Game of Thrones star Carice van Houten reveals she almost played a very different character in the series

Melisandre, the Red Woman, played by Carice van Houten, was a true game-changer on Game of Thrones. She made a mysterious priestess of the Lord of Light come to life, with magic and prophecies and secrets enough to stir up Westeros.

Melisandre did not have as much screen time as some of the other characters, but Carice van Houten made the most of what she got. She imbued the Red Woman with a magnetic, disturbing energy, which was unforgettable.

Notably, before donning the iconic red dress, van Houten was supposed to play a whole different character: Cersei Lannister. She was set to audition for the role, but her timings conflicted with another project. Eventually, she was cast in Season 2 as Melisandre.

Game of Thrones is known to feature an enormous cast, blending politics, personal drama, and magic. It is safe to say that Melisandre is basically at the crossroads of all that. She switches sides between major players such as Stannis Baratheon and Jon Snow, never letting people know of her real motives.

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Carice van Houten’s casting journey in Game of Thrones

Carice van Houten’s path to getting the role of Melisandre in Game of Thrones had its own series of unexpected twists. During a chat with Vulture in 2012, she confessed that she was originally asked to try out for the part of Cersei Lannister.

She was thrilled about it, but couldn’t find a way around it since she was already engaged in the making of Intruders. Soon after, however, the producers returned and gave her the part of Melisandre for the second season.

“I thought the queen would be a great part, and they asked me to audition, but I couldn’t do it, because I was shooting something else. I think it was Intruders, with Clive Owen, and there was no way. I play somebody’s wife in that.”

Initially, she was uncertain whether she was suitable for such a peculiar and enigmatic role. To sort it out, she even called her friend Seth Meyers, and he advised her to take the plunge, deeming it the “coolest thing ever.”

To immerse oneself in the world of Melisandre was not a straightforward task. Her first day was full of very strong emotions; among them was the Battle of Winterfell. She thought she had been tossed into a very difficult situation.

Nevertheless, she accepted the challenge and gradually molded Melisandre according to her vision, incorporating details that were not specifically mentioned in the script.

She was quoted as saying by Bustle:

“I was thrown into the deep end. Every year, I tried and tried to get [the producers] to tell me more, and only got a minimal amount of information. But that was also good, because it made me create something for myself. And I hoped they would let me know if I was going in the wrong direction.”

Van Houten added:

“I would have been interested in learning about her past a little bit, but at the same time, that's what made her mysterious, that we only got slivers of hints.”

Van Houten further admitted that the ambiguity of the creators’ intentions gave her the chance to interpret the discussed character the way she wanted. She attempted to show the religiousness of the character, together with her weaker moments.

The actress was never really comfortable after shooting scenes such as the one in which Melisandre sets Shireen Baratheon on fire, but she remained faithful to the character’s complex morality.

Melisandre getting too far in the name of victory was the turning point of her character in Game of Thrones. In a moment, Melisandre was not just a believer anymore; she started to reveal her fragility and doubt. According to Van Houten, those subtle moments were the reasons why it worked.

Moreover, the fact that the audience was not able to fully understand the character added to her charm. Not having complete knowledge about her just made her more interesting.

Things shift for her after Stannis loses and dies in Game of Thrones. Suddenly, her confidence gets rattled. She throws her lot in with Jon Snow and his crew, stepping into the fight against the Night King.

She starts to let go of rigid beliefs and finds a new purpose. When she returns to Winterfell, she helps Jon’s army by lighting the trenches and giving Arya the push she needs to finish the Night King. That’s the last, big act for Melisandre in Game of Thrones. She drops her magical disguise and dies, old and spent, as dawn breaks.

It’s a fitting end for her and for the magic she brought to the story. Carice van Houten, who played her, felt good about that ending. She thought it wrapped up Melisandre’s story in a way that made sense, even with all the shady things her character did.

Van Houten told The Hollywood Reporter:

“This is why I'm here. Once I've done what I have to do, I can go, and I can rest. I'm a few hundred years old, and I am tired.”