Game Of Thrones‘ Lena Headey poured coffee for those waiting in line at the opening of the Choose Love Pop up shop in London.
The actress, 46, smiled and chatted to the shoppers queuing outside the Covent Garden Help Refugees shop, before telling Sky News the Pop up’s concept is ‘wonderful’ and ‘warm’.
She wore a Choose Love hoodie over a t-shirt and cosy winter undergarment, pulling on the sleeves so they covered her hands as she handed out hot drinks on Friday.
Doing good: Game Of Thrones’ Lena Headey, 46, smiled and chatted to the people queuing outside the Covent Garden Help Refugees shop
Lena held a large cafetiere and handed out disposable coffee cups emblazoned with the Choose Love logo.
The shop’s customers are able to buy blankets, shoes or tents for refugees who have just arrived in new countries, or food and education for those who have asylum.
Lena, who played Cersei Lannister in Game Of Thrones, said the shop was ‘gorgeous’ when she spoke to Sky News.
Of the store which will be open until Christmas Eve, she said: ‘It’s a beautiful concept. You come in to Choose Love store which is gorgeous.
‘You can get a hot cup of coffee and you can buy anything from blankets to warm winter shoes for kids for adults.
‘Gorgeous’: Lena, who played Cersei Lannister in Game Of Thrones, said the shop was ‘gorgeous’ when she spoke to Sky News
Warm: She wore a Choose Love hoodie over a t-shirt and cosy winter undergarment, pulling on the sleeves so they covered her hands as she handed out hot drinks on Friday
‘You can buy an entire tent set up because people right now need to sleep on something other than the cold wet ground.
‘You leave with nothing apart from knowing that you have done something wonderful for someone who really needed it.
‘You can choose between things that help people on arrival which is really difficult obviously.
‘You can choose to help people settle when they have found asylum. You can help educate children. You keep people warm, fed and give them choices.’
Choose Love: Lena held a large cafetiere and handed out disposable coffee cups emblazoned with the Choose Love logo
Friendly: The shop’s customers are able to buy blankets, shoes or tents for refugees who have just arrived in new countries, or food and education for those who have asylum
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, 49, actress Carey Mulligan, 34, and comedian Aisling Bea, 35, also helped out to support the world’s only store that sells products and services for refugees across the world.
Carey and Aisling manned the tills while Sadiq declared the shop open by cutting the ribbon with Josie Naughton, the founder of Help Refugees.
Lena has worked closely with the International Rescue Committee in the past, travelling to Greece to speak to refugees in 2016 and again in May.
‘Buy shoes’: Lena said: ‘You can get a hot cup of coffee and you can buy anything from blankets to warm winter shoes for kids for adults’
On the Choose Love website, founder Josie penned: ‘It’s easy to forget how lucky we are to have a bed, a blanket and a roof over our heads.
‘For thousands of refugees this winter, these basic human needs are completely out of reach. This shop is all about one simple idea: that we should all Choose Love and help those in need.’
The store is open from 10am until 7pm most days, staying open an extra hour on Thursdays and opening 11am until 6pm on Sundays. It will be in Covent Garden until Christmas Eve.
A sea rescue can be bought for £40, emergency blankets are just £3 each and a child’s coat is £10.
Official opening: London Mayor Sadiq Khan declared the shop open by cutting the ribbon with Josie Naughton (centre right), the founder of Help Refugees
Famous faces: Actress Carey Mulligan (left), 34, and comedian Aisling Bea (centre), 35, manned the tills at the world’s only store that sells products and services for refugees
‘You can help educate’: Lena said: ‘You can choose to help people settle when they have found asylum. You can help educate children. You keep people warm, fed and give them choices’
Earlier this year Lena visited the ‘hellish’ Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.
Lena’s close friend, Larissa Murray, who went with her to the camp, told Sun Online there was one shower for every 78 migrants.
She said: ‘It was just awful, it was like a prison.
‘People had to line up for their food three times a day. There are no cooking facilities so people can’t cook for themselves, even if they want to.
Queues: Crowds who were gathered outside the Covent Garden store were handed cups of coffee to thank them for the generosity
Excitement: Lena has worked closely with the International Rescue Committee in the past, travelling to Greece to speak to refugees in 2016 and again in May
Celebration: Carey handed out high-fives as she served customers in the Choose Love store on Friday
‘There’s no hot water and a lack of electricity. It’s hellish.’
Some 5,000 migrants were living at the camp and makeshift settlements popped up in the surrounding countryside.
But by November 12,000 people were living at the camp – which was built for 3,000 – when a mother and child were killed by a fire started by rioting migrants.
All-smiles: Sadiq and Aisling shared a laugh as they awaited customers inside the shop, with Sadiq causally leaning on the counter during the informal outing
Choose Love: Saddiq posed with those who helped out for the store’s official opening. The store will be open from 10am until 7pm most days
