'I just had to do it'

London: 'Game of Thrones' star Gwendoline Christie says she decided to submit herself as a contender for the 2019 Emmys for playing Ser Brienne of Tarth because of her confidence in what the fan favourite character represented.

The actor's conviction proved right when she landed a nomination in the best supporting actor category alongside her co-stars Lena Headey, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams, whose names were sent to the Emmys by HBO.

"I checked that it wasn't an inappropriate thing to do, and I was told it wasn't. People submit themselves all the time. I truly never expected it to manifest in a nomination and I don't think anybody else did either. But I just had to do it for me. And I had to do it as a testament to the character and what I feel she represents," Christie told the Los Angeles Times from London.

The 40-year-old actor is extremely happy that her part survives till the end on the show, which was notorious for frequently killing off popular characters.

"I could not believe that I made it all the way through. And I was in the end of the final episode. Brienne makes it through and has a life beyond. I found that incredibly positive and unexpected," she said.