15 Years Later: Where the Stars of Game of Thrones Are Today

The hit HBO series Game of Thrones (2011-2019) featured a talented and highly-regarded cast. While many of the actors were not well-known at the start, the show’s popularity quickly launched their careers. They became famous faces, and several went on to star in other successful films and TV shows, solidifying their positions in the entertainment industry.

Even though Game of Thrones was a huge success, it was often just the first step for the actors involved. With the show nearing its 15th anniversary in 2026, many of the cast members have gone on to establish successful careers. While they’ll always be remembered for Thrones, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner, Kit Harington, and others are now appearing in a variety of different films and TV shows, showcasing their versatility and talent.

Kit Harington

Played Jon Snow Across Seasons 1–8

Kit Harington, famous for playing the heroic Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, has said he’s now looking for roles that aren’t traditionally heroic. He told Entertainment Weekly he’s not very interested in playing heroes unless they have significant flaws. Harington’s character, Jon Snow – initially known as the “bastard of Winterfell” – was eventually revealed to be the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Throughout the show, Jon Snow consistently acted as a hero, bravely saving people in various locations, including the Wall and Winterfell.

Kit Harington will be seen alongside his former Game of Thrones colleague, Sophie Turner, in the 2026 gothic horror film The Dreadful. He’s also currently starring in the HBO drama Industry, which follows the repercussions of the 2008 financial crisis and is concluding after a fifth season—casting for the final season is still being finalized. Additionally, he’s joined Lindsay Lohan and Shailene Woodley in Sophie Stava’s Count My Lies for Hulu, and will appear in the four-part miniseries A Tale of Two Cities, a co-production from MGM+ and the BBC.

Peter Dinklage

Portrayed Tyrion Lannister Across Seasons 1–8

Tyrion Lannister, a character in a series famous for unexpected deaths, consistently managed to survive. He faced numerous dangers, from defending King’s Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater and suffering injuries at the Battle on the Green Fork, to a dangerous sea voyage and the epic battles of Winterfell and King’s Landing. Despite being the often-disliked youngest son of Tywin Lannister, Tyrion remained loyal until circumstances forced his hand, ultimately killing his father. He then served Daenerys Targaryen and ended the series as a highly influential figure in Westeros, becoming Hand to King Bran.

Peter Dinklage will appear in the second season of Noah Hawley’s science fiction series, Alien: Earth. He recently starred with Marisa Tomei and Anne Hathaway in the 2023 romantic comedy-drama She Came to Me. Dinklage’s other notable roles include Eitri in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Bolivar Trask in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Casca Highbottom in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023), and Doctor Dillamond in the upcoming film Wicked (2024).

Sophie Turner

Portrayed Sansa Stark Across Seasons 1–8

Sansa Stark, played by Sophie Turner in Game of Thrones, experienced a remarkable transformation throughout the series. Starting as the naive eldest daughter of Ned Stark, she grew into a clever and strategic leader. She survived being held captive by both the Lannisters and the Boltons, eventually reclaiming Winterfell from the Boltons and establishing herself as Queen in the North after the Battle of King’s Landing.

Alicia Turner recently suffered a minor back injury while filming the new Tomb Raider movie, briefly pausing production. She’s starring as Lara Croft in the Amazon MGM Studios adaptation, directed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, known for Fleabag. Turner is also known for her roles as Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and Dark Phoenix (2019).

Charles Dance

Portrayed Tywin Lannister Across Seasons 1–4

Charles Dance, a celebrated English actor, is widely recognized for his compelling portrayal of Tywin Lannister in the first four seasons of Game of Thrones. As a ruthless and ambitious leader, Tywin ruled with strength and was arguably the most powerful figure in the Seven Kingdoms, despite growing financial problems for his family and increasing debts to the Iron Bank of Braavos. He was a remarkably clever and calculating character, successfully managing the Iron Bank’s demands. For a period, Tywin essentially controlled the Iron Throne by manipulating rulers like Joffrey and Tommen Baratheon. His intense dislike of his son Tyrion ultimately led to his death, leaving his family vulnerable to numerous enemies.

Matthew Goode has appeared in several popular projects, including the romantic drama Me Before You alongside Emilia Clarke, and as Lord Mountbatten in the Netflix series The Crown. He recently starred as Baron Leopold in Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Frankenstein. According to Mirror, he is currently filming the second season of The Day of the Jackal.

Emilia Clarke

Portrayed Daenerys Targaryen Across Seasons 1–8

Emilia Clarke, the English actress known for her role in Game of Thrones, bravely overcame two brain aneurysms early in her career. Inspired by her experience, she created the charity SameYou, which focuses on better mental health support for people recovering from brain injuries. Clarke’s portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen has become a defining role and a lasting part of popular culture.

Emilia Clarke is known for her leading role in Me Before You with Sam Claflin, and for playing iconic characters like Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys and Qi’ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story. She also appeared in Last Christmas as Katherine Andrich. More recently, in 2026, she starred in the Peacock spy thriller Ponies with Haley Lu Richardson, and has a role in the upcoming sci-fi romance Next Life.

Sean Bean

Portrayed Eddard Stark In Season 1

Sean Bean was a well-known actor before starring in Game of Thrones. He played Ned Stark, the honorable Lord of Winterfell, in the early seasons of the show. Ned was a moral center for the series, a stark contrast to many of the other characters who operated in shades of gray. He and his wife, Catelyn, had five children. The story began to change when King Robert Baratheon asked Ned to leave Winterfell and become his Hand at King’s Landing. This decision ultimately led to Ned’s shocking death and nearly destroyed House Stark.

Sean Bean is famous for playing Boromir in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, particularly in The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). He’s known for being a versatile actor in both film and television. Recently, in 2025, he starred in the BBC One crime drama This City Is Ours and appeared in the psychological thriller Anemone with Daniel Day-Lewis.

Lena Headey

Portrayed Cersei Lannister Across Seasons 1–8

Lena Headey gave a truly remarkable performance as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones, creating one of the most memorable villains in recent TV history. As the daughter of Tywin Lannister and twin sister to Jaime, Cersei fiercely supported her family’s ambitions. Her marriage to Robert Baratheon was a political move that made her Queen, and she bore three children who were secretly fathered by her brother, Jaime. Driven by a desire to maintain control, Cersei ultimately became the effective ruler after the death of her youngest child.

Lena Headey was already a well-known actress before her role in Game of Thrones. She’s previously appeared in popular films and shows like 300 (as Queen Gorgo), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (as Sarah Connor), and Pride and Prejudice (as Catherine de Bourgh). More recently, she starred in the Netflix series The Abandons with Gillian Anderson, and she’s joined the cast of Wednesday Season 3, though her role is currently a secret.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Portrayed Jaime Lannister Across Seasons 1–8

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is a Danish actor best known for playing Jaime Lannister in all eight seasons of Game of Thrones. He was a powerful figure on the show, with memorable scenes alongside actors playing Tywin Lannister, Cersei Lannister, and Brienne of Tarth. Early in the first season, his character had a tense relationship with Eddard Stark.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has appeared in films like The Other Woman, Domino, and The Silencing. More recently, he played William, Duke of Normandy, in the 2025 BBC series King & Conqueror. He also returned as Owen Michaels in Apple’s limited series The Last Thing He Told Me, starring alongside Jennifer Garner and Angourie Rice.

Pedro Pascal

Portrayed Oberyn Martell In Season 4

Pedro Pascal played the popular character Oberyn Martell, also known as the Red Viper, in Game of Thrones. Oberyn was motivated by a deep hatred for the Lannisters, stemming from the way they treated his sister, Elia Martell, when they took control of King’s Landing. He sought revenge by fighting Gregor Clegane, nicknamed the Mountain, in a trial by combat, acting as Tyrion Lannister’s champion. Though he almost won, Oberyn was ultimately defeated and killed in a brutal fight. Even so, Pedro Pascal’s captivating performance remains memorable.

Pascal has become a highly sought-after actor, appearing in both blockbuster franchises and critically praised shows. He’s known for his roles in popular TV series like Narcos on Netflix, The Mandalorian on Disney+, and as a lead in HBO’s The Last of Us (seasons 1 and briefly 2). He’s also made a name for himself in films such as The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Eddington, and The Materialists, among others.

Liam Cunningham

Portrayed Ser Davos Seaworth From Seasons 2–8

Liam Cunningham, an Irish actor, played Ser Davos Seaworth, known as the Onion Knight, in Game of Thrones. He began as a devoted follower of Stannis Baratheon but later became a key advisor and friend to Jon Snow. By the series’ end, Davos had risen to become the Master of Ships, serving on Bran the Broken’s council and completing his character’s journey.

Liam Cunningham has a long and successful acting career, with roles both before and after his time on Game of Thrones. He’s been consistently working since 2019, appearing in films like The Vault (2021) and The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023). More recently, he starred in the 2024 Netflix sci-fi series 3 Body Problem, where he worked again with Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

Maisie Williams

Portrayed Arya Stark Across Seasons 1–8

Maisie Williams played Arya Stark, the youngest daughter of Ned Stark. She journeyed to King’s Landing with her father and sister, Sansa. After their father was executed, Arya fled from the Lannisters and began traveling with Sandor Clegane. She eventually went to Braavos, where she trained to become a skilled assassin with the Faceless Men. Returning to Winterfell, she played a crucial role in the Battle of Winterfell, ultimately defeating the Night King with a Valyrian steel dagger.

Since Game of Thrones wrapped up, I’ve been keeping track of Maisie Williams’ work, and she’s been in some really interesting projects. I enjoyed checking out The New Mutants back in 2020, and I thought she was fantastic in the miniseries Pistol in 2022. Most recently, I’ve been watching The New Look (2024), and I’m really excited to see her in Practical Magic 2 alongside Sandra Bullock and Joey King – that’s going to be a fun one!

Several former stars of Game of Thrones continue to find success in a variety of projects. Richard Madden, known for playing Robb Stark, will appear in Jed Mercurio’s new miniseries, Trinity. Bella Ramsey, who played Lyanna Mormont, is leading HBO’s The Last of Us and will return for a third season. Jason Momoa, who played Khal Drogo in the first season, is joining Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three as Hayt, after not appearing in the second film. Gwendoline Christie, who finished the series as Brienne of Tarth, has joined the German drama Black Gold. And Ian Glenn, who played Ser Jorah Mormont, starred in the upcoming 2025 Philippine historical film, Quezon.

2026-04-13 06:07