Ellaria Sand is the paramour of Oberyn Martell (known as “the Red Viper”), one of the princes of the kingdom of Dorne in George R.R. Martin’s high fantasy saga books, A Song Of Ice And Fire — commonly referred to by the first book’s name in the series, Game of Thrones. The books were adapted into a prestige television series by HBO. Ellaria is portrayed by Indira Varma in the show.
Ellaria is a clever courtier and a doting mother, but also a deadly woman. When Oberyn (played by Pedro Pascal) is brutally killed in a trial by combat, Ellaria seeks revenge on the members of the Lannister family that killed her lover. She is shown to have bi orgies while in King’s Landing with her husband, and has a brief tryst with the warrioress Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan).
Ellaria’s story is one of passion, vengeance, and tragic consequence. Although she’s driven to orchestrate retaliation against the Lannisters by attempting to convince Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, to avenge his brother’s death, the ruler of Dorn refuses to help her. Desperate for action, she poisons Myrcella Baratheon, who dies on her way to King’s Landing. When Doran learns of this, Ellaria stabs him, effectively becoming the ruler queen of Dorne once she has Trystane (Doran’s son) also killed.
Her quest for revenge ultimately leads to her downfall when she is betrayed and captured by Euron Greyjoy, who delivers her to Queen Cersei. Brought to King’s Landing, Cersei gives her the most painful death she can think of by poisoning her daughter Tyene and and abandoning them to die helplessly in an isolated cell.
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