Olenna Tyrell
| Olenna Tyrell | |
|---|---|
|
A Song of Ice and Fire character Game of Thrones character | |
 Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell | |
| First appearance |
Novel: A Storm of Swords (2000) Television: "Dark Wings, Dark Words" (2013) |
| Created by | George R. R. Martin |
| Portrayed by |
Diana Rigg Game of Thrones |
| Information | |
| Aliases | The Queen of Thorns |
| Gender | Female |
| Title | Lady of Highgarden |
| Family |
House Tyrell House Redwyne |
| Spouse(s) | Luthor Tyrell |
| Children |
Mace Tyrell Mina Tyrell Janna Tyrell |
| Relatives |
Runceford Redwyne (father) Viola Redwyne (sister; TV series only) Willas Tyrell (grandson) Garlan Tyrell (grandson) Loras Tyrell (grandson) Margaery Tyrell (granddaugther) Horas Redwyne (grandson) Hobber Redwyne (grandson) |
| Kingdom |
The Reach The Crownlands |
Olenna Tyrell, also known as "The Queen of Thorns", is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of high fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin, and is portrayed by Diana Rigg in its television adaptation, Game of Thrones.[1][2] Olenna is first mentioned in A Game of Thrones (1996) and first appears in A Storm of Swords (2000).
Olenna's role is the same in the show as in the books. In the season six finale, after losing her family in the wildfire explosion of the Sept caused by Cersei Lannister, Olenna aligned herself with Dorne and Daenerys Targaryen out of revenge.[3]
Diana Rigg has received Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performances in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Character profile
Olenna Tyrell, also known as the Queen of Thorns, is a former Redwyne and the mother of Mace Tyrell. She is described as a wizened and cunning old woman with a wicked wit and a sharp tongue, and is known for openly stating her opinion.[4]
Overview
Olenna is not a point of view character in the novels, so her actions are witnessed and interpreted through the eyes of other people, such as Sansa Stark and Cersei Lannister. Olenna is mostly a background character in the novels.[5]
Storylines
In the books
In A Storm of Swords, she plots to have Sansa taken to Highgarden to marry her grandson Willas. This plan is foiled by the Lannisters, who force Sansa to marry Tyrion Lannister. It is revealed by Littlefinger later in A Storm of Swords that, in order to shield Margaery from King Joffrey's cruelty, Olenna had actually been the one who murdered Joffrey at his wedding.[4] Margaery would later go on to marry the younger brother, Tommen Baratheon.[6]
In A Dance with Dragons (2011), Her granddaughter Margaery is released from prison and placed under house arrest, where she awaits trial.
In the show
Lady Olenna, better known as "The Queen of Thorns", is the sharp-witted grandmother of Loras and Margaery. In the adaptation Olenna is a matriarch and the real power behind House Tyrell. She has very progressive views where she feels women should be more involved in politics and is accepting of Loras' homosexuality where the people of Reach have no problems with it.
Season 3
After learning the abuses Sansa suffered by Joffrey, Olenna figured out that Margaery could avoid the same fate by using Joffrey's love of violence. Because she is fond of Sansa, and to prevent the other nobles from using Sansa as heir of the North, Olenna secretly plots to have Sansa marry Loras.[7] But her plan is foiled by Loras himself, who accidentally reveals it to Littlefinger's spy. Tywin Lannister gets wind of the plot and stops it by having Sansa marry his son Tyrion and, to secure the Reach, orders his daughter Cersei to marry Loras. Lady Olenna is at first against Loras marrying Cersei because Cersei is too old and because of the scandal of her incestual affair with her twin brother Jaime. But after Tywin threatens to make Loras join the celibate Kingsguard, which would make Joffrey and Margaery's children the heirs of Reach, Olenna admits defeat and praises Tywin for getting the best of her.
Season 4
Olenna conspires with Petyr Baelish to have Joffrey poisoned, so as to protect Margaery from Joffrey's beastly nature, and advises Margaery to become acquainted with her new match, Tommen Baratheon, Joffrey's younger brother and heir, before Cersei turns him against her. She returns to Highgarden shortly afterwards.
Season 5
When Loras is arrested by the recently reinstated Faith Militant for his homosexuality, Margaery writes to her grandmother who returns to the capital in order to protect her grandchildren from Cersei's schemes. But, mistakenly believing Loras's arrest was simply meant to humiliate House Tyrell, she helplessly assists to Olyvar's testimony which incriminates her grandson, as well as to Margaery's incarceration for perjuring herself in front of the gods in an effort to protect her brother. She later confronts the High Sparrow without results and has a secret meeting with Littlefinger who, blackmailed by Olenna for his part in Joffrey's death and in order to placate his role in her grandchildren's imprisonment in providing Olyvar to Cersei, gives valuable information about Lancel and Cersei's adulterous relationship. This results in the latter's arrest by the Faith Militant.
Season 6
Olenna takes steps to free Margaery from the High Sparrow and retake power from the Faith Militant, but the plan is thwarted when Tommen forges an alliance with the Faith and becomes the High Sparrow's new puppet. Margaery feigns loyalty and manages to instruct Olenna to leave the city when the High Sparrow threatens her life.
Cersei's plotting ultimately causes the destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor, killing Margaery, Loras, Mace, and the High Sparrow. A grieving Olenna is invited to Dorne to meet with Ellaria Sand, who has seized control of the region and declared open rebellion against the Lannisters. In Dorne Ellaria presents Varys, who persuades Olenna to support Daenerys Targaryen, having been a secret Targaryen loyalist all along. Olenna sends the Tyrell fleet to Meereen to assist in taking Daenerys' forces to Westeros.[3]
Family tree of House Tyrell
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TV adaptation
Olenna is played by the British actress Dame Diana Rigg in the television adaption of the series of books.[8][9]
Remarking on the series and the character:
I wasn't aware I was getting involved in something so huge. I really had no idea. She is also pretty evil, I'm good at evil.[10]
Recognition and awards
Diana Rigg has received positive reviews for her role as Olenna Tyrell in the TV series.
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series | Nominated | [11] |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | [12][13] | |
| Gold Derby TV Awards | Best Drama Guest Actress | Won | [14] | |
| Online Film & Television Association Award | Best Guest Actress In a Drama Series | Won | [15] | |
| 2014 | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series | Nominated | [16] |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | [12][17] | |
| Gold Derby TV Awards | Best Drama Guest Actress | Nominated | [18] | |
| Online Film & Television Association Award | Best Guest Actress In a Drama Series | Won | [19] | |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Nominated | [12] |
| Gold Derby TV Awards | Best Drama Guest Actress | Won | [20] | |
| Online Film & Television Association Award | Best Guest Actress In a Drama Series | Nominated | [21] |
References
- ↑ "The Official Website for the HBO Series Game of Thrones - Season 4". HBO.
- ↑ Lyttelton, Oliver (July 13, 2012). "Dame Diana Rigg Joins Season 3 of HBO's 'Game of Thrones'". IndieWire. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
- 1 2 Hibberd, James (June 26, 2016). "Game of Thrones star on that shocking finale death". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- 1 2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 68: Sansa VI.
- ↑ "Game of Thrones Viewer's Guide". HBO.
- ↑ "A Read of Ice and Fire: A Storm of Swords, Part 42". Tor. August 29, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ↑ Fowler, Matt (April 7, 2013). "Game of Thrones: "Dark Wings, Dark Words" Review". IGN. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
- ↑ "Game of Thrones reveals new cast members for Season 3!". io9.com. July 13, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Dame Diana Rigg Joins Season 3 of HBO's 'Game of Thrones' | The Playlist". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Game of Thrones: Dame Diana on playing Lady Olenna Tyrell". BBC. August 17, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ↑ "HBO, FX Lead Critics' Choice TV Awards — But Where Are 'Mad Men', 'Modern Family'?". Deadline.com. August 1, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Game of Thrones". Emmys.com. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
- ↑ "Emmy Nominees Full List: Breaking Bad, Homeland, Downton Abbey Dominate 2013 Awards". The Huffington Post. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ↑ Montgomery, Daniel (September 18, 2013). "'Breaking Bad,' 'Parks and Rec' win big at Gold Derby TV Awards!". Gold Derby. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Online Film & Television Association".
- ↑ "Critics' Choice TV Awards 2014: And the nominees are...". Entertainment Weekly. May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
- ↑ Brown, Tracy (10 July 2014). "Emmys 2014: Complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ↑ Montgomery, Daniel (August 20, 2014). "'Orange is the New Black,' 'Breaking Bad' sweep Gold Derby TV Awards". Gold Derby. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ↑ "Online Film & Television Association".
- ↑ Montgomery, Daniel (September 17, 2015). "Gold Derby TV Awards: 'Game of Thrones' sweeps, big wins for Amy Schumer, 'Parks and Rec'". Gold Derby. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ↑ "Online Film & Television Association".
