While our time in the Night’s Watch has ended, the stars of HBO’s Emmy-winning blockbuster have continued to fly high in Hollywood.

Game of Thrones turns 15! See what the cast has been up to since leaving Westeros

While our time in the Night’s Watch has ended, the stars of HBO's Emmy-winning blockbuster have continued to fly high in Hollywood.

and Kevin Jacobsen

April 17, 2026 8:00 a.m. ET

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(Front, from left to right): Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Maisie Williams as Arya Stark, and Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark on 'Game of Thrones'. Credit:

When *Game of Thrones* premiered on April 17, 2011, few could've predicted it would become the most-watched HBO series of all time. Adapted from George R. R. Martin's *A Song of Ice and Fire* novel saga, the show attracted a dedicated audience in its first season, but it continued to gain viewership each year as it became a pop culture phenomenon.

So what was it that kept more and more people coming to Westeros every week? Some were attracted to the medieval chess match as warring families engaged in epic battles for a claim to the Iron Throne. Others loved the fantastical elements, from high-flying dragons to fateful prophecies come true. Then there was the cast, which, like the ratings, seemed to grow with each season (when they weren't being killed off). Actors like Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, and Sean Bean added to their already thriving careers, while newer stars like Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, and Maisie Williams established themselves as actors to keep watching.

Ahead, we're exploring what the cast of *Game of Thrones* has been up to, on the 15th anniversary of the series premiere.

Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister)

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on 'Game of Thrones'; Peter Dinklage at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Unfrosted' held at the Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on April 30, 2024.

HBO; Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty

Peter Dinklage plays Tyrion Lannister, the resourceful and witty youngest son of House Lannister, who overcomes ridicule to serve as the Hand for three different rulers. One of the most popular cast members in the ensemble, Dinklage won four Emmys and was nominated for all eight seasons.

*Game of Thrones* made Dinklage a bona fide star, which put him in high demand for major franchises. He played the villainous Dr. Bolivar Trask in *X-Men: Days of Future Past* (2014); Eitri, the King of the Dwarves of Nidavellir, in *Avengers: Infinity War* (2018); and Casca Highbottom, the creator of the Games, in *The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes* (2023). He has also maintained a genuine leading man career, including taking on the title role in the big-budget musical *Cyrano *(2021), for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination.

His more recent work includes voicing Doctor Dillamond in *Wicked* (2024), taking on a supporting role in *Roofman* (2025), and returning to television in a key role on *Dexter: Resurrection*.

Dinklage has been married to theater director Erica Schmidt since 2005. They have two children, a daughter and a son.

Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister)

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister on 'Game of Thrones'; Lena Headey attends the 2023 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 29, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

HBO; Paul Morigi/Getty

Lena Headey plays Cersei Lannister, a ruthless manipulator who only cares about her brother/lover Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), her children, and her unquenchable quest for power. As an iconic example of a character you love to hate, Headey earned five Emmy nominations for the role*.*

After the launch of *Game of Thrones*, Headey played the scarred, ruthless drug lord Ma-Ma in the 2012 *Dredd *reboot, helped launch a long-running franchise with *The Purge* (2013), and combined blood and guts with Regency Era decorum in *Pride and Prejudice and Zombies* (2016).

She appeared with Florence Pugh in *Fighting With My Family* (2019) and in HBO’s miniseries *White House Plumbers* (2023). She has also developed a voice acting career, with roles on *Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*, *The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance*, and *Masters of the Universe: Revelation.* Recently, she led the Netflix Western drama series *The Abandons*, and is set to appear in the *Red, White & Royal Blue* sequel and the third season of *Wednesday*.

Headey married musician Peter Loughran in 2007. The pair have a son, Wylie, and divorced in 2013. Headey also has a daughter, Teddy, with director Dan Cadan. She married actor Marc Menchaca in 2022.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister)

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister on 'Game of Thrones'; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau attends the 76th Directors Guild of America Awards at the Beverly Hilton on Feb. 10, 2024, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Helen Sloan/HBO; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays Jaime Lannister, the ruthless knight and would-be child murderer, who gets humbled, defeated, and be-handed but never wavers from his most sacred duty: protecting his beloved twin sister, Cersei, at all costs. Coster-Waldau nabbed two Emmy nominations during his time on the show.

Once Jaime Lannister raised his profile, Coster-Waldau took advantage with major roles in the supernatural horror film *Mama* (2013) opposite Jessica Chastain, the sci-fi thriller *Oblivion *(2013) with Tom Cruise, and the mythological epic *Gods of Egypt** *(2016). He’s since had starring roles in multiple crime dramas, including *Shot Caller* (2017), Brian De Palma’s *Domino* (2019), and *God Is a Bullet* (2023). He has also used his platform for good, hosting the climate change docuseries *An Optimist's Guide to the Planet*.

Coster-Waldau married Nukâka, an actress and singer from Greenland, in 1988. The couple has two daughters, Filippa and Safina.

Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen)

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen on 'Game of Thrones'; Emilia Clarke attends French Premium Organic Spirits Brand Pegasus Distillerie launches in the U.S. market on April 26, 2024, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

HBO; Phillip Faraone/Getty

Emilia Clarke plays Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons. Over the course of the series, Dany matures from an innocent young woman into a powerful leader but takes a dark, fiery turn in the final season. Clarke earned four Emmy nominations for her performance.

Clarke was just starting her career when she was propelled to global stardom as the last of the House Targaryen. With her star on the rise, she landed her first major movie role opposite Jude Law in *Dom Hemingway* (2013). She then followed in costar Lena Headey's footsteps, playing Sarah Connor in the franchise sequel *Terminator Genisys*.

In addition to headlining romances like *Me Before You* (2016) and *Last Christmas *(2019), Clarke has sharpened her franchise skills as the enigmatic love interest in *Solo: A Star Wars Story* (2018) and as the Skrull operative G'iah in the MCU series *Secret Invasion* (2023)*.* In 2026, she starred on Peacock's spy thriller series *Ponies* alongside Haley Lu Richardson.

Kit Harington (Jon Snow)

Kit Harington as Jon Snow on 'Game of Thrones'; Kit Harington during Fendi Fall/Winter 2024/2025 fashion show as part of the Milan Fashion Week on Jan. 13, 2024, in Milan, Italy.

HBO; Pietro S. D'Aprano/Getty

Kit Harington plays Jon Snow, the “bastard” son of Ned Stark (Sean Bean) and reluctant member of the Night's Watch, who makes a tragic choice in the series finale that’s still being debated by fans.

*Game of Thrones* was Harington's first screen role, bringing widespread exposure to the actor. Leading parts in movies soon followed, including the video game adaptation *Silent Hill: Revelation* (2012), the Roman Empire disaster film *Pompeii* (2014), and the World War I drama *Testament of Youth *(2014). He got to flex his comedy muscles opposite Andy Samberg in the HBO tennis mockumentary *7 Days in Hell* (2015) and starred alongside Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning*, *and *Thrones’ *Red Woman herself, Carice van Houten, in the violent revisionist Western *Brimstone *(2016).

Harington developed and produced the BBC historical drama series *Gunpowder* (2017) about the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, starring as his own ancestor, Robert Catesby. He later joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in *Eternals* (2021) as Dane Whitman, known in the comics as the Black Knight. Since 2024, he has played Sir Henry Muck on the HBO drama series *Industry*.

In 2018, Harington married *Game of Thrones* costar Rose Leslie, who played Jon Snow’s wildling lover, Ygritte. The couple shares a son and daughter.

Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark)

Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark on 'Game of Thrones'; Sophie Turner at Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025 show held at Park Güell on May 23, 2024, in Barcelona, Spain.

HBO; Aitor Rosas Sune/WWD via Getty

Sophie Turner plays Sansa Stark, a young woman repeatedly used as a pawn by the Lannisters before growing into a powerful leader and ultimately being crowned Queen in the North.

Playing the tragedy-prone Sansa was Turner's acting debut. On the big screen soon afterward, she played dual roles in the psychological thriller *Another Me *(2013) and portrayed a teen assassin under the tutelage of Samuel L. Jackson in *Barely Lethal *(2015)*.*

Turner's most high-profile role outside of *Game of Thrones* was the Marvel mutant Jean Grey/Phoenix in *X-Men: Apocalypse *(2016) and *Dark Phoenix* (2019)*.* She also had a minor part in the zoomer satire *Do Revenge* (2022) and played a significant role in HBO’s star-studded 2022 limited series *The Staircase*, based on the famed true-crime documentary. She reunited with Kit Harington for the 2026 film *The Dreadful*.

Turner has two daughters, Willa and Delphine, with ex-husband Joe Jonas, to whom she was married from 2019 to 2024.

Maisie Williams (Arya Stark)

Maisie Williams as Arya Stark on 'Game of Thrones'; Maisie Williams attends Apple TV's 'The New Look' world premiere at Florence Gould Hall on Feb. 12, 2024, in New York City.

HBO; Dominik Bindl/WireImage

Maisie Williams plays the fan favorite Arya Stark, a headstrong assassin who ultimately ends the Great War by killing the Night King.

The series was Williams' first acting role — In fact, it was only her second audition! — but she quickly became a well-recognized actress. Her first film was the coming-of-age mystery *The Falling *(2014) alongside Florence Pugh. Williams then played the recurring role of Ashildr, a brave warrior not unlike her *Game of Thrones* character, on *Doctor Who*.

She went on to feature in Netflix's sci-fi thriller *iBoy* (2017), the Elle Fanning biographical drama *Mary Shelley *(2017), and in a voice role in the stop-motion prehistoric sports comedy *Early Man* (2018). Soon after, she got her superhero shot as Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane in *The New Mutants* (2020) opposite Anya Taylor-Joy.

Lately, Williams has appeared in two biographical series — first as punk icon Jordan in the Sex Pistols miniseries *Pistol *(2022), and as French Resistance fighter Catherine Dior in Apple TV's *The New Look*, with Ben Mendelsohn as her brother, Christian Dior. She is expected to appear in *Practical Magic 2* (2026).

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Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark)

Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark on 'Game of Thrones'; Isaac Hempstead Wright attends the 'Game of Thrones' Iron Statue unveiling in Leicester Square on June 22, 2021, in London, England.

HBO; Karwai Tang/WireImage

Isaac Hempstead Wright plays Bran Stark, the would-be assassination victim turned Warg turned Three-Eyed Raven — a journey that ultimately leads him to great power in Westeros.

Hempstead Wright grew up on *Game of Thrones*, having joined the show at age 11. Not long after, he booked supporting roles in two Rebecca Hall movies: *The Awakening *(2011) and the terrorism thriller *Closed Circuit *(2013)*.* He also voiced the lead character, Eggs, in the stop-motion film *The Boxtrolls* (2014)*.*

When the show ended, he went back to university to study neuroscience. His only recent acting role was in the Colin Farrell-led space thriller *Voyagers *(2021)*.* He married his wife in 2025, though her identity has been kept private.

Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth)

Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth on 'Game of Thrones'; Gwendoline Christie attends the Prada Fall/Winter 2024 Womenswear fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2024/2025 on Feb. 22, 2024 in Milan, Italy.

HBO; Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

Gwendoline Christie joined in season 2 as the upright Brienne of Tarth, whose dedication and loyalty help her overcome prejudices against female knights. Christie received an Emmy nomination for the role in the show's final season.

Christie’s knightly status in Westeros landed her roles in a few major franchises: first in *The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2* and later taking command as First Order stormtrooper Captain Phasma in *Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens* (2015) and *Star Wars: Episode VIII —* *The Last Jedi *(2017)*. *She gained a foothold on the arthouse circuit, too, playing a major supporting role in Jane Campion’s *Top of the Lake: China Girl*, the Dev Patel-led *The Personal History of David Copperfield *(2019), and the surreal dark comedies *In Fabric* (2019) and *Flux Gourmet *(2022)*.*

Following her *Game of Thrones* success, Christie has since jumped into two popular Netflix shows, playing Lucifer in *The Sandman* and Principal Weems on Tim Burton’s *Wednesday**.* She also earned her second Emmy nomination for her memorable guest appearance in season 2 of *Severance*.

Christie is in a long-term relationship with British fashion designer Giles Deacon; the pair started seeing each other in 2013.

Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy)

Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy 'Game of Thrones'; Alfie Allen attends the Dunhill & BSBP pre-BAFTA filmmakers dinner and party at dunhill Bourdon House on Feb. 13, 2024, in London, England.

HBO; Dave Benett/Getty

Alfie Allen plays Theon Greyjoy, who is raised by the Stark family but betrays them in a power grab. Captured and forced into servitude, Theon redeems himself late in the series.

Allen and his sister (singer Lily Allen) grew up in a show-business family; their father was an actor and their mother a film producer. Allen appeared in small roles on British TV and film from age 12. By his mid-20s, he arrived at *Game of Thrones* and sparked international attention.

On the big screen, Allen’s Iosef Tarasov set the revenge plot in motion in *John Wick* (2014) after stealing the wrong car and the wrong dog. He also appeared in *The Predator *(2018), Taika Waititi's wartime satire *Jojo Rabbit* (2019), and the coming-of-age comedy *How to Build a Girl* (2019). Once *Game of Thrones* ended, Allen took to the Broadway stage, receiving a Tony nomination in 2022 for his role in Martin McDonagh's *Hangmen*. He stars on the British series *Girl Taken* and will recur in the second season of *3 Body Problem*.

Allen shares a daughter with disc jockey Allie Teilz, whom he dated for a couple of years.

Richard Madden (Robb Stark)

Richard Madden as Robb Stark on 'Game of Thrones'; Richard Madden arrives at the red carpet and fan screening for Amazon Prime Video's 'Citadel' on April 25, 2023, in Los Angeles, Calif.

HBO; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Scottish actor Richard Madden plays Robb Stark, Ned's eldest son, who falls victim to Westeros scheming at the infamous Red Wedding.

After his brutal exit from the show in the third season, Madden jumped into the Gold Rush miniseries *Klondike *(2014) and then played Prince Charming himself in Disney's live-action *Cinderella* (2015).

A few years later, he won a Golden Globe — and a whole lot of 007 speculation — for his role as a psychologically troubled spy in the BBC thriller series *Bodyguard*. He followed that with big-screen roles as Elton John's lover in the biopic *Rocketman* (2019) and as a British soldier in the World War I film *1917* (2019). After joining the MCU as Ikaris in *Eternals* (2021), he returned to the small screen for another action-oriented spy series, *Citadel*. He will soon star on the Netflix thriller series *Trinity* with Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Sean Bean (Ned Stark)

Sean Bean as Ned Stark on 'Game of Thrones'; Sean Bean attends the Los Angeles premiere of Sony Pictures' 'Knights of the Zodiac' at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on May 10, 2023.

Helen Sloan/HBO; JC Olivera/WireImage

Acting veteran Sean Bean plays Lord Ned Stark, who makes a shocking exit at the end of the first season — although his influence can be felt in all major events to follow.

After his *Game of Thrones* stint prematurely ended, Bean reunited with costar Kit Harington in the video game adaptation *Silent Hill: Revelation *(2012)*.* He also had the leading role on the TNT spy series *Legends*. He racked up more sci-fi credits with supporting turns in the Wachowskis’ space opera *Jupiter Ascending* (2015) and the Matt Damon-led movie *The Martian* (2015)*. *He’s been a ubiquitous presence on British TV in the years since, including the small-screen version of *Snowpiercer* in a vital role first played by Ed Harris in the original film. He currently stars as the Sheriff of Nottingham on the MGM+ adaptation of *Robin Hood*.

Bean has been married five times and has three children: Molly, Lorna, and Evie. He is currently married to Ashley Moore, whom he wed in 2017.

Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell)

Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell on 'Game of Thrones'; Natalie Dormer attends the 2020 'Vanity Fair' Oscar party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 9, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

HBO; Karwai Tang/Getty

Natalie Dormer plays Margaery Tyrell, who schemes her way into several complicated marriages as she tries to become Queen.

As her prominence on *Thrones* rose, Dormer had a recurring role as Irene Adler on CBS’ *Elementary*, appeared in the Chris Hemsworth-led racing drama *Rush *(2013), and in Ridley Scott’s star-studded film *The Counselor *(2013)*. *The *Hunger Games* franchise came calling for its third and fourth installments, after which Dormer headlined the miniseries remake of *Picnic at Hanging Rock* and the revival series *Penny Dreadful: City of Angels*. She also starred as Sarah, Duchess of York, in the British miniseries *The Lady*.

Dormer has been linked to actor David Oakes since 2018. The couple had a daughter in 2021 and entered a civil partnership in 2023.

Aiden Gillen (Littlefinger)

Aiden Gillen as Littlefinger on 'Game of Thrones'; Aidan Gillen attends the 'Dance First' premiere film during 71st San Sebastian International Film Festival on Sept. 30, 2023, in San Sebastian, Spain.

HBO; Carlos Alvarez/Getty

Aiden Gillen plays Littlefinger, a skilled manipulator who changes sides easily in his efforts to remain close to power — until his crimes finally catch up to him.

Gillen's first role in a Hollywood film was a bit part in the opening plane-heist sequence of *The Dark Knight Rises* (2012). He joined the *Maze Runner* franchise for both *The Scorch Trials* (2015) and *The Death Cure *(2018)*.* His other big-screen roles over the years include the coming-of-age musical *Sing Street* (2016), Guy Ritchie’s *King Arthur: Legend of the Sword *(2017), and the Angelina Jolie smokejumper thriller *Those Who Wish Me Dead *(2021).

The actor played hitman Aberama Gold in the BBC crime drama series *Peaky Blinders* and Queen's manager John Reid in the Freddie Mercury biopic *Bohemian Rhapsody *(2018). He headlined the History Channel series *Project Blue Book* as the head of the Air Force's UFO investigation team, and played author James Joyce in *Dance First *(2023), a biographical film about Irish playwright Samuel Beckett.

Gillen was married to Olivia O'Flanagan from 2001 to 2005. They have two children, Berry and Joe. He has been in a relationship with singer Camille O'Sullivan since 2014.

John Bradley (Samwell Tarly)

John Bradley as Samwell Tarly on 'Game of Thrones'; John Bradley attends the launch of House Party presented by Stormzy and Cream Group on June 6, 2024, in London, England.

HBO; Dave Benett/Getty

John Bradley plays Jon Snow’s loyal friend Sam, who accidentally discovers dragonglass, rescues Gilly from her incestuous father, and winds up as King Bran’s Grand Maester in the series finale.

Bradley was fresh out of drama school when he booked *Game of Thrones*, and he remained with the show for all eight seasons. Once the series ended, he appeared in the Roland Emmerich disaster film *Moonfall* (2022) and the Jennifer Lopez–Owen Wilson rom-com *Marry Me *(2022)*.*

*Game of Thrones* showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss recruited Bradley for a main role on another big-budget literary adaptation, *3 Body Problem*, which premiered in 2024*.*

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