Women rule on Game of Thrones. Just like in George R.R. Martin's books, the HBO series features numerous strong women struggling to survive in the brutal world of Westeros. What other show has such a variety of powerful female characters? There's Arya Stark, an orphaned girl who becomes skilled with a sword, and her sister Sansa, who suffered the insufferable Joffrey Lannister like a champ. There's also Cersei the ice queen, Brienne the towering female knight, the noble Lady Catelyn Stark, the fearsome Melisandre, and, of course, Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons and powerful Khaleesi working her way to the Iron Throne.
You know them well on the show, but how well do you know the actresses who give your favorite Game of Thrones female characters their strength? Did you know Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke both played Sarah Connor in different projects? How about that there was another actress set to play Daenerys?
Read on to find out more fascinating facts about the women of Game of Thrones, including one actress who is also in a band, one who was born in a real castle, and yet another who was a Bond girl a long time ago in a galaxy not so far away.
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26 Things You Never Knew About the Women of Game of Thrones,
Sophie Turner's Family Adopted a Direwolf
On Game of Thrones, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) had a direwolf named Lady. Turner's family has since adopted Zunni, the Mahlek Northern Inuit dog that played her.
Want your own Lady? Check out all the Starks' direwolves at the HBO Store!
Oona Chaplin Is the Granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin
Oona Chaplin, who played Talisa Maegyr on Game of Thrones, is probably not a fan of weddings... especially red ones. But if you guessed that she is related to silent film legend Charlie Chaplin, you're right - she's his granddaughter.
Natalie Dormer Can Run Circles Around You
In 2014, Dormer ran the London Marathon on behalf of the children’s charity Barnardo’s. She finished in under four hours.
Natalie Dormer Is a Fetching Fencer
As Margaery Tyrell, Natalie Dormer is up to marry any available Lannister male to get near the Iron Throne. In real life, she enjoys fencing and is a member of the London Fencing Academy.
Maisie Williams Had Never Acted Before GoT
Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark, had never really acted before Game of Thrones. Arya was her first major role.
Looking for some sweet Stark gear? Visit the HBO Store for a 20% discount!
Emilia Clarke Is a Genuine Chanteuse
Daenerys makes a lot of royal proclamations on Game of Thrones, but in real life you're more likely to hear Emilia Clarke singing. Clarke is highly skilled at alto, ballads, blues, and both cabaret and jazz singing.
Both Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke Played Sarah Connor
In the first two Terminator movies, Linda Hamilton played kick-ass cinematic heroine Sarah Connor, the so-called "Mother of the Future." Lena Headey played the character for two seasons on TV's Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Her Game of Thrones costar Emilia Clarke played Sarah on the big screen in 2015's Terminator: Genisys.
Gwendoline Christie Intended to Become a Gymnast
Gwendoline Christie, who plays Brienne on Game of Thrones, had every intention of becoming a gymnast. She was semiprofessional as a child, but she sustained an injury that strained all the muscles along her spine and was told that she wouldn't be able to compete again at that level. Lucky for Brienne fans, she decided to become an actress.
Lena Headey Is Covered with Tattoos
Although they are obviously covered up on Game of Thrones, many beautiful tattoos adorn Lena Headey's body. She used to have the name "Jason" written in Thai on her right arm because she dated actor Jason Flemyng for nine years, but it has since been tattooed over.
Rose Leslie Was Born in a Real Castle
She might have played wildling Ygritte on Game of Thrones, but Rose Leslie was born in Lickleyhead Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. (She doesn't have much of a Scottish accent because she spent a lot of time in England.)