<P> Christie's mentor since drama school has been actor and author Simon Callow . Her theatrical career includes a performance as the Queen in Shakespeare's Cymbeline opposite Tom Hiddleston, portraying Mag Wildwood in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and "standing out" as Lucifer in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (2010). </P> <P> On film, Christie debuted with a 2007 short film titled The Time Surgeon, written and directed by Nathaniel Mellors . In the following years, she continued to appear in his works, such as Seven Ages of Britain Teaser, a short TV film acting as an introduction to the final episode of the documentary series Seven Ages of Britain, and the first four films of his Ourhouse series of experimental short films, released between 2010 and 2011 as parts of art exhibitions or in selected public screenings . She was also involved in Ourhouse behind the scenes, acting as associate producer and being credited for casting, costumes, props, and make - up . Meanwhile, she made her feature film debut with a minor role in the Terry Gilliam film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus in 2009 . </P> <P> In July 2011, Christie was cast as the warrior Brienne of Tarth in the second season of HBO's fantasy TV series Game of Thrones . Her character--an unusually tall, muscular, and plain - looking woman--is a favourite among many readers of the novels, and Christie had been proposed for the role by fans long before auditions took place . Christie said that she could draw on her own experiences of having been bullied for her height and androgynous looks to play the part of Brienne, a role that she was passionate to play after reading the A Song of Ice and Fire novels which the show adapts . To prepare even for the auditions, she started wearing unisex clothing to help her get into her character's more masculine mindset, and took up an intensive training regime, gaining over a stone (6.4 kg, 14 lb) of muscle mass . According to series co-writer, producer, and author of the novels, George R.R. Martin, she obtained the role practically without debate after an arresting audition at which she appeared already made up and costumed as Brienne . After being cast in the role, she prepared for it by working out extensively, taking horsemanship, sword - fighting, and stagefighting lessons . </P> <P> Her debut was in the second season's third episode, "What Is Dead May Never Die", which aired on 15 April 2012 . Her debut performance was well received by critics; Nina Shen Rastogi praised her "eloquent and economical physical performance", noting that her walk, stance, and mien effectively conveyed Brienne's single - minded devotion to her self - given quest to become a knight . For her performance as Brienne in the show's third season, Christie was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television in 2014 . As a part of the cast, she was also nominated for a total of four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (she was not a part of the nominated cast on certain years depending of her number of appearances each season). </P>

Who plays the big female knight in game of thrones
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