'Game of Thrones' Alum Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Says COVID-19 Has Brought on the 'Opportunity to Reset'

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is best known for his role as Jaime Lannister on Game of Thrones, but he's so much more than just an actor. He is also a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, who uses his platform to draw public attention to critical issues such as gender equality and climate change. We love a knight who champions hard-hitting issues!

As reported by CNBC, Coster-Waldau recently spoke at Lions Live, Cannes Lions’ digital International Festival of Creativity 2020. He discussed his thoughts on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and how he hopes the world will make environmental issues a top priority when the health crisis ends.

“I remember in … the mid 2000s how everybody was talking about climate change,” the two-time Emmy nominee said. “Then the financial crisis hit, and within a year, it was not even on the agenda anymore … I just pray that we don’t make the same mistake. I mean, this is the opportunity. This is kind of it.”

The actor continued to stress the importance of protecting the planet for future generations. “We are at a crossroads in so many ways, but I think this pandemic hopefully we will look back and say, OK that was a horrific tragedy, but in the wake of that, great change was made,” he said, adding, “This is the opportunity to reset everything.”

In the interview, Coster-Waldau also spoke about how his daughters inspired him to advocate for gender equality, along with his thoughts on the protests following the death of George Floyd. He really is a compelling and thoughtful speaker, and you can check out the rest of his interview here.