Lena Headey in “Game of Thrones”
Lena Headey, best known for her “Game of Thrones” role as the devious Queen Cersei, has actually been working to help refugees for years.
One of her real-life projects involves the story of the late Freddie Mercury, former vocalist of the rock band Queen.
Sharing on Instagram a video of her partnership with the IRC (the International Rescue Committee, which responds to humanitarian crises), the actress wrote in the caption, “What if the UK had never welcomed Freddie Mercury? The truth is, I don’t ever want to imagine a world without welcome, and a world without his work and impact. For #WorldRefugeeDay (June 20), I’ve written a personal letter to Freddie, singer, songwriter and a refugee, who has shaped our world.”
In the short video, Headey said: “Dear Freddie, what if the United Kingdom never welcomed you in? Without a safe home to find your voice, the world would never hear it, and so many would never find their own. Your fearlessness would never embolden us all to be fearless. Your anthems silenced. We would never be champions. A world without you wouldn’t be as rhapsodic. Triumphant. Brilliant. It just wouldn’t be our world. Dear Freddie and all refugees, you made so much more than history. So what will today’s chapter say?”
Freddie Mercury in 1985
The late singer’s refugee status was mentioned in the recent musical biopic, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Mercury, or Farrokh Bulsara, was born in the British protectorate of Zanzibar. His family fled to escape the Zanzibar Revolution, which targeted Arab and Indian minorities.
The Bulsara clan moved to Middlesex, in southeast England, when Mercury was a teen. A few years later, Mercury met future Queen bandmates, Roger Taylor and Brian May.—OLIVER PULUMBARIT