Catelyn Stark would be heartbroken to see where her children have ended up, says Michelle Fairley, who plays the honourable-to-a-fault Lady Stark in Game of Thrones.
Speaking to Vulture, Fairley reveals what it was like filming the aptly named Red Wedding scenes, which saw the demise of several key characters of the popular fantasy HBO series.
Spoiler alert! Details of last Monday’s episode of Game of Thrones, season three episode nine are discussed below.
If fans found the scenes difficult to watch – and they did – Fairley says it was an emotional week of filming for the actors.
“We were incredibly fortunate to have a whole week to shoot this, the whole sequence, starting with the wedding: the arrival at the Freys, the wedding itself, and then actually after the ceremony when the mood starts to darken. And it was all done in order, so we had plenty of time to get through each take. And as you’re doing it in order, you’re layering on the emotion, and you’re getting closer to the summit as well. You’re preparing yourself constantly for the denouement, which is right at the end of the scene.
“It was a long week, it was a brilliant week, and everybody, including the crew and the actors, we worked incredibly hard and loved every minute of it, actually, even though it was incredibly emotional.”
Fairley, of course, was involved in the most pivotal moments of those final scenes, with it being Catelyn who recognised that The Rains of Castamere was playing and twigged as to what it represented.
Fans of the television show always knew Catelyn was a strong character but perhaps didn’t know she was a killer. Fairley says Catelyn’s shocking final action was a deliberate choice because she had given up hope for her family.
“Once Robb is dying, Catelyn’s convinced that none of her children are alive, so what else has she got to live for She has nothing. Everybody that she loves and cares for has died. So she then slits Walder Frey’s wife’s throat, and by that action, she knows she’s signing her own death warrant,” says Fairley.
“She thinks they’re dead. She has no idea … She would weep to see the life that Arya is now involved in. And the fact that Sansa is now embroiled with the Lannisters I think these are the worst scenarios that a mother could possibly imagine for any of her children. The fact that Bran can’t walk either And the fact that they’re growing up without their mother I think it would break her heart.”
As for Catelyn’s shocking exit, Fairley said she too felt the abrupt nature of the ending.
“The last thing that happened was Catelyn’s throat getting slit, so that was the end of the filming day. That was a wrap.
“And everybody had come in, and there was a massive round of applause, and then hugs and kisses … then we went out for food. And lots of alcohol. I was completely exhausted. But it was a good exhaustion.”
Read the full interview on Vulture.
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– Sydney Morning Herald
