Yara and Ellaria's Game of Thrones kiss was completely improvised say stars
Indira Varma and Gemma Whelan fill us in on one of the steamiest scenes in this week’s episode
One of the big mysteries from the buildup to this year’s Game of Thrones was solved this week, with a steamy kiss between Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma) and Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) that fans had glimpsed in the series trailer turning out to be nothing more than a bit of fun between consenting adults, and not the poisoned smooch some had anticipated.
However, the actresses have now revealed one interesting tidbit about the kiss in latest episode Stormborn – apparently, it was completely improvised.
“It wasn’t directed that we would kiss,” Whelan told EW. “It just seemed like something we should do. We led it, very much so. It was meant to be a suggestion [of flirting] and then it became more sexual than we expected because it seemed right.
“There was only a skeleton crew working because the rig could only take so much weight, so we were left very much on our own. And who wouldn’t want to kiss Indira? I mean, come on!”
Well, according to Varma there was one person who wasn’t so keen – Whelan’s stunt double, who had to stand in as the ship they were in was rocked by Euron Greyjoy’s (Pilou Asbæk) attack.
“Gemma had hurt her back so there were some stunts she couldn’t do,” Varma said. “So I had to start kissing this poor stunt double and she was so terrified! That was quite funny, bless her. I don’t think she’d ever been put in that situation before. She’s used to falling over and being attacked and all the stunts, but to be kissed by an actress was a bit beyond her.”
Whelan added: “I think it’s a wonderful scene and amusing as well — like that look from Yara to Theon that says a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do…”
Even when it’s not scripted, apparently.
Game of Thrones Season 7 premieres exclusively on Mondays on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV at 2am, repeated at 9pm on the same day
