Game of Thrones' stunner Natalie Dormer living out a fantasy on hit HBO series

Given the short life expectancy of characters on “Game of Thrones,” actress Natalie Dormer made sure she took advantage of the first chance she got to sit on the show’s infamous Iron Throne.
“It was a photo opportunity and I took it,” the British stunner who plays Lady Margaery Tyrell on the hit HBO fantasy says, quick to show a Daily News reporter the photographic evidence of her brief reign — at a San Francisco screening — on her iPhone.
RELATED: 'THRONES' STAR JUST FINE WITH ON-SCREEN NUDITY
“These are moments in your life to be cherished, they don’t come around that often,” says Dormer. “To be flying around in a ‘Game of Thrones’ jet, to be greeted by massive enthusiasts. So you cherish those experiences because you might end up in a theater being paid two pence a week, doing something you really love just for the passion, that no one comes to see in six months’ time.”
That’s probably not going to be a real concern for the 31-year-old actress anytime soon, as the third season of “Game of Thrones” debuts tonight at 9 p.m.
RELATED: THE KEY PLAYERS AND PLOTS IN 'GAME OF THRONES'
Dormer, who rose to fame on this side of the pond on Showtime’s “The Tudors,” normally would have stayed away from “another long-skirts-and-horses gig,” as she calls period dramas. The opportunity to saddle up on “Game of Thrones,” though, was too great to turn down. (Even if she auditioned for a completely different role that she declines to reveal.)
And even if that meant occasionally baring more than her soul as Margaery, who this season is a major player in the court of King’s Landing as the intended bride of King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson).
RELATED: DRINKS TO SIP WHILE WATCHING ‘GAME OF THRONES’
“They put us all up in the same hotel whether we’re (filming) in Croatia or Belfast, so pretty much the person who has a sex scene at the end of the week is the person who’s in the gym or not coming out for dinner,” she says, laughing.
During the six months a year she’s not filming “Game of Thrones,” Dormer has been exercising other acting muscles. She just wrapped work opposite Brad Pitt on the upcoming film, “The Counselor.” It wasn’t that long ago that she was an usher at the London production of “The Lion King” as she made her way through drama school, and here she is being directed by Ridley Scott.
RELATED: BEHIND ALL THE COSTUMES ON 'GAME OF THRONES'
“When Ridley Scott was directing me, I did have a bit of a moment,” says Dormer. “A cinematographer friend of mine had bought me an original 1982 vintage Japanese ‘Blade Runner’ movie poster for my birthday last February ... and then six months later, I got the call. So I actually took my poster on set and asked Ridley to sign it. And he was like, ‘This is amazing you have this, how do you have this?’ ”
Now she has an autographed original 1982 vintage Japanese “Blade Runner” movie poster on her study wall.
“Sometimes the universe conspires for you,” she says, “and those are beautiful moments that you cherish.”