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Words: Amy PriceProducer: Gillian McNally
How the Game of Thrones world was created
In partnership with
Deborah Riley knew her life would change the instant David Benioff, co-creator of the HBO series Game of Thrones, offered her a job in 2013.
The chance to work on the HBO juggernaut, five years after leaving Australia for Hollywood, was a dream come true for Brisbane-born Riley.
Riley took over as Game of Thrones production designer in season four. For the next five years, she helped create the fantastic world of Westeros.
On her first day, she was taken to Castle Black, the headquarters of the Night’s Watch, which was a 360-degree set built on a cliff face.
“”
It was windy, it was freezing and it had a working lift, a working forge. I had never been on a set like it in my life. It was that moment I will never forget – suddenly understanding what I had stepped into.
DEBORAH RILEY
Her first chance to prove herself was building a set for the Meereen audience chamber, where Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke) would sit as queen.
It wasn’t an elaborate set, like the iron throne in King’s Landing. Instead, she built a modest bench atop cascading steps.
“”
The way it was designed, her audience had to look up to her. The power was with her. That set stood for a number of seasons... I knew how important it was in terms of being able to maintain my position there.
DEBORAH RILEY
Each season, aware of the anticipation of diehard fans, Riley’s team pushed the envelope, building bigger and better sets.
By season eight, she was building the city of King’s Landing, which was destroyed by Targaryen’s dragons in a fiery storm.  
The production crew worked backwards, building the destroyed city first, then cladding it to look pristine. It took a serious amount of heavy machinery.
“”
To build a city and then destroy it, it was kind of fabulous. We had amazing dragon fire sequences and we would all run outside to watch the monitors.
DEBORAH RILEY
Her work on leading the 100-strong art department earned her a swag of awards including several Emmys and a BAFTA. 
Riley, who came home when the pandemic hit, has been working on Making It Australia until she jets off to her next big project.
“”
The thing I’ve been good at, if anything, is being enthusiastic about whatever came my way, just saying ‘yes’ and giving whatever I thought I could bring.
DEBORAH RILEY
In partnership with

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