With the series of remakes, reboots, and adaptations airing on television and premiering in theaters, many fans find themselves revisiting the source material alongside everyday consumers. Amid the controversy regarding reinterpretations, it is not uncommon to find fans who are eager to know just how accurate the visual counterpart will capture the events, characters, as well as the overarching themes explored in the novels.
Game of Thrones,widely considered to be the preeminent fantasy television series of the last decade, has attracted a new set of eyes while also exciting longtime fans of George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Fire,for which the series is based off of. The extensive set of novels chronicles the lives of several warring houses, each vying for the Iron Throne while also preparing for vengeful, supernatural forces. The series boasts an ensemble cast that includes Emilia Clarke, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, and Peter Dinklage, and remained in syndication for eight seasons. While fans pointed out several discrepancies, the final season debuted to a sea of endless, justified criticism. From concerns regarding Daenerys' confusing character progression to the worrying plot developments, many fans left the series finale with a sour taste in their mouth, especially those who have read the novels. But they are evidently not alone.
Many of the series' lead actors, some of whom read the novels, expressed their disappointment with the simplest of expressions however their honest feelings were not lost on many. The novels played a crucial part to the development of the series. While allegations of show runners David Benioff and Dan Weiss telling actors not to read the novels can be found all over the internet, that did not stop some of the cast from diving into Martin’s written universe nor did it prevent the casting of actors who are self-proclaimed fans of the novels.
15Alfie Allen
Portraying the controversial Theon Greyjoy,Alfie Allenenjoyed years on screen with the novels informing him of his character and further building upon the knowledge learned. From his introduction as a loyal friend of Robb Stark to the road to redemption following the Red Wedding, Allen’s acting has been commended in spite of fans confusion with Theon’s trajectory.
As it pertains to the books, Alfie Allen belongs to a small cohort of actors that read some of the novels to follow alongside the progression of the series. In an interview with UPROXX, he explained thathe read the first two and a half booksbut decided to stop out of fear of complicating his acting process.
According to Allen himself, he did not want to add any additional pressure to his preparation for the role. Thus, when he was made privy of the torture Theon would endure, holding off from reading the novels allowed him to be genuinely surprised with the route the show runners would take.
14Richard Madden
Richard Maddenwon over millions with his portrayal as the King of the North. Watching the Stark heir rise from the Prince of Winterfell to the key player in the North’s war for independence was a riveting storyline to watch unfold. Since then, he has stunned audiences in projects such asThe Bodyguardand Marvel’sEternals.
Related:Game of Thrones: 5 Parallels Between Daenerys Targaryen and Robb Stark That You May Not Have Noticed
During a look back at the series, Madden disclosed that he read the books “season-by-season” and thus, the fate of his character was spoiled after a simple Google search. Robb’s death was always teased by fans, with the event usually implied with “giggles”. Nevertheless, Richard Madden delivered fans a spectacular performance during the third season’s conclusion. Although he found it challenging, the Red Wedding will forever be an iconic moment on television due to his preparation as well as his commitment to treat reading like a long, reasonably-paced walk, taking in everything from the pages in increments.
13Rose Leslie
After impressing David Benoiff and Dan Weiss with her role as the ambitious, farmer’s daughter Gwen Dawson inDownton Abbey,Rose Lesliewas tapped for the role of Ygritte. Introduced in the second season as a warrior of the Free Folk, Ygritte was a loyal supporter of Mance Ryder and commonly questioned the status quo. She frequently critiqued the Seven Kingdoms for their institutionalized misogyny and their archaic adherence to hierarchical monarchies. Later in the series, she became romantically involved with Jon Snow and heavily contributed to the Night Guard and the Free Folk’s efforts to quell the incoming advances of the White Walkers.
After earning the role, Leslie “dove into the books” and committed to archery practice in order to provide fans an accurate and entertaining portrayal. At the time of her Entertainment Weekly interview in 2013, she was already well intoA Feast For Crows, the fourth book in the series. Her dedication to portraying Ygritte on screen would prove to be excellent. Following the taping of her final scene, she received a bow from Tommy Dunne. Since then, she’s starred in series such asThe Time Traveler’s Wifeand married co-star Kit Harrington.
12John Bradley
In a world as grim as the world of Ice and Fire, Samwell Tarly was one of the few characters that offered audiences a somewhat pleasant distraction from the blood and venom that permeated the courts. Furthermore, fans of the series learn about the history of Westeros, Essos, and even semblances of the land Beyond the Narrow Sea from Sam himself. Theories among fans suggest that his Tarly is the author of the events displayed on television, due to his coveted position as the Grand Maester by the series conclusion. Given his first-hand knowledge of many pivotal moments during the War of Five Kings, the presumptions are far from preposterous.
Tarly’s actor,John Bradley, has been speculated to have read most if not all the books up until his interview with Buzzfeed. When describing the trajectory of Sam’s character, the article makes it a point to highlight that he has “read all of the books”, rendering him as one of the few cast mates to have completed the series. Due to his connection to Sam as well as his knowledge on Westeros, fans and creators alike have praised Bradley for his performance. Most notably, George R.R. Martin found Bradley’s portrayal to a “heartbreaking performance”.
11Sophie Turner
From the demure lady of the North to the Queen of the now independent Kingdom of the North, Sansa Stark’s journey has been marked by harrowing experiences and moments of inspiring leadership.Sophie Turnerdelivered some of the best lines in the series with poise and confidence, making Sansa’s evolution all the more enjoyable.
Turner has reportedly read the chapters of the books that are dedicated to Sansa, which has raised some eyebrows. In defense of Sophie Turner, only reading the Sansa chapters allowed her to delve deeper and analyze Sansa’s character at a distance from the larger events permeating the plot. While one could make the argument that said events to affect Sansa, it is imperative to recognize that Sansa does not exist in a vacuum. Reading from her perspective may not cover every event, but it offers readers Sansa’s thoughts on the state of Westeros.
Most importantly, Turner’s decision seemingly worked in everyone’s favor. Many fans have wavering opinions on Sansa herself, but it would be rather ridiculous to attribute that to Turner’s acting, which remains convincing and captivating throughout the series.
10Ian McElhinney
Introduced to the audience as a highly distinguished member of the Kingsguard, Ser Barristan Selmy found himself at the service of the ruling Baratheons before being ousted by then-King Joffrey himself. In spite of his forty-year tenure, he was deemed a liability by Cersei, best represented by her decision to hand his role over to Ser Jaime Lannisher (Goster-Waldau). To his dismay, he voiced his outrage which prompted a swift removal from the cast. Following his exile, he sailed to the East where he found a new queen in Daenerys. He arrives in Astapor where he helps Daenerys and her inner circle liberate the slaver bay cities. Much like his time in Westeros, Ser Barristan is exposed to the cruelty of the nobles, most notably, staring in disgust at the crucified bodies of enslaved children. Although his time in the world of Ice and Fire was cut short, Ser Barristan was an imperative and resourceful ally for both the Baratheons and the Targaryens.
Ian McElhinney, the actor that portrayed Ser Barristan Selmy, is widely regarded as one of the few actors to have read the entirety of theA Song of Ice and Firenovels, and is seen by many as one of the biggest fans of Martin’s work among his other cast mates. So much as so, when he received the scripts for the fifth season, he was shocked to see that he had less time filming, a discrepancy that did not line up to the amount of material that Barristan had in the books, including chapters from his point of view. When it was confirmed to him that Barristan would indeed meet his untimely fate, he was “dissapointed” but understood the distinctions between screenwriting and penning a novel.
9Sean Bean
To first time wanderers of Westeros, Ser Eddard “Ned” Stark did not seem any different from the many protagonists that graced television before him. Watching him manage the everyday expectations of him as the King of the North, his duties as a father and husband in Westeros, as well as his remarkable loyalty made the first season an entertaining, almost wholesome introduction toGame of Thrones. However, by the first season’s conclusion, Ned’s fate was sealed, a consequence that shocked many viewers that were unaware of the novels. Despite only remaining for s ingle season, Ned’s actions while he was alive as well as his demise were enabling factors behind some of the series-long events, namely the War of the Five Kings.
In an interview with vulture,Sean Beanopened up about his reading process,only reading the first book, and his reasoning behind his decision. A combination of provigin enough distance between him and Ned as well as his desire to bring “some of his own ideas” were large motivations behind reading the initial novel of the series. Aspects of Ned, such as his vulnerability and honesty were accentuated by Bean’s portrayal, wishing to convey a sense of relatable confusion despite his character being such an influence figure in the Seven Kingdoms. As a result, Ned and by extension Sean Bean, have been cemented as a core aspect of the series, one that fans surely enjoy.
8Aidan Gillen
Would it come to a surprise that the actor behind one of the most calculating characters in the kingdom was also well-versed in the novels? Once Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish appeared on screens, audiences were well aware that something about him did not sit right in their spirits. Over the course of seven seasons, fans had front row seats to his various methods of manipulation, his penchanct for murder, and his malicious approach to scheming. The War of the Five Kings occurred partly in due to Littlefinger’s meddling, a feat he takes much pride in during his pursuit to power. Aligning himself with Sansa Stark, the two create an unlikely alliance that is simply fascinating to watch unfold.
Fans of the series were well delighted to know thatAidan Gillenhas read all five of the novels. In an interview with Westeros, The Song of Ice and Fire Domain, he revealed thathe completed the series, in order to gain “character information”, likening the readings to a part of the overall “adventure” that is being onGame of Thrones.Despite an implied dissatisfaction with the books, many fans of the series have commended Gillen for his dedication to learning about the characters and the world fo Westeros at large. His experience with the books certainly translates to his onscreen portrayal, given his vast knowledge on various key players prior to and during the war.
7Ellie Kendrick
After the Sack of Winterfell, Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) embarks on a journey to Castle Black with the assistance of a myriad of personalities. His brother Rickon, Hodor, and Osha join him in his escape but are confronted by none other than Meera Reed (Ellie Kendrick), who appears to be a treat until she decides to join Bran and his companions. Guided by her belief in the Old Gods of the Forest, she proves to be a loyal addition to the team and routinely helps everyone, despite tensions between her and Osha. Whereas her novel counterpart was introduced in the second book, Kendrick didn’t appear on-screen until the third season. Throughout the series, she also has a first-hand perspective as it pertains to Bran’s metamorphosis, growing from a genuine camaraderie to a bitter disillusion by the Battle of the Bastards.
Ellie Kendrick has also been embraced by fans for her extensive knowledge of the series, due toher having read the books. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she actively engages with writer Josh Wigler about how the books parallel the series in relationship to her characters. Discussing topics such as the Third-Eyed Raven and the return of Benjen Stark, Kendrick and Wigler share a passionate exchange of ideas in anticipation of the show’s final seasons. Since then, Kendrick can be found on series such asDodoand video games likeXenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed.
6Finn Jones
As one of the only visibly queer characters in the series, Ser Loras Tyrell earned a loyal following of his own during the series' run. His relationship with Renly was a semblance of calmness surrounded by chaos. Though, the couple had their fair share of complications. Following Renly’s assassination, audiences watch as Loras attempts to fill the void, whether it be through sexual experiences or being lured into the Faith of the Seven.
When asked about Loras' feelings following the death of Renly,Finn Jonesopened up in an interview with Vulture regardinghis admiration for the novels. His decision to highlight Loras' life as a widower partly comes from his fascination with the way Loras is written in the books. Despite hisenthusiasmto remain in the world of dragons and wolves for as long as possible, he was tapped for the role of the titularIron Fistwhich debuted on Netflix not too long after his exit fromGame of Thrones.
