'Game of Thrones' actor Iwan Rheon says the Sansa Stark rape scene 'was the worst day of my career'
- The "Game of Thrones" actor Iwan Rheon said that filming the show's controversial rape scene from season five was the "worst day" of his career.
- In an interview with Metro on Sunday, the 35-year-old actor broke down the "horrible" day on set. "Nobody wanted to be there," he said. "Nobody wants to do that, but if it's telling a story then you have to tell it truthfully."
- "They didn't sensationalize it or anything," he said. "It was very, very hard watching. It's a horrible thing that happens, unfortunately, and it shouldn't be. It was the worst day of my career."
- In the infamous scene, an unhinged Ramsay Bolton (played by Rheon) violently attacks Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) in front of Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen).
The "Game of Thrones" actor Iwan Rheon said the controversial rape scene from season five was the "worst day" of his career.
In an interview with Metro on Sunday, the 35-year-old actor broke down the "horrible" day on set filming the graphic scene.
"That was horrible," he said. "Nobody wanted to be there. Nobody wants to do that, but if it's telling a story then you have to tell it truthfully."
He continued: "They didn't sensationalize it or anything. It was very, very hard watching. It's a horrible thing that happens, unfortunately, and it shouldn't be. It was the worst day of my career."
By season five, "Game of Thrones" had built a reputation for highly graphic depictions of extreme violence. But the rape scene from season five, in which an unhinged Ramsay Bolton (played by Rheon) violently attacks Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) in front of Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), immediately sparked backlash.
Former US Sen. Claire McCaskill tweeted that she was "done" with the show and would no longer watch.
At the time, the episode's director, Jeremy Podeswa, responded to the criticism by saying, "We were aware ahead of time that it was going to be disturbing, but we did not expect there would be people in Congress talking about it."
The showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss also reassured fans that the sexual violence would be toned down by the next season.
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar last year, Turner said that the multiple episodes of assault and cruelty that her character faced on the show inspired her to become an advocate for women's rights in real life.
"Initially, I didn't feel there was anything that stayed with me from all the things Sansa went through," Turner said. "But though I think it hasn't affected me emotionally, I did start thinking about the domestic abuse and rape, and it spurred this little part of me that might be an activist."
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