Hannah Waddingham, the acclaimed actress known for her role in Ted Lasso, has disclosed that she suffers from chronic claustrophobia as a direct result of a harrowing experience while filming Game of Thrones. Waddingham portrayed Septa Unella in the popular fantasy drama series, which aired on Sky Atlantic in the United Kingdom.
The Traumatic Scene That Left Lasting Effects
In a particularly intense scene, her character was restrained while Cersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey, poured wine over her face. Waddingham has likened this ordeal to being waterboarded, a comparison she elaborated on during an interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in 2024.
"Thrones gave me something I wasn’t expecting from it and that is chronic claustrophobia," Waddingham stated. "I had 10 hours of being actually waterboarded, like actually waterboarded." She recounted discussing the incident with producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
Behind the Scenes of the Fantasy Drama
Despite praising the show's cinematography as unparalleled, Waddingham highlighted the physical toll of the scene. She was strapped to a table with leather restraints, unable to move her head to avoid revealing the looseness of the straps. This confinement, combined with the simulated waterboarding, triggered her lasting phobia.
After the shoot, she encountered another actor in a lift, both sharing stories of their grueling experiences. "I had grape juice all in my hair so it went purple, I couldn't speak because The Mountain had his hand over my mouth while I was screaming, and I had strap marks everywhere like I'd been attacked," she described. The other actor humorously remarked about his own challenging shoot, crawling through mud for days, illustrating the demanding nature of Game of Thrones productions.
Reflections on a Difficult Day
Waddingham, who appeared in the series from 2015 to 2016, has openly called that day one of the worst of her life, second only to childbirth. In an interview with Collider, she explained the mental struggle involved. "Lena was uncomfortable pouring liquid in my face for that long, and I was beside myself," she said. "But in those moments you have to think, do you serve the piece and get on with it or do you chicken out?"
This candid revelation sheds light on the often-unseen challenges actors face in high-stakes television roles, where dedication to art can lead to personal health issues. Waddingham's experience underscores the intense physical and psychological demands of filming such iconic scenes.
