Rose Leslie: Game of Thrones sex had to happen

Rose Leslie has fond memories of her Game Of Thrones sex scenes with co-star Kit Harington.

The 27-year-old beauty’s character Ygritte romped with Harington’s Jon Snow last season.

‘That was my first ever sex scene. You have no idea how many takes that took,’ she told Guilty Pleasures. She insisted, however, any love scene had to be justified.

‘I felt certainly within that scene with Jon Snow and Ygritte that it needed to happen,’ she said.

‘They finally got together and got to show their love to one another. There was no political ploy or tactical play. It was pure romantics.’

Having developed something of a catchphrase for herself on the show – she often shouts ‘You know nothing, Jon Snow!’ – the Scottish actress said some fans were shocked to realise she did not share her character’s thick northern accent in real life.

‘When I get asked to do the catchphrase by fans, several times they have said, “No, no, no… it’s not you! I need to go and find the real person”,’ she laughed.

Before her Thrones role, Leslie starred in international smash Downton Abbey but insisted it was luck she landed roles in such major TV shows.

‘I just look for characters that I can resonate with and female characters who are strong and determined and passionate,’ she explained.

However, she will be hoping lightning can strike thrice when she teams up with fellow Thrones star Charles Dance for her next TV project.

‘I am currently filming The Great Fire for ITV which is a mini-series we’re shooting in London – with Charles. So we will be on screen together,’ she gushed.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Wednesday 26 March 2014]