Game of Thrones star reveals sweet Hungary link: Melisandre gave her son a Hungarian name! Here’s why

Hollywood stars often leave with fond memories after filming in Hungary, but for Dutch actress Carice van Houten, the country became part of her family story in a much more personal way.

The actress, best known worldwide for playing Melisandre in Game of Thrones, has revealed that her son’s third name is Béla: a distinctly Hungarian choice inspired by where he was conceived.

A surprising Hungarian middle name

Speaking to a Hungarian journalist at the Berlin premiere of her new film, van Houten shared an unexpected detail about her child.

“I don’t know if I pronounce it correctly, but his name is Béla,” she said with a smile.

While many might assume the name references legendary Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr, the actress clarified that this was not the case. Instead, the reason is far simpler and more personal.

Her son was conceived in Hungary in 2016 while she was filming a western alongside her partner and the child’s father, Australian actor Guy Pearce. The production spent time shooting in the country, and the experience clearly left a lasting mark.

“That’s why we chose a Hungarian name,” she explained.

How motherhood changed her

Van Houten also opened up about how becoming a mother has influenced both her life and her work.

She said she would not necessarily call herself a different actress now, but motherhood has changed the way she reads scripts and connects with stories.

“As a mother, it feels like my heart is beating outside my body,” she said. “I’ve become more sensitive. Things affect me much more deeply than before.”

According to the actress, age may also play a role, as she feels she is entering a new stage of life emotionally and physically.

A new film about family and divorce

Her latest project, which premiered in Berlin, focuses on the painful dynamics of divorce from a child’s perspective. The story examines how parents, while hurting each other, often end up hurting their children most.

Van Houten plays a mother trying to protect her children while also struggling with her own emotional wounds.

She stressed that when adults act out of pain, they often react from their “inner child”, which can lead to poor decisions. One of the most damaging mistakes, she noted, is when one parent speaks badly about the other in front of their children.

“If you criticise the other parent, you’re also attacking part of the child,” she said, adding that the loyalty conflict this creates can be almost unbearable.

A lasting bond with Hungary

Hungary has long been a popular filming location for international productions, but van Houten’s story stands out for its intimacy. For van Houten, the country isn’t just a backdrop: it’s now written into her family history, quite literally, in the name Béla.