Gwendoline Christie has revealed that her role as Larissa Weems in Netflix's Wednesday was the first time she felt beautiful on screen. The 6ft 3in actress, best known for playing Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones, said she was given the freedom to create a character that embodied a 'classic idea of femininity'.
Christie, 44, has been open about being bullied and stared at because of her height, and was told she would never be a successful actress due to her unconventional appearance. However, working with costume designer Colleen Atwood and the hair and makeup team on Wednesday changed her perspective.
'I cannot express my extreme gratitude more heartily to Tim and Colleen and our hair and makeup team,' Christie told Entertainment Weekly. She said Atwood emphasised her 'strong points' and made her body feel 'celebrated and beautiful', adding that she no longer felt she had 'something to hide'.
Christie took inspiration from Hitchcock heroines Tippi Hedren and Kim Novak for her portrayal of Nevermore Academy's principal. The series, directed by Tim Burton, stars Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia, and Luis Guzmán as Gomez.
