History Creator / GwendolineChristie

* ''[[Film/TheHungerGamesMockingjay The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2]]'' (2015) as Commander Lyme

Christie is well-known for her height (6 feet 3 inches, making her one of the tallest prominent actresses in the industry) and her androgynous physique (She's only an A-cup, and her bust looks even smaller due to her height). While this made her the subject of bullying from peers and even opposition from professors and agents who doubted that she'd be able to find work, both of these features are now recognized as defining aspects of her characters.

Christie is well-known for her height (6 feet 3 inches, making her one of the tallest prominent actresses in the industry) and her androgynous physique. While this made her the subject of bullying from peers and even opposition from professors and agents who doubted that she'd be able to find work, both of these features are now recognized as defining aspects of her characters.

One of Christie's earliest noted projects, a photo series by photographer Polly Borland titled ''Bunny'', resulted from her catching Borland's attention due to her height. She was also a popular fancast for the role of Brienne of Tarth in ''Game of Thrones'', and considering Brienne is also an unusually tall and muscular woman, it was a role Christie grew passionate about playing, as it allowed her to draw on her experiences. According to Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, her audition for the part was practically uncontested, owed in no small part to her showing up already in full makeup and armor alongside prepping in ways including gaining over a stone (6.4 kg, 14 lbs) of muscle mass.

Christie is well-known for her height (6 feet 3 inches tall, making her one of the tallest major actresses in Hollywood) and her androgynous physique. While this made her the subject of bullying from peers and even opposition from professors and agents who doubted that she'd be able to find work, it is now recognized as a defining aspect of her characters.

One of Christie's earliest noted projects, a photo series by photographer Polly Borland titled ''Bunny'', resulted from her height catching Borland's attention. She was also a popular fancast for the role of Brienne of Tarth in ''Game of Thrones'', and considering Brienne is also an unusually tall and muscular woman, Christie stated that it was a role she grew passionate about playing, as it allowed her to draw on her experiences. According to Creator/GeorgeRRMartin, her audition for the part was practically uncontested, owed in no small part to her showing up already in full makeup and armor and prepping in ways including gaining over a stone (6.4 kg, 14 lbs) of muscle mass.

Gwendoline Christie (born 28 October 1978 in Worthing, England) is an English actress and model known for being 6 feet 3 inches tall, making her one of the tallest actresses in the world, and best known as Brienne of Tarth in ''Series/GameOfThrones'' and Captain Phasma in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' sequel trilogy that started with ''Film/TheForceAwakens''. She hails from the South Downs, and started doing gymnastics at school there, but a spinal injury caused her to switch to acting. She was trained by actor-author Simon Callow and graduated from Drama Centre London in 2005.

After finishing her studies, Gwendoline settled down in London, and began acting in stage plays, notably as Lucifer in Creator/ChristopherMarlowe's ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus''. Like many English actors, she acts in stage plays, movies, and TV shows. She was also the subject of a series of pictures by photographer Polly Borland. She obtained the role of Brienne in ''Game of Thrones'' in a nearly uncontested audition after showing up in armor. Her portrayal of Brienne gained widespread praise.

!!Tropes

** In the series ''Series/TopOfTheLake'' she plays a female cop who is neurotic, a bit bumbling, downtrodden by her married boyfriend, and desperately wanting a child, [[spoiler:and is finally ambushed and seriously injured by a suspect without managing to fight back]].
** Her portrayal of the glamorous Larissa Weems on ''{{Series/Wednesday}}'' is such a departure from her usual physical and less feminine roles that it's almost jarring how great she is at portraying the [[SilkHidingSteel soft spoken but highly intelligent and dangerous]] Principal Weems.

* TypeCasting: Her portrayal of Brienne of Tarth has established her as the go-to actress for brawny, credible {{Action Girl}}s, be it in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' or the ''Literature/TheHungerGames'' franchises.

* PlayingAgainstType: Phasma is actually a rare female SmugSnake and a FauxActionGirl, and in ''Series/TopOfTheLake'' she plays a female cop who is neurotic, a bit bumbling, downtrodden by her married boyfriend, and desperately wanting a child, [[spoiler:and is finally ambushed and seriously injured by a suspect without managing to fight back]].

* PlayingAgainstType: Phasma is actually a rare female SmugSnake and a FauxActionGirl, and in ''Series/TopOfTheLake'' she plays a female cop who is neurotic, a bit bumbling, downtrodden by her married boyfriend, and desperately wanting a child, [[spoiler:and is finally ambushed and seriously injured by a suspect without managing to fight back]].

* VitriolicBestBuds: She and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who portrays Jamie Lannister, get along like a house on fire and are never afraid to insult one another.

* ''Theatre/{{Cymbeline}}'' as The Queen

* ''Film/TheImaginariumOfDoctorParnassus'' as Ursula Bond Street
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' as Brienne of Tarth
* ''Series/WizardsVsAliens'' as Lexi
* ''[[Film/TheHungerGamesMockingjay The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2]]'' as Commander Lyme

** ''Film/TheForceAwakens''
** ''Film/TheLastJedi''
** ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsResistance Resistance]]'' (voice)
* ''Series/TopOfTheLake: China Girl'' as Miranda Hilmarson
* ''Film/TheDarkestMinds'' as Lady Jane

* GenderFlip: As Lucifer in a stage performance of ''Doctor Faustus'' and as the comic book version in ''The Sandman''. Besides the Biblical character of course being male, this particular version was also previously played by [[Film/{{Constantine}} Peter Stormare]] and [[Series/{{Lucifer}} Tom Ellis]].

* ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' (2022) as ComicBook/{{Lucifer}}