She's gone from Shelley to LA to become a Hollywood star.

Lena Headey is one of Huddersfield's finest exports, having dominated the big screen in blockbusters including The Brothers Grimm, 300 and Dredd.

These days she's best known as Queen Cersei Lannister in HBO's award-winning epic Game of Thrones, due to begin its fifth series on April 19.

To celebrate her success, we've looked up some interesting trivia about the Huddersfield actress you may not know.

Here's 22 things you probably didn't know about Lena Headey:

  1. Lena was born in Bermuda to Yorkshire parents and lived there until she was five.
  2. She was raised in Huddersfield before moving to London in her teens.
  3. Her father John was a police officer — he was stationed in Bermuda as a police cadet before Lena was born.
  4. She attended Shelley College, where she got her taste of acting.
     
  5. Her big break came from a school production staged at the National Theatre, London, where a casting agent spotted her.
  6. Her big screen debut was in Waterland in 1992, in which she played a younger version of lead character Mary Crick.
  7. During filming for Waterland, she trained in horse riding, archery and boxing.
  8. Lena was a vegetarian for many years and has campaigned against animal cruelty. She now eats meat 'albeit rarely'.
  9. She shot to fame after appearing in fantasy film The Brothers Grimm (2005) alongside Matt Damon and Heath Ledger.
    Lena Headey as Angelika in The Brothers Grimm
    Lena Headey as Angelika in The Brothers Grimm
     
  10. She also impressed critics with her tough performances in 300 (2006), Dredd (2012) and 300: Rise of A Empire (2014)
  11. TV fans may know her best as the wicked Cersei Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones, but Lena's first major TV role was as Sarah Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles in 2008-09.
  12. Lena has a number of tattoos, including a Tibetan lotus. In an interview she said she had 'found a state of peace unlike any other' during tattoo sessions.
  13. Lena will appear with her former on-screen father Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones) in her new film Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, due for release this year.
    Game of Thrones. Series 4. Episode 5 "First of his Name"
    Game of Thrones. Series 4. Episode 5 "First of his Name"
     
  14. Her Game of Thrones co-star Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister, said the Shelley actress was one of the funniest people on set. He told Reddit: "She’s also a dear friend and all we ever do is laugh together."
  15. Lena doesn't think she's beautiful. She told the Telegraph last year: "I think I look slightly like a horse. Hand on heart, I think I’m pretty average."
  16. She has a four-year-old son, Wylie.
  17. Lena was once stopped by a fan who insisted on showing her her wedding album. She'd gotten married as 300's Queen Gorgo and her husband had dressed like Leonidas.
     
  18. One of her dream roles is Joan of Arc.
  19. Last year Lena was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Emmy for her portrayal of Cersei.
  20. She provided the voice for her character in the Game of Thrones video game, alongside Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) and Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell).
  21. Lena supports Amnesty International, international development agency Plan and the College Access Plan.
  22. She has said in an interview that she believes in the supernatural and has had 'crazy experiences' with ghosts from a young age.