Jason Momoa, Peter Dinklage and Other 'Game of Thrones' Actors in Their First Roles

The HBO hit series featured a great number of characters, which allowed the showrunners to work with actors and actresses of all ages and backgrounds. Here are some of their earlier roles.

Some of the actors and actresses that made up the cast of “Game of Thrones” (2011-2019) were first timers that walked out of the series with successful careers, while others were legends prior to appear in the popular fantasy series.

As glamorous as being part of one of the most-watched shows of the last years is, these talented performers cannot hide their sometimes embarrassing earlier roles, so let’s have a little fun by revisiting them.

EMILIA CLARKE

Before landing the role of Daenerys Targaryen, the 33-year-old English actress had very limited experience as an actress, but one of her most prominent roles was in the action-comedy film “Triassic Attack” (2010), playing a girl named Savannah.

JONATHAN PRYCE

The 72-year-old British actor had already led a great career before joining the series to play High Sparrow (2015-2016), debuting in the ‘70s. But his 1999 portrayal of The Master in “Comic Relief: Doctor Who – The Curse of Fatal Death” remains one of the most awkward to date.

JASON MOMOA

The 40-year-old Hawaiian-born actor played the short-lived but unforgettable Khal Drogo (2011-2012), becoming a household name. But you would hardly recognize him for his role on “Baywatch” (1999-2001), playing the beardless Jason Ioane.

PETER DINKLAGE

The 50-year-old stole the show with his brilliant performance as Tyrion Lannister, appearing in more episodes than anyone else in the series. With a long career behind him, one of his most remarkable early appearances was in the 2003 film “Tiptoes.”

LENA HEADEY

More than a decade before bringing the evil Cersei Lannister to life, the 46-year-old British actress had a role in the 1994 TV movie “MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday,” playing Elisa Moran, whom MacGyver helps solve the murder of her father.

CHARLES DANCE

The 73-year-old English veteran actor’s career dates back to the mid-70s, but the that stuck in people’s minds before playing Tywin Lannister in “GOT,” was that of assassin Benedict in “Last Action Hero” (1993), opposing Arnold Schwarzenegger.

SOPHIE TURNER

The 23-year-old actress debuted in television with the role of Sansa Stark in the series, and during the series’ run, she went on to portray Jean Grey/Phoenix in the “X-Men” franchise, among other roles in her rising career.

MAISIE WILLIAMS

22-year-old Williams also debuted in “GOT” playing Arya Stark, instantly becoming a fan-favorite. She has continued working as an actress with roles in TV series “Doctor Who” (2015), and the film “Then Came You” in 2018.

KIT HARINGTON

33-year-old first role on the screen was that of the beloved Jon Snow in “GOT,” and he walked out of the series a big star. He has also worked as a voice actor for the “How to Train Your Dragon” animated series.

MICHELLE FAIRLEY

The 56-year-old actress played Catelyn Stark in the series from 2011 to 2013. One of her most notorious guest appearances on TV at the beginninigs of her career was in the TV series “Lovejoy” (1992) as Nancy Phelan.

MARK ADDY

The 56-year-old English actor played Robert Baratheon beautifully for his 7-episode run in the series, and we bet few people recognized him from his hilarious role as Fred Flintstone in “The Flinstones in Viva Rock Vegas” (2000).

NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU

The 49-year-old Danish actor found fame in Hollywood by playing Jaime Lannister in the series, but before that, he had worked in a lot of films in his country. 1994’s “Nightwatch” was his breakthrough role.

NATALIE DORMER

The 37-year-old actress that played Margaery Tyrell in the series from 2012-2016, had her big-screen debut in 2005 with “Casanova,” and also starred in “The Tudors” (2007-2010).

IAIN GLEN

The 58-year-old Scottish actor played Ser Jorah Mormont in the series (2016-2019), known for his role as Dr. Isaacs in the “Resident Evil” films. One of his earliest film appearances was in 1988’s “Gorillas in the Midst.”

ISAAC HEMPSTEAD WRIGHT

He was 12 years old when “GOT” premiered in 2011, and it was his first time as a TV actor, playing Bran Stark also known as Three-Eyed Raven. Besides his TV work, he has appeared in films like “Closed Circuit” (2013) and “The Awakening” (2011).