brother, [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]], was born soon after Cersei. At the beginning of the series, Cersei is 37 years old and has been queen for 17 years (as opposed to 14 in the novels).

She is five years older than her book counterpart, and only four years older than Tyrion Lannister in the television series (portrayed by actor [[Peter Dinklage]]). Like her book counterpart, she blames him for the death of her mother in childbirth when she was 4 years old (as opposed to 7 in the novels).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2069318/characters/nm0372176 | title="Game of Thrones" the Night Lands (TV Episode 2012) - IMDb | website=[[IMDb]] | access-date=October 25, 2022 | archive-date=October 25, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025121443/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2069318/characters/nm0372176 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Similar to her book counterpart, she received a prophecy from Maggy the Frog ([[Jodhi May]]) warning of her impending doom to a younger, more beautiful queen, and also forewarning the death of three of her children, though there is no prophecy of the Valonqar choking her to death. Additionally, Cersei had a firstborn, black-haired son born to Robert Baratheon (portrayed by [[Mark Addy]]) who died as an infant. She confides in Catelyn Stark ([[Michelle Fairley]]) about this after the potential loss of her ten-year-old son, [[Bran Stark]] ([[Isaac Hempstead-Wright]]) and later Robert himself.

== Storylines ==
[[File:A Song of Ice and Fire arms of House Lannister red scroll.png|thumb|150px|alt=A coat of arms showing a golden lion on a red field|Coat of arms of House Lannister]]
[[File:A Song of Ice and Fire arms of House Lannister red scroll.png|thumb|150px|alt=A coat of arms showing a golden lion on a red field|Coat of arms of House Lannister]]


===''A Game of Thrones''===
=== ''A Game of Thrones'' ===
{{See also|A Game of Thrones}}
At the beginning of the novel, King [[Robert Baratheon]], his queen Cersei and most of the court visit The North to appoint [[Ned Stark]] Hand of the King. During the royal visit to [[Winterfell]], the young [[Bran Stark]] finds the queen committing [[incest]] with her brother [[Jaime Lannister]]. To prevent her adultery from being revealed, her brother attempts to kill Bran but is unsuccessful.
Robert, Cersei, and most of the court visit the North to appoint [[Ned Stark|Eddard Stark]] (Ned) as Hand of the King. During the royal visit to [[Winterfell]], Ned's son [[Bran Stark|Bran]] finds Cersei and Jaime committing incest in a tower. To prevent their adultery and incest from being revealed, Jaime pushes Bran from the tower. Bran survives, but has no memory of the fall and is left paraplegic.


Cersei and Robert have a loveless marriage, their union being a [[marriage of state]] to bind two wealthy houses together. Both Cersei and Robert repeatedly cheat on each other, with Robert fathering sixteen bastard children, and Cersei pretending that her children are Robert's. In reality, all of Robert's presumed heirs with Cersei have been fathered by Jaime. [[Ned Stark]] eventually discovers the truth of Cersei's infidelity and confronts her, giving her the opportunity to flee into exile and thus spare her innocent children certain execution. However unbeknownst to Ned, Cersei had already arranged Robert's death in a hunting accident. With the help of [[Petyr Baelish]] and [[Sansa Stark]] (unknowingly), Cersei foils Ned's attempted coup and becomes [[Regent]], gaining complete control of the capital.
Ned eventually discovers the truth of Cersei's infidelity and confronts her, giving her the opportunity to flee into exile and thus spare her children certain execution. Cersei had already arranged Robert's death in a hunting "accident"; when he dies, Cersei seizes control as [[regent]] and has Eddard arrested for treason. Cersei intends for Ned to publicly confess and join the Night's Watch as punishment, but instead Joffrey orders him executed.


===''A Clash of Kings''===
=== ''A Clash of Kings'' ===
{{See also|A Clash of Kings}}
Frustrated with Cersei's many political blunders as well as her failure to control her son, King [[Joffrey Baratheon]], Cersei's father, [[Tywin Lannister]] appoints his son [[Tyrion Lannister]] Hand of the King with explicit instructions to control Cersei and Joffrey. Once at the capital, Tyrion enters into a bitter power struggle with Cersei, methodically removing her supporters from positions of power and isolating her on the Small Council of the king's advisers.
Frustrated with Cersei's many political blunders as well as her failure to control Joffrey, Tywin appoints Tyrion Hand of the King, with explicit instructions to control Cersei and Joffrey. Once at the capital, Tyrion enters into a bitter power struggle with Cersei, subverting her authority and removing her supporters from positions of power.


When [[Stannis Baratheon]], Robert's younger brother, marches on King's Landing, Cersei and Joffrey hide in a fortified tower, leaving Tyrion to mastermind the defense of the city. Just as Stannis is about to breach the gates, Tywin arrives and drives Stannis from the city. There, Tywin formally assumes his position as Hand of the King, once again marginalizing Cersei and depriving her of her power to rule as Joffrey's [[regent]].
In Jaime's absence, Cersei takes their cousin Lancel Lannister as her lover, an affair that Tyrion discovers. When [[Stannis Baratheon]] sails on King's Landing, Cersei and Joffrey stay enclosed in the Red Keep, leaving Tyrion to mastermind the defense of the city. Ultimately, Tywin and the Tyrell armies arrive in time to force Stannis to retreat and save the city.


===''A Storm of Swords''===
=== ''A Storm of Swords'' ===
{{See also|A Storm of Swords}}
After formally assuming his position as Hand of the King, Tywin makes it clear to Cersei that she is no longer welcome on Small Council meetings, de facto stripping her of her political authority. Furthermore, as a condition of their alliance with [[House Tyrell]], Joffrey is to marry [[Margaery Tyrell]] with Cersei being shipped off to the Tyrell seat of Highgarden to marry Willas Tyrell. Cersei is incensed by these developments, frustrated that not only has she lost her power in the capital, but also lost control over her own life by a succession of forced marriages.
After formally assuming his position as Hand of the King, Tywin makes it clear to Cersei that she is no longer welcome at the small council meetings, ''de facto'' stripping her of political authority. Furthermore, Tywin intends to wed Cersei to Willas Tyrell in order to form an alliance with [[House Tyrell]]. This state of affairs is shaken when Joffrey is poisoned at his wedding feast. Maddened with grief at the loss of her eldest child, Cersei lashes out against Tyrion, accusing him of poisoning the king out of revenge.


This state of affairs is shaken when [[House Baratheon#Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey]] is poisoned at his wedding feast. Maddened with grief at the loss of her eldest son, Cersei lashes out against Tyrion, accusing him of poisoning the king out of revenge. Cersei manipulates Tyrion's trial to ensure a guilty verdict, bribing and intimidating witnesses. When Tyrion demands a [[trial by combat]], Cersei selects the imposing [[Gregor Clegane]], "The Mountain," as the Crown's champion. The Mountain prevails, killing Tyrion's champion. Tywin then pronounces Tyrion guilty and sentences him to death, but Tyrion escapes prison with the help of his brother Jaime and kills Tywin. Cersei is once again in complete control of the kingdom.
Cersei [[kangaroo court|manipulates Tyrion's trial]] to ensure a guilty verdict, by bribing and intimidating witnesses. When Tyrion demands a [[trial by combat]], Cersei selects the imposing [[Gregor Clegane]], "The Mountain," as the Crown's champion. The Mountain prevails, killing Tyrion's champion [[Oberyn Martell]]. Tywin then pronounces Tyrion guilty and sentences him to death, but Tyrion escapes prison and kills Tywin. Cersei is once again in complete control of the capital.


===''A Feast for Crows''===
=== ''A Feast for Crows'' ===
{{See also|A Feast for Crows}}
With the death of her [[Tywin Lannister|father]] and her son Joffrey, Cersei de facto rules the kingdom. Her second child, [[Tommen Baratheon]] is crowned king but is widely considered weak, signing every decree that passes in front of him. However she is ruling a kingdom on the brink of ruin. The huge losses suffered by [[House Lannister]] in the war combined with the wartime disruptions to trade and harvest mean that the ruling House Lannister is dependent on resources from [[House Tyrell]]. The Tyrells leverage this position and begin to build power in the capital, much to Cersei's consternation.
With the deaths of her father and elder son, Cersei's youngest child, the 8-year-old Tommen Baratheon, is crowned king, and Cersei rules the Seven Kingdoms as Queen Regent. Cersei's rule descends into a series of political and economic blunders due to her short temper, egotism, and paranoia, greatly damaging her relationship with Jaime and alienating allies such as [[Pycelle]] and [[Kevan Lannister]]. She defaults on debts to the Iron Bank of Braavos and to the Faith, allowing the latter to rebuild its military orders in exchange for cancellation of the debt, and fills government posts with ineffective and untrustworthy cronies and sycophants. At the same time, the Tyrells begin to build power in the capital, much to Cersei's consternation.


Furthermore, Cersei makes a series of political and economic blunders, alienating allies such as [[Pycelle]] and [[Kevan Lannister]]. In an attempt to undermine the Tyrells as well as release her son from his marriage to Margaery, Cersei attempts to frame Margaery for adultery and treason. However this plot backfires as the investigation into Margaery reveals evidence of Cersei's own adultery and her complicity in [[Robert Baratheon]]'s death, and she is arrested by the Faith. She sends a letter to Jaime, asking him for help, but he burns her note.
Cersei is haunted by the prophecy of the valonqar, whom she considers Tyrion, so she promises a lordship to whoever brings her Tyrion's head. This, however, only leads to many wrongful executions throughout the realm. In an attempt to undermine the Tyrells, and release her son from his marriage to Margaery Tyrell, Cersei attempts to frame Margaery for adultery and treason. However, this plot backfires as the investigation into Margaery reveals evidence of Cersei's own adultery and her complicity in Robert's death, resulting in her arrest by the Faith. Cersei sends a letter to Jaime, asking him for help, but he ignores her request and burns her letter.


===''A Dance with Dragons''===
=== ''A Dance with Dragons'' ===
{{See also|A Dance with Dragons}}


To gain release from her imprisonment, Cersei confesses to several of the lesser charges against her, including post-marital affairs, but does not confess to having murdered her husband King Robert, nor that her children are the product of incest. Cersei is nevertheless punished with a walk of atonement, forcing her to strip and walk naked through the capital in full view of the public.
Cersei confesses the adultery to the High Septon (though not her relationship with Jaime) and as punishment, she is stripped naked and forced to walk through the capital in full view of the public, nearly breaking down in tears near the end. The more serious charges of regicide and incest are to be settled in a [[trial by combat]]. While awaiting her trial, the kingdom is now run by Pycelle and Kevan. However, at the nadir of her fortunes, [[Varys]] returns to the capital and murders both Pycelle and Kevan. The book ends with Cersei's fate unknown.


With Cersei confined to the Red Keep awaiting trial, the realm is governed by Pycelle and Kevan. However, at the nadir of Cersei's fortunes, [[Varys]] reappears at the capital and assassinates both Pycelle and Kevan, as their competent leadership threatened to undo the damage Cersei's misrule had done.
===Family tree of House Lannister===

* See: [[Family tree of House Lannister|Extended family tree of House Lannister]]
=== Family tree of House Lannister ===
{{Family tree of Tytos Lannister}}
{{Family tree of Tytos Lannister}}


== TV adaptation ==
== TV adaptation ==
[[File:Lena Headey Primetime Emmy Awards 2014.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Lena Headey]] plays the role of Cersei Lannister in the [[Game of Thrones|television series]].]]
Cersei Lannister is played by [[Lena Headey]] in the television adaption of the book series.
Cersei Lannister is played by [[Lena Headey]] in the television adaption of the series of books.


In October 2014, Headey and several other key cast members, all contracted for six seasons of the series, renegotiated their deals to include a potential seventh season and salary increases for seasons 5, 6, and 7.<ref name="THR 2014-10">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-cast-signs-season-744314 |title=''Game of Thrones'' Cast Signs for Season 7 with Big Raises |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first1=Matthew |last1=Belloni |first2=Lesley |last2=Goldberg |date=October 30, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2016 |archive-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027232711/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-cast-signs-season-744314 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DL 2014-10">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/10/game-of-thrones-cast-salary-raises-season-7-1201268049/ |title=''Game Of Thrones'' Stars Score Big Raises |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=October 30, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2016 |archive-date=December 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221085038/http://deadline.com/2014/10/game-of-thrones-cast-salary-raises-season-7-1201268049/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' called the raises "huge", noting that the deal would make the performers "among the highest-paid actors on cable TV".<ref name="THR 2014-10" /> ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' put the number for season 5 at "close to $300,000 an episode" for each actor,<ref name="DL 2014-10" /> and ''The Hollywood Reporter'' wrote in June 2016 that the performers would each be paid "upward of $500,000 per episode" for season 7 and the potential season 8.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-stars-score-hefty-905288 |title=''Game of Thrones'' Stars Score Hefty Pay Raises for Season 8 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |date=June 21, 2016 |access-date=July 20, 2016 |archive-date=January 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117013249/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/game-thrones-stars-score-hefty-905288 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, Headey became one of the [[List of highest paid American television stars|highest paid actors on television]] and will earn £2&nbsp;million per episode for the show.<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425052433/http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/795123/Game-of-Thrones-stars-to-be-paid-millions |archive-date=April 25, 2017|url=http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/795123/Game-of-Thrones-stars-to-be-paid-millions|title=Game Of Thrones season 7: Stars set to earn £2 Million per episode|work=[[Daily Express]]|last=Parker|first=Mike|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425052433/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/game-of-thrones-season-7-actors-salary-net-worth-pay-million-hbo-per-episode-a7700506.html |archive-date=April 25, 2017|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/game-of-thrones-season-7-actors-salary-net-worth-pay-million-hbo-per-episode-a7700506.html|title=Game of Thrones season 7: Actors 'set to earn £2million per episode', making them highest-paid ever|work=[[The Independent]]|last=Hooton|first=Christopher|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Storylines===
Cersei Lannister, [[Queen consort|Queen]] of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, is the wife of [[Monarch|King]] Robert Baratheon. Her father arranged the marriage when she was a teenager, initiating himself as a political counselor for King Robert. The Lannisters are the richest family in Westeros,<ref name="VanDerWerff">{{cite web|last=VanDerWerff|first=Todd|title="Winter is Coming" Review|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/winter-is-coming,54682/|publisher=AV Club|accessdate=15 March 2013}}</ref> which is why Robert was interested in a marriage between them. Cersei has a twin brother, Jaime, with whom she has been involved in an incestuous affair from early childhood. All three of Cersei's children are Jaime's.<ref name="VanDerWerff" /> Cersei's main character attribute is her desire for power and her deep loyalty to her father, children, and brother Jaime.


====Season 1====
=== Storylines ===
Much of Cersei's storyline from the first and second seasons in the television series is unchanged from the books. However, a notable change in the show is Joffrey's authorising the purge of Robert's bastards, rather than Cersei.
Cersei learns that her husband Robert is in danger of finding out that the children he sees as his heirs to the throne are not his. Robert meets his end as the result of a boar attack on a hunting trip, before Ned Stark tells him of the truth about his children. Cersei works quickly to instate her oldest son, Joffrey, on the throne, with her as his chief political advisor and Queen Regent.<ref>{{cite web|last=VanDerWerff|first=Todd|title="You Win Or You Die" Review|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/you-win-or-you-die-for-experts,56747/,75561/|publisher=AV Club|accessdate=15 March 2013}}</ref> Joffrey quits listening to his mother.


====Season 2====
==== Season 1 ====
Cersei learns that her husband Robert is in danger of finding out that the children he sees as his heirs to the throne are not his.<ref>{{cite web|last=VanDerWerff|first=Emily|title="Winter is Coming" Review|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/winter-is-coming,54682/|website=AV Club|date=April 18, 2011|access-date=March 15, 2013|archive-date=May 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524214321/http://www.avclub.com/articles/winter-is-coming,54682/|url-status=live}}</ref> Robert meets his end as the result of a boar attack on a hunting trip, before Ned Stark tells him the truth about his children. Cersei works quickly to instate her oldest son, Joffrey, on the throne, with her as his chief political advisor and Queen Regent.<ref>{{cite web|last=VanDerWerff|first=Emily|title="You Win Or You Die" Review|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/you-win-or-you-die-for-experts,56747/,75561/|website=AV Club|access-date=March 15, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Joffrey, however, quickly shows signs of independence.
Her father decides Cersei does not exercise enough control over her son, and her father sends his youngest son Tyrion as an additional political advisor. Cersei and Tyrion do not get along, and constantly try to undermine each other's authority over the crown. As of the end of season 2, Tyrion has accumulated more sway over the Iron Throne, and has shipped Cersei's only daughter off against Cersei's will to be married to the prince of Dorne.


====Season 3====
==== Season 2 ====
Tywin decides that Cersei does not exercise enough control over her son and sends Tyrion as an additional political advisor. Cersei and Tyrion do not get along, and constantly try to undermine each other's authority over the crown. As of the end of season 2, Tyrion has accumulated more sway over the Iron Throne, has shipped Cersei's only daughter off against Cersei's will to be married to the Prince of Dorne, and is forcing their cousin Lancel, with whom Cersei is having an affair, to inform on her. Tywin's arrival with the Tyrell army robs both siblings of their influence at the last possible moment.
She takes pleasure in Tyrion's diminished position and taunts him for being forced into a marriage pact with Sansa Stark, only to be told by her father that he intends to marry her to Loras Tyrell. At the end of the season, the two siblings ponder at their respective marriages, and Cersei reunites with Jaime in her bedchamber as he unexpectedly returns from captivity.


====Season 4====
==== Season 3 ====
Cersei comes to fear that Margaery Tyrell intends to usurp her as queen and unsuccessfully tries to alienate Joffrey from her. When Tywin learns of the Tyrells' plan to wed [[Sansa Stark]] to Margaery's brother Loras, he intervenes by having Tyrion marry Sansa instead. Cersei is delighted but her joy turns to anger when Tywin also orders her to marry Loras. When Jaime returns to King's Landing, he immediately seeks out Cersei, who is shocked to discover that his sword hand has been cut off.
She has Tyrion arrested after Joffrey is fatally poisoned. It is implied that she knows Tyrion's guilt is highly unlikely, but just wants to see him dead, though Jaime refuses to carry out the order.<ref>{{cite web|last=VanDerWerff|first=Todd|title="Valar Morghulis" Review|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/valar-morghulis-for-experts,75561/|publisher=AV Club|accessdate=15 March 2013}}</ref> Indeed, at Tyrion's trial, it is obvious that Cersei has manipulated the entire procedure so that the only witnesses (herself, Lord Varys, Meryn Trant, Grand Maester Pycelle and Shae) give either incomplete or entirely false testimonies to implicate Tyrion and Sansa further in the murder. When Tyrion demands a trial by combat, Cersei quickly chooses Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane as her champion to diminish Tyrion's chances of acquittal, and has Bronn betrothed to a noblewoman so that Tyrion cannot choose him as his champion. Cersei's wish comes true when Tyrion's champion, Oberyn Martell, is killed by Clegane, but she still refuses to marry Loras, even threatening her father with revealing the truth about her relationship with Jaime and the parentage of her children. Tywin rebuffs her threats, though he himself is killed by an escaping Tyrion soon afterwards.


====Season 5====
==== Season 4 ====
Cersei has Tyrion arrested after Joffrey is fatally poisoned. Mourning and vindictive, it's implied that guilty or innocent, she wants Tyrion dead, while Jaime refuses to believe Tyrion is capable of familial regicide.<ref>{{cite web|last=VanDerWerff|first=Emily|title="Valar Morghulis" Review|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/valar-morghulis-for-experts,75561/|website=AV Club|date=June 4, 2012|access-date=March 15, 2013|archive-date=April 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406045839/http://www.avclub.com/articles/valar-morghulis-for-experts,75561/|url-status=live}}</ref> Indeed, at Tyrion's trial, it is apparent Cersei has manipulated the proceedings so that the witnesses give either incomplete or entirely false testimonies to implicate Tyrion and Sansa further in the murder. When Tyrion demands a trial by combat, Cersei chooses Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane as royal champion, to further diminish Tyrion's chances, and bribes Bronn via betrothal to a noblewoman, to secure his veto as Tyrion's champion. Cersei's wish comes true when Tyrion's champion, Oberyn Martell, is killed by Clegane. She still refuses to marry Loras, threatening even to reveal the truth of her incestuous relationship with Jaime and their three blond children. Tywin is killed by an escaping Tyrion soon afterward.
Cersei receives a threat from Dorne, where Myrcella is betrothed to Trystane Martell, and sends Jaime to Dorne to retrieve her. Tommen is married to Margaery, who tries to manipulate Tommen into sending Cersei back home to Casterly Rock. Fearful of losing her power, Cersei meets religious leader the High Sparrow, appointing him as the High Septon and giving him authority to re-establish the Faith Militant, the military arm of the Faith of the Seven. In order to destabilise House Tyrell, Cersei arranges for the High Sparrow to arrest Loras for his homosexuality, with Margaery also arrested for perjury after lying to defend Loras. However, Cersei's plot backfires when Lancel, now a member of the Faith Militant, confesses to his affair with her and his role in Robert Baratheon's assassination, and also accuses Cersei of incest, prompting the High Sparrow to arrest her. Cersei is eventually allowed to return to the Red Keep after confessing to adultery with Lancel, but has her hair cut off and is forced to walk naked through the streets of King's Landing as atonement. Cersei returns distraught by the abuse directed at her by the smallfolk of King's Landing, but is consoled by Qyburn's successful reanimation of Ser Gregor Clegane.


====Season 6====
==== Season 5 ====
Cersei receives a threat from Dorne, where Myrcella is betrothed to Trystane Martell, and sends Jaime to Dorne to retrieve her. Tommen is married to Margaery, who tries to manipulate Tommen into sending Cersei to Casterly Rock. Fearful of losing her power, Cersei meets the religious leader, the High Sparrow, appoints him as the High Septon, and gives him authority to re-establish the Faith Militant. In order to destabilise House Tyrell, Cersei arranges for the High Sparrow to arrest Loras for his homosexuality, and have Margaery also arrested for perjury after lying to defend Loras. However, Cersei's plot backfires when Lancel, now a member of the Faith Militant, confesses to his affair with Cersei and his role in Robert's assassination, and accuses Cersei of incest, prompting the High Sparrow to arrest her. Cersei is eventually allowed to return to the Red Keep after confessing to having committed adultery with Lancel, but has her hair cut off and is forced to walk naked through the streets of King's Landing as atonement. Cersei returns, distraught from the abuse directed at her by the smallfolk of King's Landing, but is consoled by Qyburn's successful reanimation of Ser Gregor Clegane.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/15/game-of-thrones-mothers-mercy-review |title=Game of Thrones: "Mother's Mercy" Review |website=[[IGN]] |last=Fowler |first=Matt |date=June 15, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2017 |archive-date=December 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210125904/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/06/15/game-of-thrones-mothers-mercy-review |url-status=live }}</ref>
Cersei remains in the Red Keep, confined to her chambers and stripped of her authority. Though Cersei accepts Tommen's apology for his lack of action in her arrest and walk of atonement, she remains looked down upon by other members of the court. Cersei learns from Tommen that the High Sparrow plans to have Margaery do a walk of atonement before Cersei's trial and conspires with the Small Council to have the Tyrell army march on the Sept of Baelor to secure Margaery and Loras' release. Their plan backfires when it is revealed that Margaery has joined the Faith of the Seven and has convinced Tommen to merge the Faith and the Crown. Despite being stripped of her allies, Cersei opts to remain in King's Landing, having named Ser Gregor as her champion in her trial by combat. However, Tommen announces that trial by combat has been abolished and replaced by trial by the Seven. Cersei arranges for a cache of wildfire to be detonated beneath the Sept during Loras' trial, killing the High Sparrow, Margaery, Loras, and the rest of the Small Council. Upon witnessing the fallout of Cersei's attack, Tommen commits suicide. With House Baratheon extinct, Cersei is crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.


=== Reception ===
==== Season 6 ====
Cersei remains in the Red Keep, confined to her chambers and stripped of her authority. Although she accepts Tommen's apology for his lack of action in her arrest and walk of atonement, she remains looked down upon by other members of the court. Cersei learns from Tommen that the High Sparrow plans to have Margaery do a walk of atonement before Cersei's trial and conspires with the Small Council to have the Tyrell army march on the Sept of Baelor to secure Margaery's and Loras' release. Their plan backfires when it is revealed that Margaery has joined the Faith of the Seven and has convinced Tommen to merge the Faith and the Crown. Despite being stripped of her allies, Cersei opts to remain in King's Landing, having named Ser Gregor as her champion in her trial by combat. However, Tommen announces that trial by combat has been abolished and replaced by trial by the Seven. Cersei arranges for a cache of wildfire to be detonated beneath the Sept during Loras' trial, which kills the High Sparrow, Margaery, Loras, and the rest of the Small Council. As a result of Cersei's actions, Tommen commits suicide. In the [[power vacuum]] following Tommen's death, Cersei claims the Iron Throne as the first [[queen regnant]] of the Seven Kingdoms.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817123724/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/27/game-of-thrones-the-winds-of-winter-review |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/27/game-of-thrones-the-winds-of-winter-review |title=Game of Thrones: "The Winds of Winter" Review |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=February 17, 2017 |date=June 27, 2016 |last=Fowler|first=Matt|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lena Headey has been praised by critics and fans alike for her performance on the show, with some calling her's the show's best performance.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}


=== Recognition and awards ===
==== Season 7 ====
Despite nominally being ruler of Westeros, Cersei's grip on the throne is tenuous, with the Riverlands in upheaval following [[Arya Stark]]'s massacre of House Frey, the Vale and the North's declaration of Ned Stark's bastard son [[Jon Snow (character)|Jon Snow]] King in the North, and Tyrion, Yara Greyjoy, Dorne, and the Reach all supporting [[Daenerys Targaryen]], whose fleet has seized Dragonstone. Cersei remains cold and distant after Tommen's suicide, viewing it as a betrayal of their family. With no children left to protect, Cersei's malice and vindictiveness have grown, and she relentlessly seeks to expand her power and destroy her enemies. Cersei reaches out to the King of the Iron Islands, [[Euron Greyjoy]], to form an alliance, but rejects Euron's marriage proposal as she considers him untrustworthy. Euron later ambushes Daenerys' fleet and captures Yara Greyjoy, Ellaria, and Tyene Sand, and presents them as a "gift" to Cersei. She agrees to marry Euron after the war is won; however, she continues her affair with Jaime, no longer attempting to hide their relationship from their servants. Cersei imprisons Ellaria and Tyene in the dungeons, kills Tyene with the same poison used to kill Myrcella, and keeps Ellaria alive to watch her daughter die and decompose.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Awards
|-
| '''Wins'''
|
* [[Airlock Alpha|Portal Award]] for Best Actress <small>(2012)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlockalpha.com/9361/game-of-thrones-conquers-with-4-portal-awards-html|title=‘Game Of Thrones’ Conquers With 4 Portal Awards |publisher=airlockalpha.com|last=|first=|date=September 17, 2012}}</ref>
* [[EWwy Award]] for Best Supporting Actress, Drama <small>(2012)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/gallery/ewwys-2012-meet-your-winners/575018_best-supporting-actress-drama|title=EWwys 2012: Meet Your Winners! |publisher=EW.com|last=|first=|date=14 September 2012}}</ref>
* [[Women's Image Network Awards]] for Actress Drama Series <small>(2014)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewinawards.com/13_nominees.html|title=Women's Image Network Awards 13 Nominees|author=|date=|publisher=}}</ref>
* [[20th Empire Awards]] <small>(2015)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.empireonline.com/awards2015/winners/hero.asp/|title=Jameson Empire Awards 2016|author=James Dyer|date=|work=Empire}}</ref>
|-
| '''Nominations'''
|
* [[Airlock Alpha|Portal Award]] for Best Actress <small>(2011)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlockalpha.com/8683/game-of-thrones-fringe-split-2011-portal-awards-html|title=‘Game Of Thrones,’ ‘Fringe’ Split 2011 Portal Awards |publisher=airlockalpha.com|last=|first=|date=August 19, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Women's Image Network Awards]] for Actress Drama Series <small>(2011)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewinawards.com/13_nominees.html|title=Women's Image Network Awards 13 Nominees|author=|date=|publisher=}}</ref>
* [[2011 Scream Awards|Scream Award]] for Best Ensemble <small>(2011)</small>
* [[2011 Scream Awards|Scream Award]] for Best Fantasy Actress <small>(2011)</small>
* [[Monte-Carlo Television Festival|Golden Nymph awards]] for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series <small>(2012)</small>
* [[Saturn Award]] for [[Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television|Best Actress on Television]] <small>(2012)</small>
* [[Saturn Award]] for [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television|Best Supporting Actress on Television]] <small>(2016)</small>
* [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]] for [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series|Outstanding Performance by An Ensemble in a Drama Series]] <small>(2012, 2014, 2015, 2016)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sagawards.org/|title=Home - Screen Actors Guild Awards|author=|date=|publisher=}}</ref>
* [[SFX (magazine)|SFX Awards]] for Best Actress <small>(2013)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://whedonesque.com/comments/30915|title=Vote in The SFX Awards 2013 - Fandom&Fun - Whedonesque.com|author=Caroline van Oosten de Boer, Milo Vermeulen|date=|work=Whedonesque}}</ref>
* [[Online Film & Television Association Award]] for Best Supporting Actress In a Drama Series <small>(2013, 2014, 2015)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ofta.cinemasight.com/Awards/Television/1213.html|title=Online Film & Television Association|publisher=}}</ref>
* [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]] <small>(2014, 2015, 2016)</small>


Tycho Nestoris of the Iron Bank arrives in King's Landing to request repayment of their debt. Cersei requests a fortnight in order to comply. She then has the Lannister and Tarly armies attack Highgarden, defeating the Tyrells. [[Olenna Tyrell]] dies after drinking poison given to her by Jaime following the defeat and gloats to him that she was responsible for poisoning Joffrey. The Tyrells' wealth is transported safely to King's Landing, but the food the Lannisters steal from the Reach is destroyed when Daenerys attacks the caravan with her Dothraki horde and dragon, Drogon. Jaime barely survives the battle and encourages Cersei to consider a ceasefire.
|-
|}


Tyrion infiltrates the capital to meet with Jaime, and Jaime tells Cersei that Daenerys and Jon want to meet with Cersei to negotiate an [[armistice]] while mankind fights the threat of the [[White Walkers]]. Cersei is skeptical but agrees, and tells Jaime that she is pregnant. Daenerys and Jon meet with Cersei in the Dragonpit on the outskirts of King's Landing, and present to her a wight captured from the White Walkers as evidence of their threat. Although terrified, Cersei initially refuses to agree to an armistice, as Jon refuses to remain neutral in the war between the Lannisters and Targaryens. Tyrion speaks to Cersei in private, and apparently persuades her to ally with the rival monarchs. However, she later reveals to Jaime that she intends for her enemies to wipe each other out and then attack the victor, and has sent Euron to Essos to transport the Golden Company to Westeros. Disgusted by Cersei's selfishness and shortsightedness, Jaime finally abandons her side and goes north on his own, leaving Cersei alone.
==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}
==== Season 8 ====
Cersei is informed that the White Walkers have breached the Wall, to her delight. [[List of A Song of Ice and Fire characters#Euron Greyjoy|Euron Greyjoy]] returns to [[King's Landing (A Song of Ice and Fire)|King's Landing]] with the Golden Company, and Cersei finally has sex with him. Cersei tasks Qyburn with hiring Bronn to kill Jaime and Tyrion, using the crossbow with which Tyrion had killed Tywin.

Cersei permits civilians to seek refuge in the Red Keep – ostensibly to protect them from an invasion of King's Landing, but in reality she plans to use them as human shields to deter an attack. The Iron Fleet kills one of Daenerys' dragons, Rhaegal, and takes her advisor [[Missandei]] captive. When Euron returns to King's Landing, Cersei reveals that she is pregnant and lies that it is his. Daenerys, Tyrion, and her other advisors travel to King's Landing demanding Cersei's surrender, but Cersei is unmoved and has the Mountain behead Missandei in front of Daenerys. Daenerys subsequently launches an attack on the Iron Fleet, and the anti-dragon defenses Cersei has had installed on King's Landing's walls, prompting the city's surrender. However, she then continues to burn the rest of the city, deliberately attacking innocent civilians, and then attacks the Red Keep itself. Cersei attempts to take shelter and is found by Jaime, who had infiltrated the Red Keep on Tyrion's orders to evacuate her. However, their passage is blocked by rubble. The Red Keep begins to collapse, and Jaime comforts Cersei in their final moments as they are crushed by falling debris. Their bodies are later found by Tyrion, whose subsequent grief leads him to renounce his loyalty to Daenerys and persuade Jon Snow to kill her.

== Reception and awards ==
===Television===
Cersei has been praised as one of the most complex and multi-faceted characters in either version of the story. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked her at No. 5 on a list of the "Top 40 ''Game of Thrones'' Characters", describing Cersei as a woman and matriarch who "battles for a place at the table in a world made for men" and would do anything to protect her offspring. As a player of the game, Cersei "would rather die than give you control".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-lists/40-best-game-of-thrones-characters-ranked-and-updated-29974/cersei-lannister-223013/|title=40 Best 'Game of Thrones' Characters – Ranked and Updated|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403055408/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-lists/40-best-game-of-thrones-characters-ranked-and-updated-29974/walder-frey-227461/|archive-date=April 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''Rolling Stone''{{'s}} list of the "30 Best ''Game of Thrones'' Villains", Cersei was ranked No. 1. Described as the "most dangerous human being in Westeros" and "one of the most complex and fascinating characters on television", Cersei is also a "strangely sympathetic figure, warped by being treated like an expensive brood mare by powerful men her entire life and genuine in her affections", while her bitter experience makes her her own worst enemy and "the villain of her own story".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/30-best-game-of-thrones-villains-20160613|title=30 Best 'Game of Thrones' Villains|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=July 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718053248/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/30-best-game-of-thrones-villains-20160613|archive-date=July 18, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Lena Headey received much critical praise for her portrayal of Cersei.<ref name="Hibberd">{{cite news| url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/05/12/game-thrones-cersei-kings-landing-battle-interview/| title=Game of Thrones: Lena Headey reacts to that King's Landing battle ending| author=James Hibberd| publisher=Entertainment Weekly| date=2019-05-12| access-date=2019-12-30| archive-date=May 28, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528002423/https://ew.com/tv/2019/05/12/game-thrones-cersei-kings-landing-battle-interview/| url-status=live}}</ref> James Hibberd of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' stated that from the first season, Headey "perfectly delivered Cersei’s uniquely toxic mix of pride, vindictiveness, impatience, cunning, and spite" and Cersei "has never been anything less than a fully realized character."<ref name="Hibberd"/> ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}}s Jeremy Egner remarked that Headey "has always been one of the strongest performers on the show."<ref>{{cite web|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160828075813/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/arts/television/game-of-thrones-season-6-finale-recap-jon-snow.html|archive-date=August 28, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/arts/television/game-of-thrones-season-6-finale-recap-jon-snow.html|title='Game of Thrones' Season 6 Finale: Long May She Reign |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=February 17, 2017 |date=June 26, 2016 |last=Egner|first=Jeremy|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Clive James wrote that she is a "beautiful expression of arbitrary terror, combining shapely grace with limitless evil in just the right measure to scare a man to death while rendering him helpless with desire", praising the depth to which Heady "beams Cersei's radiant malevolence" into the viewer's mind "that she reawakens a formative disturbance”.<ref name="James NY">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/04/18/the-raw-appeal-of-game-of-thrones|title=Thrones of Blood|date=April 11, 2016|access-date=January 11, 2021|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927050514/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/04/18/the-raw-appeal-of-game-of-thrones|url-status=live}}</ref> Andrew Anthony in ''[[The Guardian]]'' opined that the series was "most often at its best when Headey was on screen and radiating cold calculation and ruthless intrigue." He described Headey's Cersei as "a study in tyranny as a seductive art. There was something magnetically human about her inhumanity. You were drawn to her devious charms even as you recoiled from her brutal deeds."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jun/16/lena-headey-cersei-death-game-of-thrones-the-flood-interview| title=Lena Headey: 'I Wanted a Better Death for Cersei'| author=Andrew Anthony| work=The Guardian| date=2019-06-16| access-date=2019-12-30| archive-date=June 16, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616135649/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jun/16/lena-headey-cersei-death-game-of-thrones-the-flood-interview| url-status=live}}</ref> [[George R. R. Martin]], author of the novels, praised Headey in the role, remarking that Cersei is “a character with many colors” and Headey’s range is instrumental. Martin regarded Headey as a “very sympathetic actress ... a different actress wouldn’t be able to sell it”, and called her portrayal of Cersei “marvelous”.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/06/lena-headey-on-cersei-long-humiliating-walk.html|title=Game of Thrones' Lena Headey on Cersei's Long, Humiliating Walk|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|date=June 15, 2015|access-date=January 22, 2021|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129080732/https://www.vulture.com/2015/06/lena-headey-on-cersei-long-humiliating-walk.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2009/09/02/as-cersei-lannister/|title=As Cersei Lannister…|date=September 2, 2009|access-date=January 22, 2021|publisher=George R. R. Martin|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127215434/https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2009/09/02/as-cersei-lannister/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adriasnews.com/2012/10/george-r-r-martin-interview.html|title=George R.R. Martin: "Trying to please everyone is a horrible mistake"|website=Adria's News|date=October 7, 2012|access-date=January 22, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127040751/http://www.adriasnews.com/2012/10/george-r-r-martin-interview.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Headey received an [[EWwy Award]] for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ew.com/gallery/ewwys-2012-meet-your-winners/575018_best-supporting-actress-drama|title=EWwys 2012: Meet Your Winners!|website=EW.com|date=September 14, 2012|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=January 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114052433/http://www.ew.com/gallery/ewwys-2012-meet-your-winners/575018_best-supporting-actress-drama|url-status=dead}}</ref> a [[Airlock Alpha|Portal Award]] for Best Actress in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlockalpha.com/9361/game-of-thrones-conquers-with-4-portal-awards-html|title='Game Of Thrones' Conquers With 4 Portal Awards|website=airlockalpha.com|date=September 17, 2012|access-date=June 28, 2016|archive-date=January 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114052433/http://airlockalpha.com/9361/game-of-thrones-conquers-with-4-portal-awards-html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Women's Image Network Awards|Women's Image Award]] for Actress Drama Series in 2014.<ref name="thewinawards.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.thewinawards.com/13_nominees.html|website=Women's Image Network Awards|title=13 Nominees|access-date=June 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090458/http://www.thewinawards.com/13_nominees.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> She received five nominations for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]] in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=lena+headey&submit=Search&field_celebrity_details_field_display_name=&field_show_details_field_nominee_show_nr_title=&field_show_details_field_network=All&field_show_details_field_production_company=All&field_nominations_year%5Bmin%5D=&field_nominations_year%5Bmax%5D=&field_nominations_year_op=%3E%3D&field_nominations_year%5Bvalue%5D=1949-01-01&field_nominations_year_1%5Bmin%5D=&field_nominations_year_1%5Bmax%5D=&field_nominations_year_1_op=%3C%3D&field_nominations_year_1%5Bvalue%5D=2021-01-01&field_award_category=All|title=Awards Search|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020210530/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=lena+headey&submit=Search&field_celebrity_details_field_display_name=&field_show_details_field_nominee_show_nr_title=&field_show_details_field_network=All&field_show_details_field_production_company=All&field_nominations_year%5Bmin%5D=&field_nominations_year%5Bmax%5D=&field_nominations_year_op=%3E%3D&field_nominations_year%5Bvalue%5D=1949-01-01&field_nominations_year_1%5Bmin%5D=&field_nominations_year_1%5Bmax%5D=&field_nominations_year_1_op=%3C%3D&field_nominations_year_1%5Bvalue%5D=2021-01-01&field_award_category=All|url-status=live}}</ref> She was also nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film]] in 2016,<ref>{{cite web|title=Awards Database|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/awards-database|publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]]|access-date=January 11, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111025027/https://www.goldenglobes.com/awards-database|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Critics' Choice Television Award]] for [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series|Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]] in 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/critics-choice-tv-awards-hbo-leads-22-nominations-1201746217/ |website=Critics’ Choice |title=TV Awards: HBO Leads With 22 Nominations |date=November 14, 2016 |access-date=November 14, 2016 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626222732/https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/critics-choice-tv-awards-hbo-leads-22-nominations-1201746217/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Satellite Award]] for [[Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film]] in 2017,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2016-satellite-awards-nominees-listed-includes-moonlight-la-la-land-950935|title=Satellite Award Nominees Revealed|author=Gregg Kilday|date=November 29, 2016|access-date=November 30, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=December 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225183043/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2016-satellite-awards-nominees-listed-includes-moonlight-la-la-land-950935|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2016-Winners.pdf|title=THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS ACADEMY ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR THE 21 ANNUAL SATELLITE AWARDS|date=December 18, 2016|access-date=December 19, 2016|website=Pressacademy|archive-date=February 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204155337/http://www.pressacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2016-Winners.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Monte-Carlo Television Festival|Golden Nymph Award]] for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2012, and the [[Saturn Award]] for [[Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television|Best Actress on Television]] in 2012 and 2017 and [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television|Best Supporting Actress on Television]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302220316/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rogue-one-walking-dead-lead-saturn-awards-nominations-982468 |archive-date=March 2, 2017|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rogue-one-walking-dead-lead-saturn-awards-nominations-982468 |title='Rogue One,' 'Walking Dead' Lead Saturn Awards Nominations |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Aaron |last=Couch |date=March 2, 2017 |access-date=March 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Mancuso|first1=Vinnie|title='Avengers: Endgame', 'Game of Thrones' Lead the 2019 Saturn Awards Nominations|url=https://collider.com/saturn-awards-nominations-2019/|website=Collider|access-date=July 16, 2019|date=July 19, 2019|archive-date=July 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716042350/http://collider.com/saturn-awards-nominations-2019/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
In April 2019, Lena Headey and [[Peter Dinklage]] appeared as Cersei and Tyrion Lannister alongside [[Elmo]] in a ''[[Sesame Street]]'' [[Public service announcement|PSA]] on the importance of being respectful to one another, as part of Sesame Street's "''Respect Brings Us Together''" campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/game-of-thrones-sesame-street-cersei-tyrion-elmo/|title=Elmo Ends the Lannister Family Feud in This Sesame Street and Game of Thrones Crossover|author=Amanda Bell|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019|work=[[TV Guide]]|archive-date=April 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420034323/https://www.tvguide.com/news/game-of-thrones-sesame-street-cersei-tyrion-elmo/|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2019, Headey's and Coster-Waldau's likenesses as Cersei and Jaime were used to represent the influencer "Storm Twins" in the [[Marvel Comics]] series ''[[Spider-Gwen]]'', a duo of similarly incestuous influencer twins who seek to drive [[Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy)|Gwen Stacy]] off of [[Earth-65]] after the twins had seduced, murdered, and replaced their reality's benevolent [[Doctor Doom]].<ref>''[[Spider-Gwen|Ghost-Spider]]'' #1 (August 2019). [[Marvel Comics]].</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/cast-and-crew/cersei-lannister Cersei Lannister] on HBO


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Latest revision as of 01:03, 9 October 2024

Cersei Lannister
A Song of Ice and Fire character
Game of Thrones
character
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
First appearance
Last appearance
Created byGeorge R. R. Martin
Adapted byD.B. Weiss & David Benioff
(Game of Thrones)
Portrayed by
Voiced byLena Headey
In-universe information
GenderFemale
Title
  • Queen Consort (to Robert I)
  • Queen Regent (to Joffrey and Tommen)
  • Lady of Casterly Rock
  • Light of the West
  • Dowager Queen
  • Television:
  • Queen of the Andals and the First Men
Family
SpouseRobert Baratheon
Significant others
Children
Relatives

Cersei Lannister is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones, where she is portrayed by actress Lena Headey. Introduced in 1996's A Game of Thrones, Cersei is a member of House Lannister, one of the wealthiest and most powerful families on the continent of Westeros. She subsequently appears in A Clash of Kings (1998) and A Storm of Swords (2000), and becomes a prominent point of view character beginning with A Feast for Crows (2005). Cersei will continue to be a point-of-view character in the forthcoming volume The Winds of Winter.[1]

Cersei is Queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros by marriage to King Robert Baratheon, who abuses her throughout their marriage. Her father, Tywin, arranged the marriage after his attempt to betroth her to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, whom she idolized as a child, failed. Robert took the Throne with the help of the Lannisters when he ended the Targaryen dynasty. Cersei has been involved in an incestuous affair with her twin brother, Jaime, since childhood. All three of Cersei's children are Jaime's, unbeknownst to Robert. The rumored illegitimacy of her children causes a power struggle in the wake of the king's death, known as the War of the Five Kings.

Cersei's main character attributes are her lust for power, scheming, transgressive viewpoint, and her love for her children, whom she seeks to protect. She is considered one of the most complex characters in the story. Headey received widespread critical acclaim for her portrayal of the character on the HBO series Game of Thrones. She was nominated for five Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. Headey and the rest of the cast were nominated for seven Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. In season 5 of the series, a young version of the character is portrayed by Nell Williams in a flashback.

Character background

[edit]

A Song of Ice and Fire

[edit]

Cersei is the only daughter and the eldest child of 56-year-old Tywin Lannister and his late wife, Joanna; her twin brother, Jaime, was born soon after Cersei. At the beginning of the novels, Cersei is 32 years old and has been queen consort for 14 years.

Cersei and Jaime looked so similar as children that Cersei occasionally wore Jaime's clothes and was mistaken for him.[2] The twins experimented sexually at an early age but were discovered by a servant, who informed their mother. Joanna tasked a guard to keep the twins separated and kept the matter a secret from their father, threatening the twins that she would inform him if they ever repeated it.[3]

Soon afterward, Joanna died giving birth to the twins' younger dwarf brother, Tyrion when the twins were seven. Cersei blamed Tyrion for Joanna's death and started to abuse him as a baby.[3] Martin said in Rolling Stone:

There's certainly a great level of narcissism in Cersei. She has an almost sociopathic view of the world and civilization.[4]

From the time she was very young, Tywin hoped his daughter would marry Rhaegar Targaryen, and he rejected the Princess of Dorne's proposal to betroth Oberyn Martell and Elia Martell to Cersei and Jaime, respectively. Cersei became worthy with Rhaegar;[clarification needed] feelings she hid from her brother as her father advised her.[5]

At the age of 11, Jaime was sent away to serve as a squire for Lord Sumner Crakehall.[3] A year later, Aerys Targaryen rejected the proposal that Cersei marry his son, humiliating Tywin.[5] Tywin took Cersei to King's Landing and, in the following years, refused every offer of marriage for her. In 281 AC, when Cersei and Jaime were 15, Jaime, newly knighted on the battlefield and on his way to Casterly Rock, came to King's Landing to visit his sister, from whom he had been separated for four years. She informed Jaime that their father planned to marry him to Lysa Tully and persuaded him to join the Kingsguard in order to be near her, after the twins had slept together for the first time.[3] Thus started an affair that continued throughout Cersei's marriage to Robert Baratheon.

While she was initially happy about marrying Robert,[6] he didn't return Cersei's affections and repeatedly cheated on her. She continued her incestuous affair with Jaime, resulting in the births of Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen.

During her teenage years, believing that her betrothal to Rhaegar would soon be announced, Cersei brought her companions Melara Hetherspoon and Jeyne Farman to a witch named Maggy the Frog. Jeyne was instantly frightened and left the tent. Cersei and Melara stayed and tried to get the witch to tell them a prophecy. In the face of Cersei's threats, Maggy agreed to answer three questions. In response to those questions, Maggy told Cersei she would marry the king and not the prince, that she would be overthrown by a younger and more beautiful queen, that Cersei's children would die during Cersei's lifetime, and that the valonqar (High Valyrian for "little brother") would come to end her life.

Melara then asked if she would marry Jaime; Maggy answered that Melara wouldn't marry anyone and would die that night. It is implied that Cersei killed the girl to prevent her from speaking of the prophecies and for having ideas above her social status.[5] Cersei spends her entire adult life attempting to subvert the prophecy and develops a strong paranoia, which eventually causes the prophecy to come to fruition.

TV adaptation

[edit]

Cersei is the only daughter and the eldest child of Tywin Lannister (portrayed by Charles Dance) and his wife, Joanna; her twin brother, Jaime, was born soon after Cersei. At the beginning of the series, Cersei is 37 years old and has been queen for 17 years (as opposed to 14 in the novels).

She is five years older than her book counterpart, and only four years older than Tyrion Lannister in the television series (portrayed by actor Peter Dinklage). Like her book counterpart, she blames him for the death of her mother in childbirth when she was 4 years old (as opposed to 7 in the novels).[7]

Similar to her book counterpart, she received a prophecy from Maggy the Frog (Jodhi May) warning of her impending doom to a younger, more beautiful queen, and also forewarning the death of three of her children, though there is no prophecy of the Valonqar choking her to death. Additionally, Cersei had a firstborn, black-haired son born to Robert Baratheon (portrayed by Mark Addy) who died as an infant. She confides in Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) about this after the potential loss of her ten-year-old son, Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) and later Robert himself.

Storylines

[edit]
A coat of arms showing a golden lion on a red field
Coat of arms of House Lannister

A Game of Thrones

[edit]

Robert, Cersei, and most of the court visit the North to appoint Eddard Stark (Ned) as Hand of the King. During the royal visit to Winterfell, Ned's son Bran finds Cersei and Jaime committing incest in a tower. To prevent their adultery and incest from being revealed, Jaime pushes Bran from the tower. Bran survives, but has no memory of the fall and is left paraplegic.

Ned eventually discovers the truth of Cersei's infidelity and confronts her, giving her the opportunity to flee into exile and thus spare her children certain execution. Cersei had already arranged Robert's death in a hunting "accident"; when he dies, Cersei seizes control as regent and has Eddard arrested for treason. Cersei intends for Ned to publicly confess and join the Night's Watch as punishment, but instead Joffrey orders him executed.

A Clash of Kings

[edit]

Frustrated with Cersei's many political blunders as well as her failure to control Joffrey, Tywin appoints Tyrion Hand of the King, with explicit instructions to control Cersei and Joffrey. Once at the capital, Tyrion enters into a bitter power struggle with Cersei, subverting her authority and removing her supporters from positions of power.

In Jaime's absence, Cersei takes their cousin Lancel Lannister as her lover, an affair that Tyrion discovers. When Stannis Baratheon sails on King's Landing, Cersei and Joffrey stay enclosed in the Red Keep, leaving Tyrion to mastermind the defense of the city. Ultimately, Tywin and the Tyrell armies arrive in time to force Stannis to retreat and save the city.

A Storm of Swords

[edit]

After formally assuming his position as Hand of the King, Tywin makes it clear to Cersei that she is no longer welcome at the small council meetings, de facto stripping her of political authority. Furthermore, Tywin intends to wed Cersei to Willas Tyrell in order to form an alliance with House Tyrell. This state of affairs is shaken when Joffrey is poisoned at his wedding feast. Maddened with grief at the loss of her eldest child, Cersei lashes out against Tyrion, accusing him of poisoning the king out of revenge.

Cersei manipulates Tyrion's trial to ensure a guilty verdict, by bribing and intimidating witnesses. When Tyrion demands a trial by combat, Cersei selects the imposing Gregor Clegane, "The Mountain," as the Crown's champion. The Mountain prevails, killing Tyrion's champion Oberyn Martell. Tywin then pronounces Tyrion guilty and sentences him to death, but Tyrion escapes prison and kills Tywin. Cersei is once again in complete control of the capital.

A Feast for Crows

[edit]

With the deaths of her father and elder son, Cersei's youngest child, the 8-year-old Tommen Baratheon, is crowned king, and Cersei rules the Seven Kingdoms as Queen Regent. Cersei's rule descends into a series of political and economic blunders due to her short temper, egotism, and paranoia, greatly damaging her relationship with Jaime and alienating allies such as Pycelle and Kevan Lannister. She defaults on debts to the Iron Bank of Braavos and to the Faith, allowing the latter to rebuild its military orders in exchange for cancellation of the debt, and fills government posts with ineffective and untrustworthy cronies and sycophants. At the same time, the Tyrells begin to build power in the capital, much to Cersei's consternation.

Cersei is haunted by the prophecy of the valonqar, whom she considers Tyrion, so she promises a lordship to whoever brings her Tyrion's head. This, however, only leads to many wrongful executions throughout the realm. In an attempt to undermine the Tyrells, and release her son from his marriage to Margaery Tyrell, Cersei attempts to frame Margaery for adultery and treason. However, this plot backfires as the investigation into Margaery reveals evidence of Cersei's own adultery and her complicity in Robert's death, resulting in her arrest by the Faith. Cersei sends a letter to Jaime, asking him for help, but he ignores her request and burns her letter.

A Dance with Dragons

[edit]

To gain release from her imprisonment, Cersei confesses to several of the lesser charges against her, including post-marital affairs, but does not confess to having murdered her husband King Robert, nor that her children are the product of incest. Cersei is nevertheless punished with a walk of atonement, forcing her to strip and walk naked through the capital in full view of the public.

With Cersei confined to the Red Keep awaiting trial, the realm is governed by Pycelle and Kevan. However, at the nadir of Cersei's fortunes, Varys reappears at the capital and assassinates both Pycelle and Kevan, as their competent leadership threatened to undo the damage Cersei's misrule had done.

Family tree of House Lannister

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TV adaptation

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Cersei Lannister is played by Lena Headey in the television adaption of the book series.

In October 2014, Headey and several other key cast members, all contracted for six seasons of the series, renegotiated their deals to include a potential seventh season and salary increases for seasons 5, 6, and 7.[8][9] The Hollywood Reporter called the raises "huge", noting that the deal would make the performers "among the highest-paid actors on cable TV".[8] Deadline Hollywood put the number for season 5 at "close to $300,000 an episode" for each actor,[9] and The Hollywood Reporter wrote in June 2016 that the performers would each be paid "upward of $500,000 per episode" for season 7 and the potential season 8.[10] In 2017, Headey became one of the highest paid actors on television and will earn £2 million per episode for the show.[11][12]

Storylines

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Much of Cersei's storyline from the first and second seasons in the television series is unchanged from the books. However, a notable change in the show is Joffrey's authorising the purge of Robert's bastards, rather than Cersei.

Season 1

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Cersei learns that her husband Robert is in danger of finding out that the children he sees as his heirs to the throne are not his.[13] Robert meets his end as the result of a boar attack on a hunting trip, before Ned Stark tells him the truth about his children. Cersei works quickly to instate her oldest son, Joffrey, on the throne, with her as his chief political advisor and Queen Regent.[14] Joffrey, however, quickly shows signs of independence.

Season 2

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Tywin decides that Cersei does not exercise enough control over her son and sends Tyrion as an additional political advisor. Cersei and Tyrion do not get along, and constantly try to undermine each other's authority over the crown. As of the end of season 2, Tyrion has accumulated more sway over the Iron Throne, has shipped Cersei's only daughter off against Cersei's will to be married to the Prince of Dorne, and is forcing their cousin Lancel, with whom Cersei is having an affair, to inform on her. Tywin's arrival with the Tyrell army robs both siblings of their influence at the last possible moment.

Season 3

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Cersei comes to fear that Margaery Tyrell intends to usurp her as queen and unsuccessfully tries to alienate Joffrey from her. When Tywin learns of the Tyrells' plan to wed Sansa Stark to Margaery's brother Loras, he intervenes by having Tyrion marry Sansa instead. Cersei is delighted but her joy turns to anger when Tywin also orders her to marry Loras. When Jaime returns to King's Landing, he immediately seeks out Cersei, who is shocked to discover that his sword hand has been cut off.

Season 4

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Cersei has Tyrion arrested after Joffrey is fatally poisoned. Mourning and vindictive, it's implied that guilty or innocent, she wants Tyrion dead, while Jaime refuses to believe Tyrion is capable of familial regicide.[15] Indeed, at Tyrion's trial, it is apparent Cersei has manipulated the proceedings so that the witnesses give either incomplete or entirely false testimonies to implicate Tyrion and Sansa further in the murder. When Tyrion demands a trial by combat, Cersei chooses Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane as royal champion, to further diminish Tyrion's chances, and bribes Bronn via betrothal to a noblewoman, to secure his veto as Tyrion's champion. Cersei's wish comes true when Tyrion's champion, Oberyn Martell, is killed by Clegane. She still refuses to marry Loras, threatening even to reveal the truth of her incestuous relationship with Jaime and their three blond children. Tywin is killed by an escaping Tyrion soon afterward.

Season 5

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Cersei receives a threat from Dorne, where Myrcella is betrothed to Trystane Martell, and sends Jaime to Dorne to retrieve her. Tommen is married to Margaery, who tries to manipulate Tommen into sending Cersei to Casterly Rock. Fearful of losing her power, Cersei meets the religious leader, the High Sparrow, appoints him as the High Septon, and gives him authority to re-establish the Faith Militant. In order to destabilise House Tyrell, Cersei arranges for the High Sparrow to arrest Loras for his homosexuality, and have Margaery also arrested for perjury after lying to defend Loras. However, Cersei's plot backfires when Lancel, now a member of the Faith Militant, confesses to his affair with Cersei and his role in Robert's assassination, and accuses Cersei of incest, prompting the High Sparrow to arrest her. Cersei is eventually allowed to return to the Red Keep after confessing to having committed adultery with Lancel, but has her hair cut off and is forced to walk naked through the streets of King's Landing as atonement. Cersei returns, distraught from the abuse directed at her by the smallfolk of King's Landing, but is consoled by Qyburn's successful reanimation of Ser Gregor Clegane.[16]

Season 6

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Cersei remains in the Red Keep, confined to her chambers and stripped of her authority. Although she accepts Tommen's apology for his lack of action in her arrest and walk of atonement, she remains looked down upon by other members of the court. Cersei learns from Tommen that the High Sparrow plans to have Margaery do a walk of atonement before Cersei's trial and conspires with the Small Council to have the Tyrell army march on the Sept of Baelor to secure Margaery's and Loras' release. Their plan backfires when it is revealed that Margaery has joined the Faith of the Seven and has convinced Tommen to merge the Faith and the Crown. Despite being stripped of her allies, Cersei opts to remain in King's Landing, having named Ser Gregor as her champion in her trial by combat. However, Tommen announces that trial by combat has been abolished and replaced by trial by the Seven. Cersei arranges for a cache of wildfire to be detonated beneath the Sept during Loras' trial, which kills the High Sparrow, Margaery, Loras, and the rest of the Small Council. As a result of Cersei's actions, Tommen commits suicide. In the power vacuum following Tommen's death, Cersei claims the Iron Throne as the first queen regnant of the Seven Kingdoms.[17]

Season 7

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Despite nominally being ruler of Westeros, Cersei's grip on the throne is tenuous, with the Riverlands in upheaval following Arya Stark's massacre of House Frey, the Vale and the North's declaration of Ned Stark's bastard son Jon Snow King in the North, and Tyrion, Yara Greyjoy, Dorne, and the Reach all supporting Daenerys Targaryen, whose fleet has seized Dragonstone. Cersei remains cold and distant after Tommen's suicide, viewing it as a betrayal of their family. With no children left to protect, Cersei's malice and vindictiveness have grown, and she relentlessly seeks to expand her power and destroy her enemies. Cersei reaches out to the King of the Iron Islands, Euron Greyjoy, to form an alliance, but rejects Euron's marriage proposal as she considers him untrustworthy. Euron later ambushes Daenerys' fleet and captures Yara Greyjoy, Ellaria, and Tyene Sand, and presents them as a "gift" to Cersei. She agrees to marry Euron after the war is won; however, she continues her affair with Jaime, no longer attempting to hide their relationship from their servants. Cersei imprisons Ellaria and Tyene in the dungeons, kills Tyene with the same poison used to kill Myrcella, and keeps Ellaria alive to watch her daughter die and decompose.

Tycho Nestoris of the Iron Bank arrives in King's Landing to request repayment of their debt. Cersei requests a fortnight in order to comply. She then has the Lannister and Tarly armies attack Highgarden, defeating the Tyrells. Olenna Tyrell dies after drinking poison given to her by Jaime following the defeat and gloats to him that she was responsible for poisoning Joffrey. The Tyrells' wealth is transported safely to King's Landing, but the food the Lannisters steal from the Reach is destroyed when Daenerys attacks the caravan with her Dothraki horde and dragon, Drogon. Jaime barely survives the battle and encourages Cersei to consider a ceasefire.

Tyrion infiltrates the capital to meet with Jaime, and Jaime tells Cersei that Daenerys and Jon want to meet with Cersei to negotiate an armistice while mankind fights the threat of the White Walkers. Cersei is skeptical but agrees, and tells Jaime that she is pregnant. Daenerys and Jon meet with Cersei in the Dragonpit on the outskirts of King's Landing, and present to her a wight captured from the White Walkers as evidence of their threat. Although terrified, Cersei initially refuses to agree to an armistice, as Jon refuses to remain neutral in the war between the Lannisters and Targaryens. Tyrion speaks to Cersei in private, and apparently persuades her to ally with the rival monarchs. However, she later reveals to Jaime that she intends for her enemies to wipe each other out and then attack the victor, and has sent Euron to Essos to transport the Golden Company to Westeros. Disgusted by Cersei's selfishness and shortsightedness, Jaime finally abandons her side and goes north on his own, leaving Cersei alone.

Season 8

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Cersei is informed that the White Walkers have breached the Wall, to her delight. Euron Greyjoy returns to King's Landing with the Golden Company, and Cersei finally has sex with him. Cersei tasks Qyburn with hiring Bronn to kill Jaime and Tyrion, using the crossbow with which Tyrion had killed Tywin.

Cersei permits civilians to seek refuge in the Red Keep – ostensibly to protect them from an invasion of King's Landing, but in reality she plans to use them as human shields to deter an attack. The Iron Fleet kills one of Daenerys' dragons, Rhaegal, and takes her advisor Missandei captive. When Euron returns to King's Landing, Cersei reveals that she is pregnant and lies that it is his. Daenerys, Tyrion, and her other advisors travel to King's Landing demanding Cersei's surrender, but Cersei is unmoved and has the Mountain behead Missandei in front of Daenerys. Daenerys subsequently launches an attack on the Iron Fleet, and the anti-dragon defenses Cersei has had installed on King's Landing's walls, prompting the city's surrender. However, she then continues to burn the rest of the city, deliberately attacking innocent civilians, and then attacks the Red Keep itself. Cersei attempts to take shelter and is found by Jaime, who had infiltrated the Red Keep on Tyrion's orders to evacuate her. However, their passage is blocked by rubble. The Red Keep begins to collapse, and Jaime comforts Cersei in their final moments as they are crushed by falling debris. Their bodies are later found by Tyrion, whose subsequent grief leads him to renounce his loyalty to Daenerys and persuade Jon Snow to kill her.

Reception and awards

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Television

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Cersei has been praised as one of the most complex and multi-faceted characters in either version of the story. Rolling Stone ranked her at No. 5 on a list of the "Top 40 Game of Thrones Characters", describing Cersei as a woman and matriarch who "battles for a place at the table in a world made for men" and would do anything to protect her offspring. As a player of the game, Cersei "would rather die than give you control".[18] In Rolling Stone's list of the "30 Best Game of Thrones Villains", Cersei was ranked No. 1. Described as the "most dangerous human being in Westeros" and "one of the most complex and fascinating characters on television", Cersei is also a "strangely sympathetic figure, warped by being treated like an expensive brood mare by powerful men her entire life and genuine in her affections", while her bitter experience makes her her own worst enemy and "the villain of her own story".[19]

Lena Headey received much critical praise for her portrayal of Cersei.[20] James Hibberd of Entertainment Weekly stated that from the first season, Headey "perfectly delivered Cersei’s uniquely toxic mix of pride, vindictiveness, impatience, cunning, and spite" and Cersei "has never been anything less than a fully realized character."[20] The New York Times's Jeremy Egner remarked that Headey "has always been one of the strongest performers on the show."[21] In The New Yorker, Clive James wrote that she is a "beautiful expression of arbitrary terror, combining shapely grace with limitless evil in just the right measure to scare a man to death while rendering him helpless with desire", praising the depth to which Heady "beams Cersei's radiant malevolence" into the viewer's mind "that she reawakens a formative disturbance”.[22] Andrew Anthony in The Guardian opined that the series was "most often at its best when Headey was on screen and radiating cold calculation and ruthless intrigue." He described Headey's Cersei as "a study in tyranny as a seductive art. There was something magnetically human about her inhumanity. You were drawn to her devious charms even as you recoiled from her brutal deeds."[23] George R. R. Martin, author of the novels, praised Headey in the role, remarking that Cersei is “a character with many colors” and Headey’s range is instrumental. Martin regarded Headey as a “very sympathetic actress ... a different actress wouldn’t be able to sell it”, and called her portrayal of Cersei “marvelous”.[24][25][26]

Headey received an EWwy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama in 2012,[27] a Portal Award for Best Actress in 2012,[28] and the Women's Image Award for Actress Drama Series in 2014.[29] She received five nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.[30] She was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film in 2016,[31] the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2016,[32] the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2017,[33][34] the Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2012, and the Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television in 2012 and 2017 and Best Supporting Actress on Television in 2016.[35][36]

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In April 2019, Lena Headey and Peter Dinklage appeared as Cersei and Tyrion Lannister alongside Elmo in a Sesame Street PSA on the importance of being respectful to one another, as part of Sesame Street's "Respect Brings Us Together" campaign.[37] In August 2019, Headey's and Coster-Waldau's likenesses as Cersei and Jaime were used to represent the influencer "Storm Twins" in the Marvel Comics series Spider-Gwen, a duo of similarly incestuous influencer twins who seek to drive Gwen Stacy off of Earth-65 after the twins had seduced, murdered, and replaced their reality's benevolent Doctor Doom.[38]

References

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  3. ^ a b c d Martin, George R. R. (2000). A Storm of Swords.
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