Game of Thrones Cast: How the Stars Have Transformed Since the Series Ended

Across the seven kingdoms of Westeros, the stars of “Game of Thrones” became known for their talent as much as their appearance. Many looked striking in real life despite portraying rugged, battle-worn characters on screen. While some have faced controversy or revealed difficult personal chapters, others have continued to captivate audiences—and, by many fans’ standards, only grown more attractive with time.

That’s not to say it’s the actors themselves who particularly enjoy it. In fact, some find it more demeaning than flattering. “It can sometimes feel like your art is being put to one side for your sex appeal. And I don’t like that,” actor Kit Harington, who portrayed Jon Snow, once told Page Six. “In this position, you get asked a lot, ‘Do you like being a heartthrob? Do you like being a hunk?’ Well, my answer is, ‘That’s not what I got into it for.'”

Kit Harington’s enduring appeal goes well beyond his heartthrob image. Since “Game of Thrones” concluded in 2019, the “Eternals” actor has spoken openly about prioritizing his mental health alongside his physical fitness. “If I don’t go to the gym at least three times a week, the sad boy in the corner comes back,” he told Mr. Porter.

So how does Harington maintain his warrior-like physique after leaving his Westeros days behind? He sticks to a regular workout schedule and has added boxing as he approaches a new decade of life. “I quite like looking less bulky now,” he said. “As I get older, I think it looks better. So, I’ve swapped protein shakes for intermittent fasting instead.’

Harington even went viral after becoming a familiar face at a Connecticut gym, where he put his updated approach into practice. Following his 2019 rehabilitation for alcoholism, he was referred to Iron House Fitness and trained there consistently for roughly a month. “He trained 28 days straight,” the gym wrote in a Facebook post. “Not for a role. Not because someone told him to. Because something clicked… He got his edge back.”

Emilia Clarke rose to global fame as the eventual Queen Daenerys Targaryen and became one of the most adored performers in the “Game of Thrones” cast. She later appeared in major franchises such as “Terminator: Genisys” and “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” Yet her appeal is rooted in more than her appearance. Clarke’s willingness to face professional and personal setbacks with composure has made her especially compelling. “I entered into already existing franchises, so when they don’t work out, it’s not personal,” she told Variety.

Clarke has battled fantastical enemies on screen, but her most serious challenges were deeply personal. During the production of the HBO series, she suffered multiple brain hemorrhages—medical emergencies that nearly cost her life. She has since discussed the physical and emotional consequences that remained long after her recovery.

Clarke has said parts of her brain are no longer functional and that treatment left her facing a higher risk of stroke and heart attack. Still, she describes herself as more resilient and thoughtful than before. “Your memory is obviously incredibly important [as an actor] and I consistently tested that,” she wrote in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. “There’s no point in kind of continually racking your brains as to what might not be there because what you have now is great.”

As Arya Stark, Maisie Williams won over millions of viewers—and, spoiler alert, ultimately defeated the Night King. Growing up in the public eye also shaped her concerns about building a future in Hollywood. Convinced she did not fit the industry’s traditional idea of beauty, Williams developed her own aesthetic through bold hairstyles, dark makeup, and an increasingly distinctive personal style.

“It’s a very shallow industry,” she told The Irish Times in 2018. “And I don’t look like someone who is cast in roles that are, well, sexualised. Don’t get me wrong. I’m completely in awe of Hollywood’s leading ladies …”

As Williams moved into more mature projects, including “The New Mutants” and “Practical Magic 2,” her relationship with beauty and self-confidence evolved as well. Therapy, reading, writing, and exercise have all helped her reconnect with herself while continuing to grow professionally. “Life is actually quite fun, but we all torture ourselves over the agony of what could be,” she told The Guardian in 2023.

Sophie Turner became internationally recognizable as Sansa Stark, but her journey continued well beyond the walls of Winterfell. She married musician Joe Jonas and shares two daughters with him; although the couple divorced in 2023, motherhood profoundly changed how Turner viewed her body and beauty.

“To be honest, having kids was the best thing for my relationship to my body,” she told British Vogue in 2024. “… [My therapist] reminded me how amazing it is that our bodies can do this and how important it is to put all the nutrients in your body so that it can do that.”

Turner has also pursued a broader range of acting opportunities, including a sensual thriller opposite her former on-screen brother, Kit Harington. She took on another high-profile challenge as Lara Croft in a live-action “Tomb Raider” series, a role that demanded extensive physical and mental preparation. “I’m not normally seen as an action girl or strong in who she is as a person,” she told Net-a-Porter. “It’s refreshing to do something different.”

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau became a household name playing Jaime Lannister, the infamous Kingslayer. Even so, he has argued that the character’s appeal was not entirely his own doing. Costuming, particularly Jaime’s armor, played a major role in shaping his screen presence. “If you’ve got armor on, there’s something very hard and brutal and masculine about that,” he told Vogue in 2017. “Jaime has had such a roller-coaster emotional ride, so I’m trying to get out of the armor . . . both emotionally and physically.”

After Jaime’s fate unraveled, spoiler alert, Coster-Waldau continued taking on screen roles and other projects, including Audible’s “Radioman” podcast. He has not slowed down with age and remains willing to tackle demanding action work filled with fights and stunts. In fact, he enjoys the challenge. “Physical stuff like that is always fun and a little painful,” he told The Independent. “Knock on wood, I don’t feel a lack of energy.”

Peter Dinklage earned multiple awards for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister, one of “Game of Thrones'” most complicated and quietly heroic figures. Across all eight seasons, Tyrion was mocked, abused, and underestimated, and he was rarely framed as one of the show’s traditionally sexy characters. His wit and emotional complexity, however, made him a standout favorite.

“I think Tyrion can be the most relatable to the modern sensibility because he’s not a hero and not a villain,” Dinklage told The Guardian in 2015. “He has a sense of humour even in the worst of times.”

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Dinklage has continued to command attention in film and television, with roles in projects such as “Cyrano” and “Wicked.” His success has helped redefine what a leading man can look like in contemporary Hollywood—an evolution he welcomes. “Hollywood is finally opening the door wider to more realistic portrayals of who people are,” he told the outlet. “It’s not just about beautiful Hollywood stars.”

Pedro Pascal’s time on “Game of Thrones” was brief, but his role as Oberyn Martell helped launch him toward superstardom. Oberyn was stylish, seductive, confident, and effortlessly charismatic, qualities that made him memorable even after his departure from King’s Landing in Season 4. Pascal later landed prominent roles in franchises including “The Last of Us,” “Fantastic Four,” and “The Mandalorian.”

He also became a favorite source of internet memes, attracting an even wider global audience. Friends and co-stars have suggested that the emotional openness he displays on screen reflects his real personality. “There doesn’t seem to be a separation in his depth of feeling, as a human being on earth and as a character in a play,” Oscar Isaac told Esquire. “The emotional through line is consistent, just really raw and honest.”

Now that he’s past 50, he’s only gotten hotter — both physically and mentally. In many interviews, Pascal shows charming introspection and humor, but it’s also his toned, superhero-ready physique that fans love. But how does the new Mr. Fantastic keep in Avengers-level shape?. “Lots of core work and mobility combined with calisthenics, focusing more on movement than aesthetics,” trainer David Higgins shared with British GQ.

Before he was Aquaman, Jason Momoa was better known as Khal Drogo, the beast-like husband of Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen in the first season of “Game of Thrones.” His hulking, often shirtless figure drew many eyes, and even after his “Thrones” demise, he remained a beloved figurehead of the show’s brutal nature. To keep that incredible physique, many would think he’s spent countless hours in the gym. 

However, he’s more into hobbies like rock climbing and surfing to stay fit. That’s not to say he doesn’t train hard in the gym when he’s getting into superhero shape. “Whenever I wake up, I’m up, I don’t lie there like an idiot,” he quipped to Men’s Health. “I get up, run up a hill, get some exercise and have some time with my thoughts.”

But it doesn’t matter what he looks like for fans to find him sexy. Whether he wears his long hair up or down, dons a bright pink suit, or even shaves his famous beard (which left many fans saying the same thing), his larger-than-life physique and accompanying attitude make him irresistible to audiences. “I’m pretty secure in my masculinity,” he told InStyle in 2020. “I don’t really give a s*** what anyone thinks.”

Many remember Richard Madden as the doomed eldest Stark son, Robb, in the first three seasons of “Game of Thrones.” After his character’s bloody demise, Madden went on to woo audiences as Prince Kit (Charming) in Disney’s 2015 live-action adaptation of “Cinderella” and as a tough but tender secret agent in Netflix’s “Bodyguard” series. He even made his Marvel debut in the 2021 epic “Eternals.” 

All the while, he wowed fans worldwide with his big brown eyes, lush dark curls, and thick Scottish brogue. Was there ever a chance we wouldn’t find him handsome? Ironically, he has had his own doubts about his features. “I don’t like the look of me in the mirror,” he revealed to The Guardian, mentioning that he was overweight as a child and constantly bullied.

You wouldn’t have guessed his self-deprecating demeanor, but the “Rocketman” star continues to rack up leading man roles. He hit a new milestone in 2026 when he turned 40, marking the occasion on Instagram with a poignant post. “Just gettin’ [sic] started,” he captioned alongside pictures of his birthday cake and balloons.

As Missandei, Nathalie Emmanuel stole hearts with her soft but strong commitment to the future queen. In real life, the UK-based performer has become a go-to for fashion, turning heads on the red carpet and runway. Like many celebrities, she has a dedicated style team team to help her balance out what she calls “sensory overload.” 

But when it comes to styling herself, Emmanuel is all about confidence through comfort with a bit of urban flair. “I like to play with the masculine and the feminine, and generally mix it up,” she once told Elle UK. “I’m open to trying pretty much anything.”

When she’s not striking a pose with her signature corkscrew curls and big brown eyes, she’s tearing up the screen in the “Fast & Furious” series and horror flicks like the sultry vampire thriller “The Invitation.” But just as important as her career is her focus on her overall health. Emmanuel turns to yoga to find balance, and has even trained to become an instructor. “It’s important to check in physically, mentally, and emotionally and see what’s going on,” she told Shape.

Like his “Thrones” love interest Nathalie Emmanuel, Jacob Anderson has traded one fantasy realm for another. After endearing audiences with his portrayal of the deeply dedicated Unsullied commander Grey Worm, he broke big as Louis de Pointe du Lac in AMC’s “Interview with a Vampire.” His short hair and expressive eyes work in his favor in whatever role he plays, from forlorn and lovesick to sultry and serious. 

But when he’s in character, it takes more work to get out of their hair (literally) to fully return to himself. “I always have a shower after work, wash my hair, because Louis has got such slicked hair,” he told Men’s Health. “… It does ‘de-wind’ me, and I feel like I’m kind of shedding Louis a little bit.

Another way he inhabits his characters is through fitness. He’s picked up specific routines to help the aesthetic energy for roles. While preparing for “Vampire,” he unlocked a side of himself. “The secret that came out of [training] was that being in my body really changed how my brain functioned,” he admitted to the publication. “That was the biggest surprise.”

The statuesque six-foot-three Gwendoline Christie became an instant sensation as the beloved, butt-kicking Brienne of Tarth on “Game of Thrones.” When she’s not making major moves in series like “Star Wars” and “Wednesday,” she taps into a new side of her talent: modeling. 

From strutting on the runway for John Galliano’s Maison Margiela and Vivienne Westwood to posing for the 2026 Pirelli calendar, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty has made a whole new name for herself in the fashion world. “I’ve spent my whole life wanting to be invisible or someone else,” she told People. “[But now] the remarkable thing is that I’m probably more comfortable and confident about who I am.”

Fashion is part of Christie’s day-to-day in more ways than one, as her partner is fashion designer Giles Deacon. Christie often wears his designs on the red carpet and at events including the Met Gala, and has found a new appreciation for fashion. “You always feel celebrated as a woman when you wear [his designs],” she gushed to The Telegraph in 2016 about her partner’s first couture collection . “Their confidence somehow increases yours.”