Carice van Houten, the actress who masterfully portrayed the mysterious Melisandre on Game of Thrones, was initially considered for a completely different and pivotal role: Cersei Lannister. The Dutch actress was originally on the creators’ radar for the part of the ruthless queen, a role that ultimately made Lena Headey famous.
The Original Plan for a Queen
Long before she became the Red Priestess, Carice van Houten was approached by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss to audition for Cersei Lannister. This happened during the early casting process for the show’s first season.
In a 2012 interview, van Houten shared her thoughts on the opportunity, stating, “I thought the queen would be a great part, and they asked me to audition, but I couldn’t do it, because I was shooting something else.” A scheduling conflict prevented her from trying out for the part that would become one of television’s most iconic villains.
The role of Cersei Lannister instead went to Lena Headey, who delivered a performance that earned her five Emmy nominations. Headey’s portrayal of the cold and manipulative queen became a cornerstone of the series.
How Melisandre Came to Be
Missing out on Cersei did not close the door to Westeros for Carice van Houten. The creators remembered her when casting for the second season began, and they offered her the part of Melisandre, the Red Priestess of the Lord of Light.
This role allowed van Houten to play a character whose power came from faith and mystery, rather than the political manipulation Cersei was known for. Reflecting on the outcome, van Houten later said that she felt it “all turned out for the best,” adding that “Lena couldn’t be a better Cersei.”
Van Houten played Melisandre from Season 2 until her character’s dramatic departure in Season 8, episode “The Long Night.” Her performance as the Red Woman earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2019.
Other Game of Thrones Casting What-Ifs
The world of Game of Thrones nearly looked very different, as Carice van Houten was not the only actor initially considered for a different part.
- Iwan Rheon, who became the vicious Ramsay Bolton, was a finalist for the role of Jon Snow alongside Kit Harington.
- Alfie Allen auditioned for Jon Snow before being cast as Theon Greyjoy.
- Conleth Hill, who played the master spy Varys, originally read for the part of King Robert Baratheon.
- Joe Dempsie initially auditioned for Jon Snow but later joined the show as Gendry.
These alternate casting possibilities show how the ensemble we know and recognize today was once just one of many potential combinations.
Carice van Houten’s Career After Thrones
Since Game of Thrones concluded in 2019, Carice van Houten has continued her acting career in both European and international projects. One of her most prominent roles was starring alongside Mark Strong in the British medical comedy-drama “Temple,” for two seasons. She also appeared in the Prime Video psychological thriller miniseries “Malice” with David Duchovny and Jack Whitehall.
Her performance in the 2019 Dutch film “Instinct” was met with critical praise, with the film being selected as the Dutch submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards.
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