Lena Headey is a British actress born in Bermuda, best known for playing Cersei Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones. She also starred as Queen Gorgo in 300 and as Sarah Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Her net worth is estimated at $15 million, and she has stayed busy since Thrones with a Netflix western, a revenge thriller and roles in two of streaming’s biggest upcoming titles.
| Date of Birth | October 3, 1973 |
|---|---|
| Age | 53 years |
| Nationality | British |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Full Name | Lena Kathren Headey |
| Husband | Marc Menchaca |
| Ex-Husband | Peter Loughran |
| Children | Wylie Loughran & Teddy Cadan |
| Birthplace | Hamilton, Bermuda |
Dave WinfieldLena Headey Biography
Lena Kathren Headey was born in Hamilton, Bermuda, on October 3, 1973. Her father, John Headey, was a British police officer posted there, and her mother is Sue. She is 53 years old and has a younger brother named Tim.
The family moved back to England when she was five, first to Somerset and later to Yorkshire. She took ballet lessons as a child and attended Shelley College in Huddersfield. At 17, she was spotted by a casting agent while performing with her school at the Royal National Theatre in London.
Lena Headey Career
Headey made her film debut in Waterland in 1992. A year later, she had a small part in The Remains of the Day. Through the 1990s and 2000s, she worked steadily in British and American films such as The Jungle Book, Mrs Dalloway and The Brothers Grimm.
Her big break came in 2006 as Queen Gorgo in 300, a role she played again in 300: Rise of an Empire in 2014. From 2008 to 2009, she led Fox’s Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles as Sarah Connor.
In 2011, she began playing Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. The role ran for all eight seasons and earned her five Emmy nominations. By the final season, she and other lead cast members were reportedly paid about $1.1 million per episode. She also played the drug lord Ma-Ma in Dredd (2012), Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) and the mother of wrestler Paige in Fighting with My Family (2019).
After Thrones, she starred in Gunpowder Milkshake (2021), The Flight Attendant (2022), White House Plumbers (2023) and the sci-fi series Beacon 23 (2023-2024). She made her directing debut with the short film The Trap, which earned a BAFTA nomination.
Recent Projects
Headey starred opposite Gillian Anderson in The Abandons, a Netflix western that premiered on December 4, 2025. She played Fiona Nolan, an Irish settler fighting a corrupt mine owner in the 1850s. Netflix canceled the show after one season in early 2026.
On April 17, 2026, she led the revenge thriller Ballistic as Nance Redfield, a mother whose son is killed by a bullet made at the factory where she works. In an interview with ComingSoon.net, she said director Chad Faust first wrote the role for a father and was “open-minded enough” to change it to a mother. She added that she loves small indie films “that no one ever sees” because they move fast and feel “raw and real.”
Speaking to Awards Buzz, she said that as a parent, “your living nightmare is losing a kid.” She told the outlet the role let her reach a depth of fear she does not touch in daily life. In the same ComingSoon.net chat, she said the full-length version of The Trap is held up, but directing more is her “deep, deep joy.”
More is on the way. She plays Princess Catherine, Prince Henry’s mother, in Prime Video’s Red, White & Royal Wedding. In April 2026, she joined Wednesday season 3 on Netflix as a guest star. She is also set to direct her first feature, Violet, a thriller based on SJI Holliday’s novel.
Charity Work
Headey supports the LGBT rights group NOH8 and appeared on one of its fundraising T-shirts in 2015. She has also worked with the International Rescue Committee, speaking up for refugees stuck in Greece during the European migrant crisis. In 2018, she voiced an Alzheimer’s Research UK advert released ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day.
Personal Life
Headey married Irish musician Peter Loughran in 2007. Their son, Wylie, was born in 2010. The couple split in 2011, and the divorce was finalized in December 2013. The split came just as Thrones was taking off, a role her friend Peter Dinklage had suggested her for.
She later dated childhood friend Dan Cadan. Their daughter, Teddy Cadan, was born on July 15, 2015, and the pair separated in 2019.
In October 2022, she married American actor Marc Menchaca, known for Ozark, in Italy. She often speaks about being a mother. During her Ballistic press run, she said she tells her son that when he leaves the house, he takes her heart with him.
Lena Headey Net Worth
Lena Headey’s net worth is estimated at $15 million. The biggest part came from Game of Thrones, where her pay rose over eight seasons to a reported $1.1 million per episode at the end.
Film work adds to that, from 300 and its sequel to Dredd and her newer leading roles. Streaming series like The Abandons, Beacon 23 and The Flight Attendant have kept her earning since Thrones ended, and her parts in Wednesday and Red, White & Royal Wedding should keep that going. Her move into directing could open another income stream in the years ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Lena Headey?
Lena Headey was born on October 3, 1973. She is 53 years old.
How much was Lena Headey paid for Game of Thrones?
She was reportedly paid about $1.1 million per episode in the final season of Game of Thrones.
Who is Lena Headey married to?
She has been married to American actor Marc Menchaca since October 2022. She was previously married to Peter Loughran.
How many children does Lena Headey have?
She has two children: son Wylie, born in 2010, and daughter Teddy, born in 2015.
Is Lena Headey in Wednesday season 3?
Yes. Netflix added her as a guest star for Wednesday season 3 in April 2026. Her character has not been revealed.
What is Lena Headey’s latest movie?
Her latest film is Ballistic, a revenge thriller released on April 17, 2026. She plays Nance Redfield, a grieving mother.
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