Game of Thrones fans have spent so long with certain characters on the show that it becomes extremely odd to see them as they were when they first appeared in the series. This isn't always the case when it comes to the characters who were in their thirties when the show started back in 2011, or the many who were offed swiftly after they were first introduced, but it definitely is for some of the younger cast members.
The Stark children, or what's left of them these days, are a prime example of this vast change. Jon Snow is looking far more battle-worn and wind-battered (though just as sullen) now than he did when he left Winterfell to head to the wall seven years ago. Sansa has grown from a naive child with dreams of marrying a prince into a strong leader. And Bran, well, he's gone through puberty in a major way.
But this is definitely true of Arya too, who is played by
Maisie Williams. The actress, much like her character, has changed over the years. She was only 13 when she landed the part and is now hitting her twenties as they film the final season of the hit fantasy show. In an interview with the Irish Times, she revealed that her way of thinking has changed dramatically over those years spent on set.
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"I didn’t even know what the word feminist meant until I became actress,” she said. “Within my family I never felt that I had to conform to any kind of types. I had no idea about what was typically male or typically female."
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On top of this, she said that she has also come to realize the type of characters she can play and how she may be limited in the future by her looks, down to the beauty standards of the industry.
"It's only now I'm starting to realise the characters that are available to me because of the way I look and the characters that aren't available to me.
"It’s a very shallow industry. 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. I love looking at those totally jaw-droppingly beautiful women. But I think it’s sad that you only get to see one type of beautiful on screen."
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One of the other things that has developed over the course of the show is her close friendship with
Sophie Turner, who plays her older sister Sansa in the series. During an interview with the Radio Times, she was asked whether she would be a bridesmaid at
Turner's wedding to singer Joe Jonas, to which Williams replied: "I've already got it".
It seems like the Stark children are well and truly growing up, but Williams' doubts about her place in Hollywood haven't stopped her from nabbing roles in various projects, such as the X-Men horror spin-off
whose terrifying trailer intrigued fans.
