Game Of Thrones fans love to gawk at how different the HBO show’s actors look on-screen as opposed to in their real lives. For example, Natalie Dormer looks a little different from her on-screen persona. “I love going out of my comfort zone–I live to go out of my comfort zone,” she told GQ magazine of her edgy role.
Jon Snow
Is Jon Snow the next Ruler of The Realms? Rejected by his father, Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, he is accepted among his peers, while still dodging enemies.
Kit Harrington
Harington’s only roles before Game of Thrones were to voice Eret in How to Train Your Dragon, and as Milo in Pompeii. When he first appeared on screen as Jon Snow, he had to wear a wig. Now that he’s had the role for a while, his hair has grown out and he’s graduated from the wig.
Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys, or “Mother of Dragons,” can be found on the back of her sidekick, dragon Drogon. She is left in a perilous situation with Dothraki Bloodriders and a khalasar.
Emilia Clarke
The second Game of Thrones cast member to portray Sarah Connor, Emilia is from England. She can thank her long, blonde wig for keeping her unrecognizable in public. In real life, she looks almost nothing like her character.
Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion Lannister is the dwarf and part of the controversial Lannister family. Due to his size and family issues, he has many troubles and obstacles to overcome. Lannister’s quick witted personality and intellect help him surpass his outer limitations and prejudices.
Peter Dinklage
Dinklage is married to director, Erica Schmidt. He’s been acting for over 20 years, with a long list of film and television credits. Some more famous film appearances have been in Elf, X-men, and Pixels. His Game of Thrones role has scored him 2 Emmys.
Arya Stark
Arya, daughter to Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, was forced to flee King’s Landing and live as a boy, hiding her true royal identity. Arya ends up at the House of Black and White after figuring out how to survive on her own – only to be struck blind at the end of season 5. Thems the breaks…
Maisie Williams
This is the first role for English-born Williams. She was only 12 when she was cast as Arya.
Jaime Lannister
Makes babies with his sister (secretly). This “Kingslayer” is Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. This poor guy, once he finally gets a moment with his secret daughter, she dies in his arms. The ups and downs of royal life, we guess.
Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau
In real life, Nikolaj got his big break in Denmark as Martin in “Nightwatch” in 1994. His first American gig was in Black Hawk Down in 2001. What does he share with his Lannister character? The awkward and difficult task of learning to complete tasks with his non-dominant hand.
Brienne of Tarth
This tough female character is a skilled fighter and yearns to become a knight. Her biggest job is protecting the daughters of Lady Catelyn Stark. It seems they may be in good hands.
Gwendoline Christie
Being 6’3” is a good qualification for the role of Brienne of Tarth. A spine injury kept Christie out of her first love – gymnastics. You may remember her in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the final Hunger Games.
Eddard Stark
Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. The childhood friend of Robert Baratheon, Eddard (“Ned”) was a key player in Robert’s rebellion, helping to win the throne from the Targaryens. He is married to Catelyn (Tully) Stark.
Sean Bean
Shaun Mark Bean (born 17 April 1959), known professionally as Sean Bean, is an English actor. His most prominent film role was Boromir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–03). Other roles include Alec Trevelyan in the James Bond film GoldenEye (1995) and Odysseus in Troy (2004).
Sandor Clegane (The Hound)
Sandor Clegane carries the nickname “The Hound” for his obedience and savagery. He is bodyguard to the late King Joffery.
Rory McCann
Before this gig, McCann was a jack-of-all-trades, having tried his hand at pub bouncing, singing, painting bridges, and as a lumberjack. This Scottish actor, though now famous, prefers being off on his own, living a solitary, minimalistic life.
White Walker
It is believed that the White Walkers are merely creatures of legend. The story goes that during “The Long Night” the White Walkers came to Westeros and murdered everyone they encountered, then reanimated the dead to join them. Oddly, the men of the Night’s Watch that protect the town are starting to hear grumblings that the White Walkers are returning.
Ross Mullan
Canadian Ross Mullan is not only an actor, but also a puppeteer. He appears as all of the White Walkers. Mullan also plays mythical, odd creatures in several other productions. You would be surprised to know he was a blind witch in Clash of the Titans and also plays Silent in the BBC’s Doctor Who.
Joffrey Baratheon
Another secret love child of Queen Cersei Lannister and (her brother!) Sir Jaime Lannister. He’s another child that is assumed is fathered by King Robert Baratheon. He’s been referred to as an idiot, so it was no surprise to anyone when he was murdered.
Jack Gleeson
Another Irish actor, Jack began acting at the age of 7. Once he was murdered off of Game of Thrones, he decided to retire from acting. He just decided it wasn’t something that he wanted to continue doing.
Theon Greyjoy
Theon, friend to the Starks of Winterfell, is kidnapped and tortured by Ramsey and answers to the name Reek. Eventually, he again believes in his true identity and helps Sansa escape Winterfell.
Alfie Allen
Alfie is the younger brother of British Singer Lily Allen. Before Game of Thrones, you may have seen him in You Are Here, Atonement, and John Wick.
Khal Drogo
Khal Drogo is the khal (chief) of the Dothraki people, who are vicious warriors. Among them, Drogo is the most legendary. With such high regard and power, he will only take the most beautiful wife, which turns out to be Daenerys.
Jason Momoa
Momoa was raised with his mother in Iowa, but is Hawaiian. His first role was Baywatch Hawaii. Similar to his Game of Thrones role, he was also cast in a remake of Conan the Barbarian. Soon, you’ll also see him as Aquaman on the big screen. He has two children with actress Lisa Bonet.
Varys
Born a slave, Varys was sold by his master and made into a Eunuch. Eunuchs are men who have had their genitals removed so as not to be distracted by sexual matters. Varys later finds that he can sell information to live and creates a large spy network.
Conleth Hill
Conleth Hill’s claim to fame, before Game of Thrones, is his long list of stage credits. He has even been nominated for two Tony Awards. He is from Northern Ireland.
Cersei Lannister
You’ve already been introduced to Queen Cersei Lannister, who has been having children with her brother Jamie – unbeknownst to her husband, the late King Robert Baratheon. She loves power and will do whatever she needs to keep it.
Lena Headey
Friend and co-star, Peter Dinklage gets credit for Headey’s appearance on Game of Thrones. He was the one who suggested the audition to her. You may remember seeing her in The Brothers Grimm, 300, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Since getting the role of Cersei on Game of Thrones, Headey has been nominated for two Emmy Awards.
Sansa Stark
True love sure is confusing. Especially for Sansa Stark, whose fiancé has her father executed in front of her.
Sophie Turner
Turner is a blonde model from England. She dyed her hair red for this role, and has kept it ever since. This year, she’s also portraying a young Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse and Mary Shelley in Mary Shelley’s Monster.
Ramsay Bolton
Known as the most ruthless and meanest characters, Ramsay Bolton is hated with a passion. He is the newest heir to Winterfell – so fans should beware!
Iwan Rheon
This Welsh actor and musician has had many creative roles before Game of Thrones. Though he left his band The Convictions, he is slated to record several solo projects in London soon.
Hodor
Hodor! Hodor! A simple servant that tries to escape Winterfell with a few other guys, he ends up following a raven.
Kristian Nairn
Kristian is a world renowned DJ; however, this is his first acting gig.
Osha
Osha, a Wildling from north of the wall, escapes the White Walkers by heading south. This escape is halted when she is taken prisoner by Robb Stark. Eventually she is able to escape again, this time with company.
Natalia Tena
Natalia Tena is best known by fans as Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter series of movies. She is also the lead singer and accordion player for “Molotov Jukebox.”
Melisandre
“The Red Woman” is priestess to the Lord of Light. At this time, she is hiding out at Castle Black.
Carice van Houten
Carice Van Houten is popular in the Netherlands for singing with the band Kane. Van Houten is expecting her first child with boyfriend, actor Guy Pearce.
Margaery Tyrell
Margaery has a lust for power, which has driven her to pursue and marry several men, including King Joffrey, King Renly Baratheon, and King Tommen.
Natalie Dormer
Most recently, besides Game of Thrones, Dormer has appeared in The Hunger Games as Cressida. She was also cast as Anne Boleyn in The Tudors.
Petyr Baelish
Brothel owner Petyr Baelish (or Littlefinger) is house Baelish’s last living member. Without him, Sansa Stark would still be in King’s Landing and arranging her marriage to Ramsay Bolton.
Aiden Gillen
Irish born as Aidan Murphy, Aidan Gillen got his big break playing Stuart Jones in “Queer as Folk”. You might remember him from “The Wire” and “The Dark Knight Rises” as well.
Stannis Baratheon
Stannis Baratheon vigorously sought the throne after his brother, King Baratheon is killed in a hunting accident. Though aided by a priestess and sacrificed his daughter, he was still being defeated by the Boltons.
Stephen Dillane
Stephen Dillane can be seen in the Oscar nominated The Hours and as Thomas Jefferson John Adams.
Bronn
Bronn is a sword-for-hire, bodyguard type. At one point, he seems to give it all up for marriage, but ends up breaking the engagement to rescue Myrcella Baratheon.
Jerome Flynn
Jerome Flynn is a British actor from a long line of family entertainers. He’s been an actor since the 80’s, but had a long hiatus before scoring this Game of Thrones role.
White Walker
A super short lived character, this particular White Walker was killed by Jon Snow in an attack on Harthome.
Tim Loane
Tim Loane is not only a British actor, but also a writer. His writing credits earned him fame for his work on the British TV series Teachers.
Brandon Stark
This son of Lord Stark loves to climb walls until an unfortunate “accident” left him paralyzed. The up side: he can control the minds of animals.
Isaac Hempstead-Wright
Another child actor, he got his start at age 11 in England. Can you believe he used acting to avoid football?
Dongo
Dongo is a giant. He aids King Mance Rayder’s army in the Battle of Castle Black.
Ian Whyte
Ian Whyte is quite athletic, adding stuntman and professional basketball player to his list of talents. Besides his most recent role as Dongo, he scored two other earlier Game of Thrones roles: A White Walker and The Mountain from Conan Stevens.
Styr
One more character that is no more, after being killed off by Jon Snow with a hammer to the head during the siege of Castle Black. Styr was a Wildling with a fierce tribe called Free Folk. What’s creepy about this tribe? Free Folk feast on their victims from battle, and also participate in self-scarification.
Yuri Kolokolnikov
Yuri is from Russian. Though an actor and producer from Moscow, this is his first American role. He has since been cast in other U.S. productions.
Pyat Pree
Pyat Pree, warlock of Qarth, meets Daenery there. He then wants to keep her and her dragons in Qarth forever, but the dragons kill him.
Ian Hanmore
Hanmore is from Scotland, and has had many TV and movie roles. His most well-known role in which you would remember him, is as Albert Flood in The Awakening.
Gregor Clegane
Remember The Hound? Meet The Hound’s older brother, Gregor Clegane. You can call him The Mountain. You can only get a name like that for being a large and fierce warrior.
HAFÞÓR JÚLÍUS BJÖRNSSON
Bjornsson was Iceland’s Strongest Man 5 times. Though a talented actor, he’s also an athlete. Before his strongman status, he played basketball.
Shireen Baratheon
Being the only child of Stannis Baratheon still alive, of course he would do anything to save her. The scar on her face is what is left after all the healers in the land attempted to save her life.
Kerry Ingram
Ingram has been in acting since she was 10. Suffering from a rare brittle bone disease, she has had many broken bones and has stunted growth. She feels very close to her character in that they share medical maladies.
Samwell Tarly
Though not the best of the Night’s Watch physically, Samwell Tarly, is insightful and knows the Knight’s watch well. He’s also one of Jon Snow’s closest friends.
John Bradley-West
John Bradley-West ended up on the Game of Thrones through his school’s website – Manchester Metropolitan University – where he did graduate with honors. Interestingly, he’s also a killer drummer and funny stand-up comedian.
Euron Greyjoy
Not much is known about the mysterious uncle of Theon, Euron Greyjoy. Tyrion Lannister tattles to Theon that all his uncles were behind the raid on Lannisport.
Pilou Asbaek
Pilou is relatively unknown in the U.S., but got his start on Danish TV.
Night’s King
