A Rotorua Game of Thrones fan was lucky enough to meet the stars
In a trip fit for a queen, a lucky Game of Thrones fan was one of a few in the world to feast her eyes on the season premiere in New York City.
The final season of Game of Thrones is a fantasy/medieval drama television series based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling book series A Song of Ice and Fire.
Into its eighth season since 2011, the first episode of the final season will air on Monday, 20 months since the last episode.
Gayle Rattigan won ticket to premiere of final season of Game of Thrones. Photo / Stephen Parker
After entering an email competition she would have usually deleted, the Rotorua fan Gayle Rattigan was told she was the lucky winner, out of 13,387, of a trip for two to the premier last Wednesday .
She had been a fan it since the series first aired in 2011.
Her sister Amanda Pedersen was the obvious choice to join her and they refreshed their memories with season seven on the way over.
In true red carpet style, Rattigan and her sister were taken to the Radio City Music Hall by limo to the premiere that only about 6000 others were invited to.
Through sealed lips, she said fans would not be disappointed. Her only complaint - it was too short.
A prop of Jaime Lannister's golden hand. Photo / Supplied Hand
"Every episode always seems too short... you just want it to keep going."
But keeping the secret of the eagerly anticipated first episode had not been difficult.
Gayle Rattigan (right) and her sister Amanda Pedersen at the Game of Thrones premiere in New York. Photo / Supplied
"If you're a Game of Thrones fan, you don't want to know and if you're not you don't care."
But she did mention the style of filming was similar to last season, with some humour, gasp moments and the obvious - someone dies.
"It wouldn't be a Game of Thrones episode without someone dying."
But the night did not end there and the pair were one of 1000 people invited to the after party at Ziefeld Ballroom and their names "on the list".
Gayle Rattigan (middle) met actress Sophie Turner who played Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones and fiance Jo Jonas. Photo / Supplied
"I couldn't fault it. You know when you go to an event and have finger food that's not that nice and you don't know what to do with it? This wasn't that."
Slightly star struck, she said they gave the cast their space but she did manage to meet Sophie Turner and Jacob Anderson, known in the series as Sansa Stark and Grey Worm.
She said Turner gave her a big hug when she mentioned she was from New Zealand.
Gayle Rattigan meets Game of Thrones star Jacob Anderson, who plays Grey Worm. Photo / Supplied
The faraway lands came closer when she caught a glimpse of some of the original props, including Cersei Lannister's dress and her brother, Jaime's gold hand.
As for who she thought would end up on the Iron Throne, she had no idea.
But the season was already on series record, ready to re-watch on Monday.
