What happened to Game of Thrones’ child stars? From landing leading roles to disappearing from the spotlight, the varied lives of the young cast as series celebrates its 15th anniversary

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It’s been 15 years since Game of Thrones first launched on HBO.

The popular fantasy book series became a worldwide success, launching the careers of actors like Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington.

It archived record-breaking viewership and won 59 Primetime Emmy Awards. 

Many of the young actors who found fame on the show have taken very different directions with their careers since the series ended.

Honestly, with her, it’s always a surprise. One minute she’s the star of everything, landing these incredible roles, and the next she’s building something completely different, like that amazing app she launched! And then…poof! She just vanishes for a while. It’s like she refuses to follow any predictable pattern, and I’m completely hooked! No two things she does are ever alike, and it’s just… fascinating.

With the anniversary of Game of Thrones happening this week, the Daily Mail is checking in on the former child actors from the show to see what they’re doing now.

Sophie Turner

Sophie was just 13 years old when she was cast as Sansa Stark in GOT.

She continued the role for all eight seasons before its conclusion.

I’ve been a huge fan of her work ever since her earlier roles, so I was thrilled to see her as the fascinating jewel thief Joan Hannington in the ITV drama Joan this year. She’s also been in The Staircase, which I’ve heard great things about, and it just proves how versatile and talented she is!

Now 30, she is set to play Lara Croft in Amazon Prime Video’s Tomb Raider series.

She and Joe Jonas were married for four years and divorced in 2023. They have two daughters together: Willa, age five, and Delphine, age three.

Kerry Ingram

Kerry shot to fame as Shireen Baratheon on the series when she was 15 years old. 

She first appeared in the show’s third season and her character’s story concluded in the fifth.

Following her role in Game of Thrones, she starred as Becky in the Netflix series Free Rein, and also appeared in its follow-up films.

She eventually dedicated herself to writing, supported the Berkshire Arts Academy, and remained involved in theater.

Jack Gleeson

Jack was 17 when he began playing Joffrey Baratheon in GOT.

He was a main cast member from season one straight through to season four. 

After his character was killed off in the series, he stepped away from major screen acting. 

Seeking a respite from his acting career, the actor pursued studies in philosophy and theology at Trinity College Dublin.

In 2020, he returned to acting in the BBC series Out of Her Mind.

He has since appeared in The Land of Saints and Sinners, The Sandman and the House of Guinness.

Maisie Williams

Maisie began playing Arya Stark at age 12 and continued in the role for all eight seasons of the show.

After the popular show Game of Thrones ended, the actress felt disoriented and had a difficult time adjusting. She then began to pursue a variety of acting projects, as well as interests in fashion and technology.

She went on to star in The New Mutants, Two Weeks to Live, Pistol, and The New Look. 

In 2019, she helped create Daisie, an app that lets young artists find each other and work together.

Isaac Hempstead Wright

Isaac was ten in the series, making him one of the youngest cast members.

The actor who portrayed Bran Stark first appeared in the first season of the show and remained a main cast member throughout its entire run.

Once the show was over, I was devastated, but honestly, I was also so proud! He didn’t just disappear like some actors do. He actually went back to school! Can you believe it? He’s getting a degree in neuroscience at University College London! It’s just… amazing. Seriously, how many actors do that? It proves he’s brilliant, not just on screen, but in real life too! I’m constantly checking for updates on his studies, it’s incredible!

He made a quick return to acting in the 2021 science fiction movie Voyagers, but soon went back to focusing on his scientific work.

According to reports, he now works in clinical training. 

Bella Ramsey

Bella secured their breakout role as Lyanna Mormont when they were ten. 

The actor portrayed the character for three years, starting around age six and continuing until age eight, and appeared in nine episodes overall.

Following their work on Game of Thrones, the actors appeared in The Worst Witch, voiced the main character in the Netflix series Hilda, and had roles in the films Judy and Resistance.

The actor, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, received praise for their role as Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us, and was nominated for an Emmy Award in both 2023 and 2025.

The third season is planned for release in 2027.

Lino Facioli

Lino was ten when he starred as Robin Arryn.

He appeared in seasons one to four with a final return in season eight.

After the series, he went on to star as Dex Thompson in the Netflix hit series Sex Education.

He also appeared in the play To Drone in the Rain and played Lieutenant Adams in the Apple TV+ miniseries Masters of the Air, which is set during World War II.

Aimee Richardson

Aimee was 13 when she appeared as Myrcella Baratheon in season one.

She continued her role up until season two.

After GOT, she continued acting, starring in Fright Shorts, The Break, and Haunted Ulster Live.

Art Parkinson

Art was just nine when he played Rickon Stark in season five.

His character returned for the final time in season six.  

After GOT, he worked as a barista in his family’s cafe, The Coffe Tree. 

He has also continued to act, with credits in Zoo, The Bay, and Kubo and the Two Strings.

Brenock O’Connor 

Brenock was 16 when he starred as Olly in season five and six.

After finishing the show, he went on to play Tom Harris in Alex Rider, had a role in the film The Bromley Boys, and portrayed Conor Lawlor in the musical version of Sing Street.

Away from acting, he’s pursued a career in music under the name McGovern.  

Eros Vlahos 

Eros appeared as Lommy Greenhands in GOT when he was 15.

He starred in season one and season two.

Since joining the show, he’s continued to act and has also begun writing and directing.

His short film, Meat Puppet, was a hit at the SXSW 2024 festival, winning both the Special Jury Prize and the Audience Award.

Ben Hawkey 

Ben was 15 when her shot to fame playing Hot Pie in the series.

He starred in seasons one, two, three, four and seven. 

After that position, he switched careers and started a pop-up bakery in London named You Know Nothing John Dough.

He briefly returned to acting with a role in the film The Drowning of Arthur Braxton.  

Callum Wharry

Callum was just ten when he played Tommen Baratheon in GOT. 

He originally played the part for the first two seasons, but Dean-Charles Chapman took over the role starting with Season four.

Since his appearance on the series, Callum has stepped away from acting. 

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2026-04-19 14:05