"Game of Thrones" actor Lena Headey—who plays Cersei Lannister on the HBO drama—has spoken out against the “dehumanizing” treatment of refugees seeking safety in Europe. She has teamed up with the IRC to help people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict and disaster.
In June 2016, Lena traveled to Greece with the IRC and her "Games of Thrones" co-stars Liam Cunningam and Maisie Williams as part of an IRC and HBO campaign that raised emergency funds for millions of refugees. On the Greek island of Lesbos, the three actors heard individual stories of refugees stranded in the country for months due to border closures and the reluctance by some European countries to welcome refugees.
There, Lena met Marwa, a Syrian refugee. The actor later traveled with the IRC to Germany, where she was reunited with Marwa and her family. In Berlin, Lena visited local organizations partnering with the IRC which assist refugees as they adjust to their new lives in the country.
Lena has also produced a series of portraits with the IRC of refugees stuck on Lesbos to raise awareness of the conditions faced by those living in the camps. In March 2019 she returned to Lesbos to spotlight a growing mental health crisis among the refugees.
Lena is a multiple nominee for Golden Globes and Emmy Awards.