Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey claims she was glammed up ‘like Dolly Parton’ to play Cersei before major costume overhaul

LENA Headey's Cersei Lannister proved to be one of Game of Thrones' most iconic and divisive charcters.

The ice queen played the people of Westeros with deceit, ruthlessness and an unbridled thirst for revenge, but ultimately met a bitter end in the final season.

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Cersei was crushed under rocks alongside her brother and lover Jaime (Nikolaj Coter-Waldau), a death that many found underwhelming given the extent of her villainy.

Cersei underwent quite the physical transformation during her time ruling King's Landing.

Early seasons saw her sport tumbling curls and intricate jewellery, draped in gowns made of sumptuous fabrics in bright colours.

However by the end of the series she sported cropped hair - after having her head shaved during a public shaming by the cult of the High Sparrow.

She also dressed mostly in black with fewer frills and decorative touches to her costumes.

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Nonetheless, audiences could have seen a very different Cersei if the original designs for the character were upheld.

Lena Headey revealed that during the show's pilot episode she sported a flamboyant, larger-than-life look that emphasised the Lannisters' wealth.

“I looked like a Vegas showgirl in the [original] pilot — furs and massive hair, like a medieval Dolly Parton," she told Entertainment Weekly.

"Not that I’m complaining - I loved it. My hair devolved,” she added.

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Meanwhile her co-star Coster Waldau hinted that the cast initially struggled to bring Westeros' rigid power structures to life.

“Nobody knew what they were doing or what the hell this was. During King Robert’s arrival I remember finding the whole thing ridiculous," he chipped in.

"The absurdity of doing this parallel universe with these very noble men - it’s a very fine balance between being serious and believing it and just being cosplayers," he went on.

"There was certainly not a sense that this was going to be some game-changer for anyone. But we had a lot of fun.”

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Clearly they underestimated the impact Game of Thrones would have in the world of TV.

Despite its final season being panned by critics and fans alike, the franchise remains one of the most acclaimed and beloved TV series of all time.

Production is currently underway on prequel series House of The Dragon, which will track the bloodt dynasty of House Targaryen.

All seasons of Game of Thrones are available to stream on NOW TV.