Game of Thrones alum Gwendoline Christie reveals why she broke her rule for Severance

Gwendoline Christie, popularly known from Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth, had already decided to avoid fight scenes. For Severance Season 2, however, she made an exception to this general rule. Casting herself once again in a physically demanding role sparked interest among fans and industry observers.

According to TV Insider, Christie revealed that her love for Severance and its creative storytelling was the primary reason for returning to action scenes. The originality of the show, the depth of the story, and the fascinating world-building drew her to a role that involved some physicality—something she had originally planned to avoid. The opportunity to contribute to such an artistically ambitious project ultimately persuaded her to change her mind.

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Christie's character in Severance Season 2

In Severance Season 2, Christie plays Lorne, the director of Lumon Industries' Department of Mammalian Nurturables (MN). The actual purpose of this department is unclear, but it seems to involve taking care of some kind of livestock. The mystery surrounding its operations has piqued interest, particularly because of the dreamlike and unsettling nature of the Severance world.

Lorne appears to be a character of authority and mystery, overseeing a division that remained untapped in the first season of the show. Her arrival in the story suggests that new elements of Lumon Industries will be revealed, potentially shifting the direction of the narrative. Audiences are eager to see how her character will fit into the larger scheme of the show and whether she will disrupt existing power dynamics within the company.

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Why Christie broke her "No Combat" rule in Severance Season 2

After spending many years working on Game of Thrones, Christie purposely avoided projects that required intense combat training or fight choreography. She had played Brienne of Tarth for almost a decade—a character heavily defined by physicality and warrior skills. Severance Season 2 presented a different kind of physical challenge, which she found enticing.

As reported by Times Now News, Christie spoke about being a huge fan of the show. The chance to be part of such a pioneering production was incentive enough to overcome her initial reservations about action roles. Her role in Severance is also vastly different from her past work, with action sequences tailored to the show’s corporate, dystopian universe rather than medieval combat.

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The problem of dealing with livestock

One of the more unconventional aspects of Christie's character in Severance Season 2 is her interaction with goats—the focal point of the MN department’s work. While the exact role of the animals remains unexplained, they add another layer of intrigue to the already surreal world of the show.

In a recent interview at The Astra Awards, Christie revealed that she studied animals to ensure her portrayal of Lorne felt authentic. She shared:

"And I've talked a lot about how I immerse myself in fields of sheep. And I observed goats just a couple of weeks ago, I went and found some more goats, we fed goats, sat for a while, watching them observing these different ones, how they worked with each other, and they were butting heads, their stubbornness, how at the forefront, you feel that energy, it's very near and immediate. All from watching animals."

Nonetheless, she took the experience in stride and found the interruptions caused by her animal co-stars amusing.

Here's the video for your reference:

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Gwendoline Christie's willingness to break her own "no fight" rule for Severance Season 2 highlights just how compelling the show is. Her admiration for the series, along with the chance to play a powerful and enigmatic character, led her to reconsider stepping away from action-driven narratives.

As anticipation builds for the upcoming season, viewers are eager to see how Christie’s portrayal of Lorne will shape the story. With the mysterious MN department remaining a hot topic of discussion, her work at Lumon Industries could bring fresh developments into the show’s dystopian world. Moving from the battlefields of Game of Thrones to the eerie corporate halls of Severance, Christie's return promises to be a must-watch performance.

Also read: “The goat was in my face”: Gwendoline Christie makes her feelings known about the challenges of filming the goat scenes in Severance Season 2