Game of Thrones’ Nathalie Emmanuel addresses ‘painful’ backlash over Missandei’s execution

GAME of Thrones fans were devastated when Cersei Lannister executed Missandei to get under Daenerys Targaryen’s skin.

The linguist extraordinaire was beheaded on the walls of King’s Landing after being taken prisoner and used as a bargaining chip.

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The fallout from her death ultimately sent Daenerys into the bloodthirsty decline that saw her burns the capital to the ground atop her dragon Drogon.

However, it wasn’t just the silver-haired leader who felt a profound sense of loss – fans at home were equally gutted.

In fact, Missandei’s death ignited debate around representation in Game of Thrones, given the substantial lack of characters of colour.

Missandei actress Nathalie Emmanuel spoke out about the backlash in an interview with The Guardian.

“Obviously, Missandei’s demise sparked a big conversation – [before then], the show was criticised for its lack of diversity,” she explained.

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“Jacob [who plays Grey Worm] and I often had to answer for that, as the two prominent characters of colour in the show, which was really difficult,” she went on.

“The reaction to Missandei’s death was so big because she was the only one. I think a lot of the people who felt othered or disenfranchised had connected with her, or felt represented by her, especially women of colour.

“When she died — and in the way that she did — it was so painful for people because they were like, ‘Wait, no! That’s how they’re going to do the only woman of colour?”

However, she did take issue with the wider criticism of season 8 being ‘rushed’.

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In particular she hit out at those who called for season 8 to be edited or reshot in the wake of its release.

“I don’t think you can ask for receipts on art. I think art is subjective, and you’re allowed to not like it, but you can’t ask an artist to change it,” she told The Telegraph.

Since Game of Thrones, Emmanuel has starred in Hulu’s Four Weddings and a Funeral – which couldn’t represent more of a contrast.

In other Game of Thrones news, Emilia Clarke spoke out about her fears she’d lose the role of Daenerys after suffering from two brain aneurysms.