Game of Thrones Cast Then and Now: A House of Stars

Reflecting upon the fascinating lives of these talented individuals, I am truly captivated by their unique journeys. Alfie Allen, known for his gripping portrayal of Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, hails from a family of renowned artists, including his sister Lily Allen and father Keith Allen. It’s intriguing to note that he had to impose a secret code about the show on his sister due to its immense popularity!

As a devoted fan, I must admit that, just like the House of Stark who’s always prepared for winter, George R.R. Martin probably had no inkling of the storm he was about to unleash when he embarked on the journey to pen A Game of Thrones.

To begin with, the idea for the initial chapter unexpectedly came to him from nowhere as far back as 1991, as he shared with The Guardian.

Initially, the author, now 76 (born on Sept. 20), confessed to the outlet in 2018 that he hadn’t anticipated what he was embarking upon. He believed it could be a brief tale; just a single chapter involving the discovery of direwolf pups. However, as he delved deeper into these families, the world began to take shape and come alive around him. It was all waiting in his mind, begging to be written. So, in a sense, it wasn’t a logical choice, but writers often aren’t entirely logical beings.

Jumping ahead through numerous pages and an entire book series, fans found themselves bowing down in admiration for Martin’s creation. This adoration was so strong that in 2011, HBO introduced a television series based on the novels titled “Game of Thrones“. However, even Martin pondered whether the stories of the Westeros people would resonate with a wider audience.

He told The New York Times before the premiere that if you place a crab into boiling water, it will quickly escape. However, if you place it in cold water and slowly increase the temperature, the boiling water becomes a metaphor for fantasy or magic, while the crab represents the audience.

To put it simply, the interest in the series was burning fiercely, much like dragon fire. Throughout its eight-season run, the show known as Game of Thrones, featuring stars such as Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Lena Headey, and many others, collected close to 60 Emmys – a record for any drama series.

Martin was taken aback, for he had always believed that the book series wouldn’t be adapted into a film due to Hollywood executives consistently dismissing his scripts as expensive to produce and overly complex in character count.

In a moment of exhaustion from the constraints of my previous work, I found solace in literature once more and embarked on an incredible journey. I proclaimed to myself, ‘This is not just a novel, but a series! The budget doesn’t matter here, neither does the question of what can be produced. I am unleashing a world as vast as my imagination.’

Interestingly enough, it turned out that the exact opposite of what he intended became his most recognized work. Instead of the TV shows and movies he penned intentionally in the early ’90s, it was this one that would forever link his name.

He shared during a 2019 episode of the “Maltin on Movies” podcast that he felt overwhelmed by something at one point, and when he returned to books, he decided to embark on a novel series. He declared, ‘I’m creating a sequence of novels here. I don’t need to fret about the budget or what can be produced. I’m going to write something as vast as my imagination.’

Interestingly enough, “coincidentally,” the author went on, “it was precisely this project that turned out to be the most popular TV show, and what I’ll forever be remembered for, rather than all the series and films I wrote in the early 90s, which were specifically created with television production in mind.

Though, fans had some feelings about the way the series ended in 2019.

In an interview with The New York Times in 2022, George R.R. Martin stated that by Seasons 5, 6, and definitely 7 and 8, he felt like he was no longer part of the decision-making process. (At that time, creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff did not respond to The New York Times’ request for comment.)

Still, he seemed surprised by viewers’ stark reaction.

In an interview with The Independent in 2022, Martin expressed his bewilderment: “I just can’t fathom how someone could develop such intense dislike for something they once cherished.” He continued, “If a show doesn’t appeal to you, simply stop watching. I find myself questioning the shift towards such negativity.

It’s evident that audiences are still interested in content set within his universes, as evidenced by the upcoming premiere of the “Game of Thrones” prequel, “House of the Dragon,” scheduled for 2022. However, George R.R. Martin has recently shared some thoughts about season two that differ from his original vision, based on changes made in the adaptation of his book “Fire & Blood.

To celebrate Martin’s birthday, why not settle down – whether on a throne or not – and enjoy a comparison between the Game of Thrones cast members from their early days and now.

Before taking the role of Jon Snow, famously known as ‘know-nothing’, on screen, Kit Harington had previously performed in the National Theatre’s production of “War Horse” on stage.

During his audition for the part of their honorary brother among the Stark siblings, Harington confided to W Magazine, “I was sporting a shiner. It turns out I had a brawl the previous night…at McDonald’s with this fellow. The man who punched me might have inadvertently aided me in securing the role!

Although Jon was crucial to the series, his stunning (albeit short-lived) demise in season five had a profound impact on the actor, causing him to express that he struggled emotionally afterwards.

At that point, I initiated therapy and began opening up to others. I was experiencing a high level of vulnerability and hadn’t been communicating with anyone.

Over time, Harington recognized and valued both his own character and Jon’s significance within the series. He admitted, “It took me quite a while to stop feeling, ‘I’m the worst part of this.’

Apart from reappearing on stage in plays like True West, Henry V, and Slave Play, appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for The Eternals and making an appearance on HBO’s Industry, the London-born actor tied the knot with Game of Thrones co-star Rose Leslie back in 2018.

Harington shared with GQ that he’s grateful to the show for many reasons. However, what stands out most is that it brought her into his life.

The private pair share two children, a son born in 2021 and a daughter who arrived in 2023.

During her audition for the role of Jon’s Wildling lover Ygritte, the actress from Downton Abbey admitted she was largely unaware of the scale of the production, as she hadn’t fully grasped its magnitude.

During an interview, she confessed that she walked into the audition without proper preparation. She hadn’t familiarized herself with the show, as she hadn’t watched the initial season. It was only later that she understood the intensity of the competition. If she had known about the pressure ahead, she believes she might not have secured the job in the beginning. However, she was glad to be unaware for the first round.

Although Ygritte appeared for just two seasons in the series, her influence on both Jon’s character and Kit Harington remains profound.

Harington commented that there was a strong connection between us, and he particularly cherished the first day we filmed together as his most memorable moment on set.

Following her departure from Game of Thrones, Leslie shifted to the cast of The Good Wife‘s spin-off, The Good Fight. She also made a shock appearance during Kit Harington’s first stint as host on Saturday Night Live, mocking him from the audience. Additionally, she played significant roles in the movies The Time Traveler’s Wife and Death on the Nile.

And, see above, she shares two children with her husband.

Just like Daenerys Targaryen, portrayed by the talented Emilia Clarke, found herself growing into her powerful role as the series progressed and earned four Emmy nominations along the way, demonstrating her ability to adapt on the fly.

Daenerys Targaryen, the Lady of Dragons, gained such immense popularity that one day, Beyoncé, mother of Blue Ivy, approached her and exclaimed, “Wow, what a pleasure to make your acquaintance! I truly believe you are extraordinary.

Before the debut of Game of Thrones‘ last season in 2019, Clarke disclosed in a piece for The New Yorker that she had experienced two aneurysms following the first season’s filming and underwent brain surgery at the age of 24.

She expressed that the transformative TV series had a profound impact on her, stating it quite literally saved her life. The entire cast within the show, along with the production itself, played a significant role in her salvation. And as for Daenerys Targaryen, also known as Khaleesi, Mother of Dragons, she is certain that she too was saved by this character.

Following Jon Snow’s actions that curtailed Daenerys’ aggressive reign in the series finale, Clarke has since featured in the emotionally gripping film “Last Christmas” and portrayed Nina in a stage adaptation of Chekhov’s play, “The Seagull,” on the West End.

At only fourteen years old, Sophie Turner secured her very first on-screen role by auditioning for the part of Sansa Stark during a lunch break at her own high school.

Over the course of playing the increasingly tortured (but ultimately triumphant) Sansa, Turner convinced her parents to adopt Zunni, the dog that portrayed her character’s dire wolf Lady.

In real life, she had a crush on Justin Bieber which influenced her portrayal of Sansa’s feelings for the detestable Joffrey Baratheon. However, in 2019, she tied the knot with Joe Jonas. Interestingly, her Stark family counterpart, Maisie Williams, served as one of her bridesmaids.

In September 2023, Turner and Jonas went their separate ways, however, they share two daughters named Willa and Delphine. Currently, the actress is in a relationship with another British individual, Peregrine Pearson.

After her long rule on “Game of Thrones” ended, Turner primarily concentrated on family matters. However, she re-entered television in the 2022 true crime drama “The Staircase” and played a leading role in the 2024 ITV series titled “Joan,” which was also her return to TV.

Regarding Joffrey, that notorious character from Game of Thrones, the talented Irish actor Jack Gleeson portrayed him exceptionally well. He brought to life the unsettling, arrogant prince (and future king who sought a bride, followed by another).

Following the 2014 poisoning of Joffrey, Gleeson temporarily halted his acting career to complete his education at Trinity College Dublin. During this time, he also established the Collapsing Horse Theatre Company along with a few of his classmates.

After his departure, he’s made a comeback on the small screen, appearing in shows like “Sex Education” and “The Famous Five”. Furthermore, there are several upcoming projects lined up for him, such as “Safe Harbor”, which stars “Game of Thrones” actor Alfie Allen.

On the personal front, Gleeson married actress Róisín O’Mahony in 2022.

As a young dancer eagerly pursuing my dreams at the age of 12, my second audition happened to be for “Game of Thrones.” At that time, I had no prior experience with this captivating series.

She explained in an HBO interview that the show has been instrumental in molding her personally, saying, “It feels like school to me. The experience has given me a great deal of self-assurance, which I’ve gained both from being on the show and portraying Arya.

However, living under public scrutiny wasn’t straightforward for Williams. In an interview on the Happy Place podcast with Fearne Cotton, she admitted, “I experienced quite a few profound realizations where I acknowledged that I wasn’t truly content and hiding my struggles behind a facade of everything being alright.

Following her work on GOT, Williams expressed a desire to pursue endeavors she is enthusiastic about, rather than fulfilling others’ expectations.

She has appeared in the spin-off of X-Men titled The New Mutants, the U.K. series Two Weeks to Live and Pistol, and portrayed the spirited sibling of Christian Dior in the WWII-era Apple TV+ show called The New Look.

In terms of her personal life, Williams had been in a relationship with race car driver Ollie Jackson for several years. Later, from around then up until 2023, she was with Reuben Selby. Their separation in 2023 marked the end of a significant chapter in her life, as she referred to it on Instagram as the “end of an era.

At the age of 10, Wright was chosen to portray Bran Stark (also known as the Three-Eyed Raven and Bran the Broken, King of Westeros). Growing up in the English countryside, he felt the soccer club was too chilly. In his own words during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, he decided to explore other options and joined the drama club instead.

Apart from enduring the cold, he found it challenging to enroll at university in 2017, all while striving for greatness on the most prominent stage globally.

Apart from not being able to enjoy a typical experience due to constant attention, he shared with Esquire U.K., “I couldn’t unwind and go out for a drink or get tipsy, as people might say, ‘I spotted Bran and he seemed inebriated.’

He dropped out early, not least due to his intense shooting schedule, but returned to college in 2019 to study neuroscience.

Even though he’s invested half his lifetime into it, he penned in a 2019 article for The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s truly remarkable how much people cherish the project I’ve only played a minor role in, and that’s truly something extraordinary.

He has since appeared in the 2021 sci-fi thriller Voyagers.

Apart from Sean Bean, who appeared as noble Ned Stark for a single season, Peter Dinklage stands out as the sole original cast member who was not required to audition. Instead, he was directly chosen to portray Tyrion Lannister.

In an HBO interview, the star of Station Agent expressed his initial reluctance when he learned they wanted him for a fantasy show, exclaiming, ‘Oh, no!’ The reason being, as a larger individual, he doesn’t typically fancy taking on a role that involves fantastical elements. Instead, he prefers to play authentic characters, and in the realm of fantasy, this authenticity can sometimes be overlooked. This opportunity represented something entirely different for him.

He ultimately won a record four Emmys for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Following the conclusion of Game of Thrones, Peter Dinklage has predominantly been seen in films such as Cyrano, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Unfrosted, and has also provided voiceovers for Rick and Morty and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Outside the spotlight, he is a father to a daughter born in 2011 and a son born in 2017, with his theater director wife Erica Schmidt. Notably, she penned the stage musical adaptation of Cyrano, which later became the movie he directed in 2021.

Lena Headey’s close friend, Dinklage, suggested the actress from 300 for playing the ruthless sister of Tyrion, which is Cersei Lannister.

In the course of her reign as a scheming queen regent, Lena Headey experienced a divorce and custody dispute with musician Peter Loughran in 2012. During this process, her former partner disclosed her reported $1 million per episode salary from Game of Thrones when requesting spousal support. The ex-couple has a son named Wylie, who was born in March 2010.

2015 saw the birth of Teddy with director and longtime friend Dan Cadan, who she later married in 2018.

In 2019, the five-time Emmy nominee expressed to The Daily Beast that her time on “Game of Thrones” was transformative, stating, “For eight years, Cersei has been a significant character in many people’s minds, and now it’s concluded. That small television series…I value the success it brought, and if it means people think ‘that’s all she can do,’ I’m content to prove them wrong.

In the same year, she made her appearance in the true-story-based wrestling comedy-drama “Fighting With My Family” and has since been involved in various voice acting projects as well as featuring in shows like “White House Plumbers” and “Beacon 23”.

Prior to portraying the captivating character Jaime Lannister on HBO’s Game of Thrones, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau had previously starred as the lead in the brief television series New Amsterdam on NBC.

In an interview, Waldau shared that joining the series made him feel much like a playful puppy. However, during his time in Belfast, he learned how to carry himself with dignity and happiness. Now, he feels he has grown as an individual as a result of this experience.

As the moment arrived for the Danish actor to bid farewell to the show, he confessed that he was taken aback by his own emotional response. “I tried to remind myself, it’s just a job, it’s just a job, let’s move on. But when they began speaking, I can’t explain,” he said to Esquire Singapore. “It seems like…a tiny bit of dust got into my eye.

After his role in “GOT”, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has been featured in films such as “The Silencing”, “Against the Ice”, and “The Flash”. He also acted alongside Jennifer Garner in the 2023 Apple TV+ thriller, “The Last Thing He Told Me”. In March 2024, this series was renewed for a second season.

Since 1998, Sascha Nukâka Motzfeldt, along with his wife, their two daughters, and the family pets, have primarily lived north of Copenhagen.

Following her debut on “Game of Thrones” as Brienne of Tarth in season two, Gwendoline Christie was taken aback by the online community that criticized her appearance, stating she was too attractive for the role as it was described in George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series.

In 2019, she shared with Variety that Brienne made her look at aspects of herself that I had hidden, believing they were unacceptable by society’s standards. These included my androgyny, strength, masculinity, feelings about female empowerment, gender politics, and the incongruities in my physique and appearance. Faced with the challenge of embodying Brienne, I was compelled to confront these issues, and this struggle has proven to be a valuable experience for me.

Christie is consistently performing on both stage (as part of a National Theatre Production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream) and screen (playing principal Larissa Weems in Tim Burton’s Wednesday), yet she has also established herself as an engaging and thrilling figure at red carpet events and during the fashion weeks held in various cities.

Ever since 2013, I, a die-hard fan, have been captivated by the enchanting bond between me and my idol, the illustrious British fashion designer, Giles Deacon. Over the years, he’s been weaving his artistic magic into some of my most memorable red carpet moments, deeming me as his “fantastic muse.

Quiet individuals often turn out to be the most influential, as shown by the character Samwell Tarly from Game of Thrones, who is smart, loyal, and surprisingly courageous, shining brightly amidst the series’ complex narrative.

After the conclusion of the show, this classically-trained English actor has appeared on British series such as “Urban Myths” and Australian drama “North Shore”, in addition to Netflix’s “3 Body Problem,” which is the latest creation from “GOT” writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

Additionally, Bradley graced the screens in the 2022 sci-fi suspense film “Moonfall,” alongside Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez in their romantic comedy titled “Marry Me.

He shared with the Oxford paper Cherwell that his time on “Game of Thrones” was a testament to his acting skills in terms of his career. If those in charge of such a show trusted him with it, then he simply had to brush off any negativity – it was an overwhelming experience. Now, they aim to demonstrate their versatility by taking on new roles, but even if one only works on this show, it still means having a successful career.

However, with his extensive experience, he pointed out, “Fortunately, we didn’t encounter even one individual with a negative demeanor or harmful dynamic among our entire team. That’s quite unusual.

Nathalie Emmanuel found herself fitting well with cultural occurrences, making a name for herself by portraying Missandei, Daenerys’ trusted advisor, and later joining the Fast and Furious franchise, appearing in the last four movies as the character Ramsey, a hacktivist.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d be thrilled to share that I, too, have graced the screens in some fantastic projects. Most recently, you might have seen me in the 2019 limited series adaptation of “Four Weddings and a Funeral” on Amazon Prime Video. I also had the pleasure of working alongside comedy genius Kevin Hart in the hilarious production titled “Die Hart.

Emmanuel is a member of the cast for the upcoming Francis Ford Coppola movie “Megalopolis” and plays a leading role in John Woo’s action thriller “The Killer”, which is a remake of his 1989 Hong Kong original, currently available to stream on Peacock.

She has been dating British actor Alex Lanipekun since 2018.

On set, everyone affectionately referred to Richard Madden as “the charming Richard,” as reported by Turner. This is due to the fact that the talented Scottish actor simply exuded charm.

It transpired that he was financially struggling too, as he admitted to Jimmy Fallon that prior to getting the role of Robb Stark, the ill-fated King in the North, he lived on only $5 per day. In his own words, “I had two choices: I could either purchase a meal or a newspaper and a beer, but most often it was the latter.

In simpler terms, during the filming of the well-known 2013 “Red Wedding” episode where numerous characters met their end, including Robb’s, Madden confessed that it was a truly dreadful day on the set.

But, he went on to win a Golden Globe for his role in the hit Netflix series Bodyguard, and has appeared in major films, including the Elton John biopic Rocketman, the acclaimed World War I drama 1917 and the MCU ensemble flick The Eternals.

About matters outside of work, he simply prefers to maintain privacy in his personal life. This was conveyed to the New York Times back in 2019. He has never discussed his romantic relationships.

Alfie Allen’s family isn’t as intricate as Theon Greyjoy’s, but they are quite renowned: his mother is a producer, father is an actor, and his sister is Lily Allen. (This implies that his brother-in-law is David Harbour.)

However, following his major breakthrough in 2022, Allen found it necessary to prohibit his elder sibling from discussing “Game of Thrones” in public settings.

In a 2014 interview on Nova 969, Lily explained, “I’m forbidden to utter the initial letters of the title of the show.” Alfie had strictly instructed her so.

In various roles, including those in “Harlots,” “White House Farm,” and a Broadway production of “Hangmen,” Allen has demonstrated his versatility as an actor. He also delivered a chilling portrayal of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in the independent thriller “McVeigh,” which made its debut at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.

Allen welcomed a daughter with partner Allie Teilz in October.

Jason Momoa truly captivated audiences with his portrayal of the silent yet powerful Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, and he has kept a busy acting schedule since then, appearing in numerous projects after his single season on the series.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d share it like this: I made my debut in the DC Universe, donning the mantle of Aquaman. Over the years, I’ve graced the silver screen in various films, including my record-breaking 2018 solo outing that raked in over $1 billion globally, and its much-anticipated sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which had a brief delay due to the pandemic.

In 2017, actor Jason Momoa tied the knot with long-term partner Lisa Bonet. They are parents to a daughter Lola Iolani born in July 2007 and son Nakoa-Wolf born in December 2008. However, they announced their separation after 17 years together in 2022. Bonet filed for divorce in the year 2024.

Momoa confirmed in May 2024 via date night PDA that he’s been seeing Adria Arjona.

2024-09-20 19:25

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