Game of Thrones has returned for another season of sex, violence, and exciting political maneuvering. In the Season 5 premiere, Varys tries to enlist Tyrion’s help in bringing a worthy leader to Westeros: “The Seven Kingdoms needs a ruler loved by millions with a powerful army and the right family name,” to which Tyrion replies, “Good luck finding him.” “Who said anything about him?” adds Varys. This exchange sums up the gender dynamics Cersei Lannister and the other women of Westeros live with—a world in which men are rulers and women are not.
“You gotta love to hate Cersei, you really do,” says 2015 AVN Hall of Fame recipient Alana Evans. “And while the Mother of Dragons is one of my favorites, I’d say Cersei really holds that favorite slot because you’ve got this nastiness with the incest with her brother and that fire. She will do anything to protect her throne and her crown. I think that’s why she’s my favorite… she’s evil and she’s crazy, but you accept it.”
Yes, the incestuous relationship is gross. But that’s Cersei. She shamelessly breaks all of the rules, and she’s unapologetic about it. The male-dominated, chauvinistic society she lives in doesn’t know what to make of her—so they just lazily label her damaged goods. And perhaps that’s why many porn stars champion her.
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While not the most pleasant personality in the Seven Kingdoms, Cersei was born into a male-centric world of warriors and politicians, and has had to fight twice as hard to earn the respect men are so freely given. Some would call her conniving; others might call her a survivor. When the world was against her, Cersei mustered the courage to fight the system. She aspired to greater things—ambitions that exceeded her gender. Things a female porn star can certainly identify with.
By using her feminine wiles to her advantage, Cersei turned the tables. Sex became her currency, and a tool. With it she chipped away at her enclosure and discovered her own potential. Sure, she lacks the empathy of Daenerys Targaryen, the Great Emancipator whose heart bleeds for the world. Nor does she live by the moral code of Arya Stark. But that doesn’t make her a villain. This is, after all, a show about power.
Cast in the Game of Thrones porn parody Game of Bones, award-winning porn star Tanya Tate says she couldn’t imagine playing any other Thrones character. “She’s a MILF, she’s very hot, and she’s strong so I can see myself as Cersei Lannister. If I were cast as anyone else it wouldn’t fit my character. My fans even started calling me the Queen when they realized I was into Game of Thrones,” says Tate. “I really identify with her good qualities, not the bad ones. I don’t walk all over people and I’m just not as manipulative as Cersei.”
Yet it’s that calculating craftiness that makes Cersei simultaneously despicable and worth admiring. Though Tyrion is by far her favorite, renowned porn star Amber Rayne appreciates the female characters’ unconventional vigor, including that of Cersei Lannister. “I love the fact that so many female characters in this series are not weak. They are very self-sufficient characters, like Brienne. I love that she has a friendship with Jaime and not a sexual relationship. It’s so awesome that she’s not being sexualized. It’s the same thing with Arya, she’s not sexualized at all,” says Rayne. “Oh, and Cersei Lannister! Her meticulous planning and the way she plays the game, which undermines most of the men in control. When it comes down to it I think she’s really the one pulling all the strings. There are so many times I dislike her so thoroughly, but I dislike her because she’s so well done. She’s so calculating and a very smart, strong female. Look at all the things she’s done, look at all the things she’s set into motion.”
If Cersei had been a man she might’ve been king by now, or at least treated like one. She’s one of the most despised characters on Game of Thrones, but for all the wrong reasons. And she’s definitely the least appreciated. Sure she’s made some mistakes along the way, but who hasn’t in this merciless world of dragons, decapitations, and harpies?
While Cersei might not be the most selfless character in this series, she seems to get an unfair amount of hate for the same bad behavior many inhabitants of Westeros exhibit. Or is it the incestuous relationship that makes her oh so vile? Take a moment to consider the perspective of an intelligent woman who has no say in marriage, politics, or even childbirth. Being stripped of such basic human rights often doesn't equate to a life of happiness and solid decision-making. That said, some people feel the need to judge, despise, and look down upon those who make morally adventurous choices in life—a burden that Cersei very much has in common with the modern day porn star.
