Game of Thrones actress was waterboarded for 10 hours after a canceled scene—talk about taking TV drama to the extreme.

When you think Game of Thrones, you think dragons, epic battles, and merciless plot twists—but for one Ted Lasso actress, her experience on set went to a whole new level. Picture this: strapped to a wooden table for grueling hours, all in the name of TV magic.

Kit Harrington and Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

Sure, Emilia Clarke had her fair share of intense moments as Daenerys, but that was nothing compared to what this actress endured. Originally set to film a scene so controversial it got axed, the alternative wasn’t exactly a day at the spa either.

Waterboarded for 10 Hours: The Shocking Truth Behind Game of Thrones Star’s Torture Scene

Hannah Waddingham from Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

Hollywood’s got its fair share of crazy stories, but this one’s next level. Game of Thrones star Hannah Waddingham, aka Septa Unella, had a seriously crazy ride on set that she never expected.

While filming one of Unella’s torture scenes, things took a dark turn. Originally scripted to be a r*pe scene, the plan changed last-minute—except they didn’t cut out the intensity. Instead, they had Waddingham waterboarded for real. Ahan, she was strapped to a wooden table for TEN hours.

It wasn’t just a tough day at work. It left lasting scars. Waddingham confessed she now has claustrophobia around water because of it. She revealed:

And there I was strapped to a wooden table with proper big straps for ten hours. And definitely, other than childbirth, it was the worst day of my life. It definitely gave me claustrophobia around water. Definitely. My whole thing has always been, take people to the absolute nth degree of their emotions and that’s the same thing…Give of yourself and then it gives back to you. 

Even Lena Headey, who played Cersei, admitted that the whole thing was emotional and tough but said she did it for art. But for Waddingham, that was no art—it was trauma. The scene was intense, but what did it take to get there? That’s a whole other level of crazy.

Emilia Clarke’s The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland Sets Streaming Release for U.S. and U.K.

Emilia Clarke from Game of Thrones | Credits: HBO

Emilia Clarke’s animated holiday feature The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland is all set to drop on streaming platforms in the U.S. and U.K. The musical adventure, featuring Clarke as the Queen of Hearts, Gerard Butler as St. Nick, and Simone Ashley as Alice, will debut on Prime Video and Hulu in the U.S. on Nov. 15. In the U.K., it hits Sky Cinema on Dec. 13.

Based on Carys Bexington’s bestselling book, this whimsical mash-up of Alice in Wonderland and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas features a star-studded voice cast, original songs, and magical animation. St. Nick, with Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the March Hare, journeys to Wonderland to spread Christmas cheer to the Scrooge-like Queen of Hearts. Will they save Christmas? You’ll have to watch to find out!