When Game of Thrones started its roll, nobody could have imagined the success it would get. The show starred several small or moderately famous British actors and some random American actors and had virtually no big names. But all of the GoT actors are now so rich and famous, that they may never have to work again. But what were they doing before they signed up for Game of Thrones?
GOT main man Kit Harington who plays Jon Snow on the show used to be an unknown theatre actor and drama student before he made it big. But his lead stint in the adaptation of War Horse was praised by the British audiences. He did do some theatre after GoT too but he will always be known as Jon Snow.
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GOT's most fascinating character Tyrion Lannister is played by actor Peter Dinklage. Peter had admitted that he had struggled for quite a while before making it big. In fact, he did some underpaid theatre roles and some minor roles in movies. His breakout role was in the movie The Station Agent. He had also acted in Death at a Funeral and the X-Men series but GoT is where his heart lies.
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The fiercest GoT character Arya Stark is actually played by someone who has had no experience in acting. Maisie Williams was just a kid when she started out as Arya Stark on the show, but now she is 19, a household name and has several big-budget films in her bag.
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Sophie Turner turned quite a few heads as the beautiful and brave Stark girl Sansa. But Sophie too was just a teenager when she appeared on the show. Sophie had to grow up in the limelight and at 21, she is not just one of the most sought-after names, but is also poised for Hollywood stardom.
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Isaac interestingly had acting debut in the film The Awakening as a child artiste. He got an offer to play Bran Stark on GoT the same year and the rest is of course history. Not only has Isaac been a recurring character but is currently one of the most crucial characters on the show.
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Nobody really knew Nikolaj before GoT. Of course he was a looker and had acted in some Danish films. He made his Hollywood debut with the film Black Hawk Down but he only got serious mainstream attention after appearing as the Lannister warrior Jaime, who is involved in an incestuous relationship with his sister.
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Lena was perhaps one of the most successful names to have been cast for the show. She had quite a fan base even before GoT. Not only has she played Sarah Connor in Terminator movies but had also acted in many British films. But her biggest claim to fame is, of course, playing the cruel Cersei Lannister on GoT.
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Alfie who plays the unfortunate and cowardly Theon Greyjoy on GoT had some minor roles as a child and teen artiste in some major Hollywood movies like Elizabeth and Agent Cody Banks 2. But he never really was famous until he starred on GoT as the shady Greyjoy sibling.
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In spite of being a total stunner and popular name in the British showbiz industry, Natalie only got real recognition after starring on Game of Thrones as the manipulative Margaery Tyrell. Though she had starred in the film Casanova and the hit show The Tudors, people around the world only associate her with GoT.
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In spite of being a fantastic actor and a critical success, Aiden never found widespread fame, that is until he starred on GoT. His stint as the evil and plotting Little Finger brought him much acclaim and he even got bigger roles post GoT.
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Cunningham is one of the oldest GoT cast members and yet he was virtually unknown before he got to play Ser Davos in GoT. Though he has been in the industry since 1992 he only got fame in 2012 post his GoT stint.
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Gwendoline is one of the most prolific actors on the show who has perhaps made the most impact and yet did movie buffs know who she was before GoT? No. Though she has appeared in one or two children's films, Gwendoline was discovered in her mid-thirties when she joined GoT as the fiery Brienne of Tarth.
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You might remember Carice from her roles in films like Suze Q or Valkyrie or you might not. But Carice found widespread recognition as the mysterious priestess Melisandre in GoT. Not only was she unanimously appreciated for her performance, fans also want to see her in the GoT spin-offs.
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Despite his stellar looks, Huisman couldn't acquire fame or success as an actor. He had appeared alongside Carice in Suzy Q and was cast as the warrior Daario Naharis in GoT in 2014.
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Indira has starred in the critically acclaimed show Luther and the film Bride and Prejudice, and yet couldn't manage to make it big in Hollywood. She plays the role of Ellaria Sand on GoT and her character was just recently killed off.
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Nathalie might be a total sensation and an Instagram superstar right now but before GoT, Nathalie had only acted in a West End production of Lion King and the British sitcom Hollyoaks. However, she found tremendous success as the beautiful Missandei on GoT.
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Everybody loves John Bradley as the adorable Sam in GoT. But before the show John had only had a moderately small role in the hot history drama Borgia. And now, has GoT success has made him incredibly famous.
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Hannah found considerable success with the hit teen drama Skins but was not exactly a showbiz fixture. The young actress found stardom When she was cast as Sam's love interest Gilly on GoT. And now, her character will be back one more time for the finale.
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Jason has had quite a life even before his GoT break. He travelled a lot and took up painting in Paris and also studied Buddhism. He was discovered by a renowned designer who asked him to take up modelling. Though he did act in Baywatch Hawaii and a couple of other projects, his breakout role was obviously starring as Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones.
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Emilia is now famously known as Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen, as per her GoT role, but before GoT she had only acted in some plays and had some small roles in British sitcoms. She was eventually cast as the Khaleesi on GoT and has been one of the major protagonists on the show
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