When the 2019 Emmy Award nominations came out on July 16, Game of Thrones set a new record for most drama nominations with a whopping 32. But many viewers were stunned to learn that Gwendoline Christie, who played fan-favorite Brienne of Tarth, wasn’t originally submitted for consideration by HBO. Instead, the actress submitted herself, paying a $225 entry fee to do so. Those same fans praised her decision to put herself forward after she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
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Photo credit: MEGA
Gwendoline, 40, shared her good Emmy news on
Instagram, screenshotting her nomination letter. “I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!????!?!!?!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” she wrote.
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Photo credit: MEGA
Her costars poured into the comments with their congratulations, including Lena Headey, who played Cersei Lannister.
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Photo credit: MEGA
Lena,
Sophie Turner and
Maisie Williams were all nominated alongside Gwendoline in the same category, but they were all submitted by HBO.
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Photo credit: MEGA
Also put forward for consideration by the network were
Kit Harrington and
Emilia Clarke in the leading actor and actress categories, respectively, and
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and
Peter Dinklage in the supporting actor category. Those four also received nominations.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Like Gwen, Alfie Allen, who played Theon Greyjoy, and Carice van Houten, who portrayed Melisandre, also self-submitted and received nominations. An actor putting themselves forward for a nomination is not uncommon, but actually receiving one under those circumstances is extremely rare.
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HBO hasn’t commented on why Gwendoline, Alfie and Carice were left off their initial slate, but fans have praised Gwendoline for putting herself forward.
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“HBO didn't submit Gwendoline Christie for an Emmy so she submitted herself and got a nomination. Be your own biggest cheerleader,” one person
tweeted.
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Photo credit: INSTARImages
“Gwendoline Christie deserves this Emmy nomination so much. She was definitely one of the outstanding actors in
Game of Thrones season 8 and I am incredibly happy for her,” another
said.
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Photo credit: INSTARImages
Other fans chided the network for “sleeping on” the actress, who’s currently starring in A Midsummer Night's Dream in London this summer.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
One of the standout moments of the season came in episode 2 when Gwendoline’s character, Brienne, achieved her lifelong goal and was knighted by Nikolaj’s character, Jaime Lannister.
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Photo credit: MEGA
So many of Brienne’s season eight scenes were turned into viral moments that the
New York Times dubbed Gwendoline the “queen of memes.”
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Photo credit: INSTARImages
Gwendoline joined Game of Thrones in season two. It was her first major on-screen role.
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Photo credit: MEGA
The British actress will next appear in the horror film In Fabric and the period drama The Personal History of David Copperfield, which stars Dev Patel in the titular role.
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Photo credit: MEGA
What do you think of Gwendoline having to submit herself for the Emmys? Sound off in the comments!
Gwendoline, 40, shared her good Emmy news on
Instagram, screenshotting her nomination letter. “I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!????!?!!?!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” she wrote.
Her costars poured into the comments with their congratulations, including Lena Headey, who played Cersei Lannister.
Lena,
Sophie Turner and
Maisie Williams were all nominated alongside Gwendoline in the same category, but they were all submitted by HBO.
Also put forward for consideration by the network were
Kit Harrington and
Emilia Clarke in the leading actor and actress categories, respectively, and
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and
Peter Dinklage in the supporting actor category. Those four also received nominations.
Like Gwen, Alfie Allen, who played Theon Greyjoy, and Carice van Houten, who portrayed Melisandre, also self-submitted and received nominations. An actor putting themselves forward for a nomination is not uncommon, but actually receiving one under those circumstances is extremely rare.
Photo credit: Getty Images
HBO hasn’t commented on why Gwendoline, Alfie and Carice were left off their initial slate, but fans have praised Gwendoline for putting herself forward.
Photo credit: Getty Images
“HBO didn't submit Gwendoline Christie for an Emmy so she submitted herself and got a nomination. Be your own biggest cheerleader,” one person
tweeted.
Photo credit: INSTARImages
“Gwendoline Christie deserves this Emmy nomination so much. She was definitely one of the outstanding actors in
Game of Thrones season 8 and I am incredibly happy for her,” another
said.
Photo credit: INSTARImages
Other fans chided the network for “sleeping on” the actress, who’s currently starring in A Midsummer Night's Dream in London this summer.
Photo credit: INSTARImages
One of the standout moments of the season came in episode 2 when Gwendoline’s character, Brienne, achieved her lifelong goal and was knighted by Nikolaj’s character, Jaime Lannister.
Photo credit: Getty Images
So many of Brienne’s season eight scenes were turned into viral moments that the
New York Times dubbed Gwendoline the “queen of memes.”
Gwendoline joined Game of Thrones in season two. It was her first major on-screen role.
Photo credit: INSTARImages
Gwendoline was eventually cast as Captain Phasma in
Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Her
Star Wars costar
Mark Hamill was one of the many celebrities who congratulated her on her nomination this week.
The British actress will next appear in the horror film In Fabric and the period drama The Personal History of David Copperfield, which stars Dev Patel in the titular role.
What do you think of Gwendoline having to submit herself for the Emmys? Sound off in the comments!
