Lena Headey: Game of Thrones Salary, Relationships, Net Worth

Cersei Lannister’s reign on Game of Thrones was brutal, but the actress who played her, Lena Headey, has faced a different kind of battle: tabloid rumors about feuds, paychecks, and her personal life. Born in Bermuda and raised in England, she has built a career spanning three decades while navigating on-set tension, pay negotiations, and being a single mother. Here’s a look at the facts behind the headlines—her nationality, salary, relationships, and where she stands among the richest Game of Thrones stars.

Known for: Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones ·
Nationality: Bermudian-British ·
Game of Thrones salary per episode: Up to $1.2 million (estimated) ·
Children: Two ·
Years active: 1992–present

Who did Lena Headey not get along with in Game of Thrones?

On-set feuds reported with Jerome Flynn and others

• Reports claim Headey and co-star Jerome Flynn had a falling-out after a past romantic relationship soured (The Sun). The two allegedly requested not to share scenes in later seasons.
• Neither Headey nor Flynn has publicly confirmed the feud, leaving the details unclear.
• Other cast members have mentioned general on-set tensions, but specific names remain unconfirmed.

Relationship with Peter Dinklage clarified by actors

• Despite persistent rumors of a rift, interviews indicate that Headey and Peter Dinklage maintain a professional respect for each other. In a 2013 interview, Headey dismissed the idea of any feud, saying they “got along great” (Entertainment Weekly, cited in various outlets).
• No credible source has publicly supported the notion of a Dinklage-Headey conflict.

The implication: On-set relationships in long-running series often attract gossip, but the only reported tension involving Headey that has a specific source is the one with Jerome Flynn—and even that remains unconfirmed by either party.

Is Lena Headey Irish or English and what is her nationality?

Born in Bermuda, raised in England

• Headey was born on 3 October 1973 in Hamilton, Bermuda, to British parents Sue and John Headey (IMDb).
• The family moved to Somerset, England when she was five years old.
• She has often said she considers herself “Bermudian-British” and holds dual citizenship.

Actress holds Bermudian and British citizenship

• Major reference sources (e.g., Wikipedia) list her nationality as Bermudian-British, not Irish.
• The confusion likely stems from her maiden surname “Headey,” which has Irish origins, but she has no documented Irish citizenship or upbringing.

The implication: While her surname may sound Irish, the evidence places her firmly in the Bermudian-British category—a background she has spoken about with pride.

Who is the father of Lena Headey’s baby and did she have children?

Two children with ex-husband Peter Loughran

• Headey married musician Peter Loughran in May 2007 (Wikipedia).
• They separated in 2011, and the divorce was finalized in December 2013.
• Her son, Wylie Loughran, was born on 31 March 2010 (Fandom). Her daughter, whose name has not been publicly disclosed, was born on 10 July 2015 (Wikipedia).

Current family situation

• Headey has not remarried publicly. She has been linked to filmmaker Dan Cadan, the father of her daughter, but has kept relationships private.
• She has stated in interviews that she prioritizes her children above public scrutiny.

The pattern: Headey’s family timeline shows a deliberate separation between her public persona and her private life—a boundary she has maintained despite intense tabloid interest.

How much was Lena Headey paid for Game of Thrones?

Reported salary and pay disparity discussions

• IMDb reports that Headey earned $500,000 per episode for season 7 (IMDb).
• Earlier seasons: Socialite Magazine claims she earned $150,000 per episode by season 3 (Socialite Magazine).
• Later seasons: the same source puts her salary at $1.1 million per episode in the final two seasons.
• A YouTube analysis notes that figures vary widely across sources, with some reporting $500,000 for season 5 and others for season 7 (YouTube analysis).

Four reports, three different figures—one pattern: salary grew dramatically as the show’s popularity soared, but exact numbers remain unconfirmed by HBO.

The confusion over Headey’s Game of Thrones pay highlights how even major cast salaries are often kept under tight wraps by networks.

The trade-off: Without official HBO disclosure, any estimate is a best guess—but the trend of rising compensation mirrors the show’s growing audience and the cast’s unified negotiation efforts.

Who are the richest Game of Thrones stars and what is Lena Headey’s net worth?

Net worth rankings among Game of Thrones cast

• Forbes and celebrity-net-worth sources often place Peter Dinklage at the top, with an estimated net worth of $40–50 million.
• Emilia Clarke is estimated at around $50 million, while Kit Harington falls around $30 million.
• Headey’s net worth is estimated at $9 million by a Business Insider Facebook post and $12 million by Socialite Magazine.

Lena Headey’s estimated net worth

• The inconsistency reflects differing methodologies—some sources count gross earnings, others net after taxes and expenses.
• Headey herself said in 2013 that she was “nearly bankrupt” with about $5 in her bank account (Socialite Magazine), suggesting significant financial ups and downs.
• After Game of Thrones concluded, her earning power likely increased through syndication and convention appearances, though exact figures remain private.

The catch: Net-worth estimates for celebrities are notoriously unreliable. For Headey, the gap between $9 million and $12 million is relatively narrow, but the real number may be higher or lower depending on investments, legal fees, and lifestyle costs that no public source can verify.

Timeline

• 1973 – Born in Hamilton, Bermuda
• 1992 – Film debut in Waterland
• 2006 – Played Queen Gorgo in 300, gaining wider recognition
• 2011 – First appears as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones
• 2013 – Divorces Peter Loughran
• 2015 – Birth of her second child
• 2019 – Game of Thrones concludes

What we know vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Lena Headey was born in Bermuda and is Bermudian-British.
• She played Cersei Lannister from 2011 to 2019.
• She has two children with Peter Loughran.
• She and Peter Dinklage have publicly stated they get along.

What’s unclear

• Exact details of the nature of the feud with Jerome Flynn beyond reports.
• Precise salary figures for Game of Thrones are not officially confirmed by HBO.
• Current relationship status and the exact net worth.

Notable quotes from and about Lena Headey

“I never had a bad experience with Peter [Dinklage]. We got along great. I think people want there to be drama.”

Lena Headey to Entertainment Weekly, 2013 (as widely reported)

“Lena has a fierceness that made Cersei terrifying and tragic at the same time. She brought layers to a character that could have been a cartoon.”

Peter Dinklage, various interviews

“The rift between Lena Headey and Jerome Flynn was so severe that the two refused to work together on set, forcing producers to keep them apart.”

Report in The Sun, 2015 (as cited in multiple entertainment tabs)

For viewers and fans, the implication is clear: on-set relationships can be as intense as the ones on screen, but separating rumor from fact requires careful sourcing. In Headey’s case, the only well-documented tension involves Flynn; the rest is largely speculation.

Frequently asked questions