Portrayed by Lena Headey (adult)

Nell Williams (child)

Status: Deceased

Age: 43 (in her final season)

Date of Birth : 262 AC

Origin: Casterly Rock

Episode Appearances: 62

First Seen: ‘Winter Is Coming’

Last Seen: ‘The Iron Throne’

BACKGROUND

Cersei Lannister is the only daughter and eldest child of Lord Tywin Lannister and his wife Joanna Lannister, who was also his cousin. Lord Tywin is the head of House Lannister and the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms. The Westerlands is one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms and House Lannister is one of the Great Houses of the realm. Cersei is the elder twin of Ser Jaime Lannister and the elder sister of a dwarf named Tyrion Lannister. She was raised in privilege at the family seat of Casterly Rock and is known for her great beauty.

Cersei's mother died when she was four years old, after giving birth to her younger brother Tyrion. Like her father, Cersei had always blamed Tyrion for her mother's death and deeply resented that her mother died so that Tyrion would be brought into the world. As for Tywin, he was constantly away from home during her childhood and teenage years, serving as Hand in the capital, with only infrequent visits back to his seat at Casterly Rock. Coupled with the death of her mother, this meant that Cersei and her two brothers were primarily raised by servants. She began an incestuous relationship with Jaime in her youth which has continued despite her marriage. When she was about fifteen, Cersei and her friend Melara visited a witch and fortune teller named Maggy, who revealed to Cersei that she wouldn't marry "the Prince," Rhaegar Targaryen, but "the King," Robert Baratheon. While the king would have twenty children, she would bear only three who will wear golden crowns as well as golden shrouds. Finally, she revealed to Cersei that although she would indeed be queen, yet would be cast down by a younger and more beautiful queen.

After the end of the civil war which ended the reign of House Targaryen, Cersei was married to King Robert, a political marriage thanks to her father's last-minute alliance. She was only 19 when she married Robert and at first was infatuated with the handsome king, but their love began to wane when he called her "Lyanna" on their wedding night. She nevertheless bore Robert a son who died shortly after his birth. Cersei was devastated and refused to have the body taken from her. In time, Cersei's feelings for Robert turned to hatred and she returned to her brother Jaime as a result. Her three children, Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen, are officially Robert's, but in reality are secretly the products of her relationship with Jaime.