Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer explains that sex scenes help 'make it real' in films, just like life
Natalie Dormer, best known for her role as the coquettish Margaery Tyrell from House Tyrell in HBO's 'Game of Thrones', defended on-screen nudity claiming that television should do more "dirty" scenes in order to give the story a more realistic touch.
In an interview with The Sun, the actress explained that the nudity in 'Game of Thrones' isn't "glamorized" due to which the characters appear more real and connected.
In The Sun interview, the 36-year-old actress said, "There has to be sexuality in the power play of a thriller. [sic]" Her recent film 'In Darkness,' which was released this year in May, too has received a lot of criticism for nudity. The film revolves around a blind musician named Sofia who hears a murder committed in the flat upstairs. Dormer is seen performing an intimate scene with her co-star Ed Skrein, where the two actors strip themselves completely naked.
Dormer explained that sex in any scene actually represents a connection between characters. She said, "We have all got bodies, after all. In a thriller, the protagonists always have to join together somehow and sex represents that connection. If you are being true to the genre, you have to show this."
In her role as Margaery Tyrell, Dormer was seen in possibly her most sensual form as her character seduced princes who were much younger to her. Although when the show was released it had received criticisms for its constant portrayal of bare backs and fronts, Dormer sticks to the fact that sex plays a large part in motivating character growth. She said, "Sex and romance is a huge part of the human motivation. So long as it’s informing the story then I don’t see the problem."
However, she thinks that both the violence and sex in 'Game of Thrones' were portrayed quite naturalistically. “But I think Thrones is quite good in that way. The violence is quite naturalistic...It’s not hyper-stylised. It’s not glamorized. And the sex is quite real and dirty as well...It’s about those raw, visceral qualities of human life.”
While critics were of the opinion that 'Game of Thrones' was just another way of showcasing "sadistic relish" and "gratuitous nudity", Dormer explained that in spite of the pressure there are people who make actors comfortable when performing scenes. She said, "But, you know, there are sensitive men in the industry as well — writers, directors, producers. It’s not just men against women.”
However, she does not deny the bad side of it. "Actors suffer from it, too. Wasn’t there a thing about Aidan Turner in Poldark? It’s a visual medium, so to a certain extent, you get judged on the way you look."
In her her career-defining role as Margaery, Dormer had several topless sequences where she would undress often with the intention of seducing a prince. She gained massive popularity for the role, as her character was what fans considered to be at par to the devious Cersei Lannister (played by Lena Headley).
It was interesting to watch the two queens fight for the throne as none seemed to give up without completely destroying the other. Everyone knows who gets destroyed in the end, but the Tyrell princess was a driving force in the series until her death in the sixth season.
