Skip To Content
Homepage
Sign In
Search BuzzFeed

    The Best Performances From The "Game Of Thrones" Cast Post-"Game Of Thrones"

    What the cast has been up to post-beheadings, poisonings, stabbings, and being burned alive by a dragon.

    Matthew Huff
    by Matthew Huff

    BuzzFeed Staff

    *SPOILER ALERT* for all seasons of Game of Thrones

    Remember a little ole show called Game of Thrones?

    HBO / Via giphy.com

    The one with dragons and incest and white-haired people before everyone started talking about House of the Dragon? The one that started really well but then sort of took a tumble at the end? The one with the Starbucks cup? 

    Been wondering what all your favorite actors from the show have been up to?

    HBO / Via buzzfeed.com

    What is Hodor up to? Where have I seen Tommen Baratheon lately? What ever happened to the Sand Snakes?

    Well, I'm coming in hot to answer your questions. I've compiled a list of 38 of your favorite Game of Thrones actors along with the best films and TV shows they've stared in since their characters were killed (because let's be honest, most of these characters didn't survive the series).

    HBO / Via giphy.com

    I picked most of the big names, but a few of those like Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon) and Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark) haven't acted much since the show started. I also added some smaller players if they've had especially big breaks since they battled White Walkers, dragons, and Walder Frey. Hopefully, this will give you plenty of streaming options for when you need a GoT fix now that the show is over. 

    Without any further ado, your favorite Game of Thrones characters and their best work since leaving the show:

    1. Sean Bean (Ned Stark) — The Martian

    Nick Briggs/HBO, 20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: The patriarch of the Stark clan only lasted one season on the show before the Lannisters lopped his head off at King's Landing. It was the surprise twist ending of Season 1 after Bean received top billing and ate up plenty of screen time.

    Best role since: His early departure gave Bean over a decade to wrack up post-GoT credits, but his buzziest film was the Best Picture-nominated The Martian, in which he plays the earth-bound flight director of the NASA mission that leaves Matt Damon stranded on Mars.

    Other recent projects: Roles in films like Mirror Mirror, Jupiter Ascending, and Wolfwalkers as well as TV roles in Missing, Legends, and Snowpiercer.

    2. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) — Against the Ice

    Macall B. Polay/HBO, Netflix

    GoT claim to fame: Unlike Ned Stark, Coster-Waldau's Jaime Lannister was one of the show's final casualties. The anti-hero teetered on redemption and a relationship with Brienne of Tarth before ultimately deciding to return to his twincestual hookups with Cersei. The pair were buried alive together during the sacking of King's Landing.

    Best role since: Since the show's wrap in 2019, NCW hasn't had much time to perform, but he did play Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen, an early 1900s Danish explorer in this historical biography. Ratings weren't great, but he does get to spend time with sled dogs, so there's that.

    Other recent projects: A 2020 action film called The Silencing and a Danish film called A Taste of Hunger are his only other projects.

    3. Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark) — The White Princess

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Aimee Spinks/Starz/Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Lady Catelyn outlasted her husband Ned, only to fall victim to Season 3's infamous "Red Wedding." While her character returns as a zombie in the books, she did not pop back up on the show.

    Best role since: Fairley returned to another castle-set drama in the historical miniseries The White Princess, based on Philippa Gregory's novel. She plays Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII, a villainous turn after playing a heroine in Game of Thrones.

    Other recent projects: Since her exit in 2013, Fairley has starred in films like Ironclad: Battle for Blood and In the Heart of the Sea and has nabbed reoccurring roles on shows like Resurrection, Crossing Lines, and Gangs of London.

    4. Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) — The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

    Macall B. Polay/HBO, Netflix

    GoT claim to fame: Cersei caused all manner of bloodshed and mayhem during her tenure in King's Landing, watching three children die, and murdering countless others in pursuit of the throne. She ended up dead under a pile of rubble with her dear brother/lover Jaime.

    Best role since: Post-walk of shame, Headey has been doing mostly voice work including a role in the reboot of The Dark Crystal series for Netflix, where she plays one of Jim Henson's puppet fantasy creations.

    Other recent projects: She was in the Dickens-inspired crime drama Twist and the assassin flick Gunpowder Milkshake.

    5. Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) — Last Christmas

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Jonathan Prime / Universal / courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: After 7.5 seasons as a fan favorite, Clarke's Dany flew (on dragon) off the handle, burning down King's Landing in one of the most baffling choices ever made by television writers. She is then assassinated by her nephew Jon Snow and carried off by her dragon.

    Best role since: Her ONLY role since GoT has been the holiday film in which she plays an ornery Christmas store worker who falls in love with a mysterious Henry Golding.

    Other recent projects: While nothing else has arrived yet, she is in an upcoming Marvel series and several movies that should be hitting theaters in the near future.

    6. Harry Lloyd (Viserys Targaryen) – Brave New World

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Peacock

    GoT claim to fame: Dany's older brother Viserys (a name confusingly also used in House of the Dragon because the show wants me to just call everyone by names like "the sickly old dude" and "the one who was gonna stab the kid in the eye") was the show's first major kill. He only lasted five episodes before molten gold was poured on his head.

    Best role since: Lloyd got a juicy role in the Brave New World Peacock adaptation based off the Aldous Huxley novel, where he played Bernard Marx.

    Other recent projects: He had roles in prestigious miniseries like Wolf Hall, and Great Expectations, played Charles Xavier in Legion, and appears as ghost Richard III in this year's The Lost King.

    7. Kit Harington (Jon Snow) — Eternals

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / © Marvel Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Jon Snow. The first character on this list to outlive Game of Thrones, although he was murdered and subsequently brought back to life by a thousand-year-old witch. On the show, he was broody, fought White Walkers, and murdered Auntie Dany after having sexual intercourse with her.

    Best role since: Harington seems to be building up to a career as a superhero in the MCU, as he played Gemma Chan's non-superhero boyfriend Dane Whitman in Eternals last year, only to be the subject of a twist ending.

    Other recent projects: An episode of Criminal: UK and one of Modern Love are his only other credits so far, but the Season 8 cast has had much less time to put work out (especially with COVID).

    8. Richard Madden (Robb Stark) — Rocketman

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Gavin Bond/Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Like his mother, Robb did not survive Season 3's "Red Wedding," getting axed in the gory deathtrap due to his refusal to marry a Frey. He was hot, and we thought he had leadership potential, but alas no.

    Best role since: Madden has built up quite a career since Game of Thrones, teaming up with his previous castmates repeatedly on subsequent projects. One particularly interesting turn was as John Reid, the duplicitous, slithery manager of Elton John in this musical biopic. Remember the name John Reid, because you will hear it again on this list.

    Other recent projects: Madden won a Golden Globe for his work in Bodyguard, popped in for a one-scene, gut-wrenching showstopper in 1917, and played alongside GoT stepbrother? (half brother? uncle? cousin?) in Eternals.

    9. Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) — Do Revenge

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Netflix /Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame:As Robb's younger sister, she was counted out as whiny for most of the show's run before establishing herself as a clever power player in the final seasons, ultimately exiting alive and as Queen of the North.

    Best role since: Turner just stole Do Revenge out from under her costars with only a few scenes in the Netflix high school thriller. "I don't even do cocaine," will soon be tattooed on my body.

    Other recent projects: Aside from marrying Joe Jonas, having two kids, and starring in the "Sucker" music video, Turner also starred in this year's miniseries The Staircase and the X-Men film Dark Phoenix. Also, we can never forget her Quibi show Survive.

    10. Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) — Two Weeks to Live

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Nick Wall/BBC/HBO

    GoT claim to fame: A true badass from the jump, Arya was a killing machine throughout the series, not only crossing many names off her "to murder" list, but becoming a shapeshifter, and destroying the entire army of White Walkers singlehandedly along the way. She lived to sail west of Westeros.

    Best role since: Williams shined as Kim alongside Fleabag's Sian Clifford in this miniseries about a mother/daughter pair being reintroduced to society after most of Kim's life. Of course, she's also on a mission to kill the man who murdered her father as Maisie Williams' characters tend to do.

    Other recent projects: The ill-fated COVID release The New Mutants, the thriller The Owners, and the FX series Pistol are her other recent credits.

    11. Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) — Jojo Rabbit

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Larry Horricks/Fox Searchlight/Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Theon starts the series the narcissistic sexpot ward of Ned Stark before betraying the Starks, being captured by Ramsay Bolton, and becoming a shell of a human. He is ultimately killed defending Bran Stark from the White Walkers in the show's final season, dying just before the finish line.

    Best role since: Allen (who I am contractually obligated to remind you appears in one of the best sequences in cinematic history), pops up here as the assistant to Sam Rockwell's Nazi in the Best Picture nominee Jojo Rabbit. Allen is fun here, and I liked the role even more once I realized there was a queer subtext going on throughout the film.

    Other recent projects: The vampire thriller Night Teeth and the British true crime drama White House Farm are his other two major roles since Game of Thrones's end. Agent Cody Banks 3 anyone?

    12. Rory McCann (Sandor "The Hound" Clegane) — Jumanji: The Next Level

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Sony Pictures Releasing

    GoT claim to fame: The Hound started the series as hired hand of the Lannisters, but his arc throughout the series takes him all across Westeros in various pairings including a fan favorite combo with Arya. His chief aim, to kill his brother the Mountain, however was accomplished in the final season where Sandor hurled both Clegane brothers off a crumbling tower together.

    Best role since: McCann has't appeared in much post-GoT, but his role as a caveman in the video game portion of Jumanji 2 was worth a laugh.

    Other recent projects: He appeared in two episodes of the British mystery show The Irregulars and will be voicing Megatron in the upcoming Transformers: EarthSpark animated TV show.

    13. Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) — I Care a Lot

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Seacia Pavao / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Tyrion made quite the journey in Game of Thrones, going from philandering alcoholic to Master of Coin to Sansa's husband to father killer to Essos hostage to Hand of the Queen to a death sentence to Hand of the King again. All the while, he's drinking and knowing things.

    Best role since: The multiple Emmy winner was delightful as the sparring partner for Rosamund Pike in I Care a Lot as the two tried to screw each other over in various schemes involving nursing home fraud.

    Other recent projects: He also did battle with a feisty Shirley MacLaine in American Dreamer and in a musical rumble against Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Cyrano. Next year, you'll be able to catch him in the Hunger Games prequel.

    14. Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo) — Dune

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: The Dothraki horse lord became a fan favorite and sex symbol in Season 1 when he married Dany. Unfortunately, he was killed by a witch before the season concluded. Dany's dragon Drogon, however, was named after him.

    Best role since: Momoa has had plenty of time to act post GoT, but his best film is certainly last year's Best Picture nominee Dune, in which he plays the badass warrior with a stupid name Duncan Idaho. Momoa was a bit outacted by his fellow cast members, but his final fight scene was incredible.

    Other recent projects: He is, of course, Aquaman in a variety of DC films, but also stars in his own Apple TV+ show See, and played the titular role in Braven, possibly the stupidest action film I've ever seen (take that for good or for bad).

    15. Aidan Gillen (Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish) — Bohemian Rhapsody

    Helen Sloan/HBO, 20th Century Fox

    GoT claim to fame: Littlefinger used his "chaos is a ladder" theory to hopscotch his way up the Game of Thrones hierarchy for most of the show's run. Unfortunately, his trying to pit Arya and Sansa against each other in Season 7 led to the pair whacking him just before the show's final season. (Perhaps, a mercy kill as the final season was horrific.)

    Best role since: The character actor has had plenty of roles in his short tenure following Game of Thrones, but none was more memorable than when he played skeezy music manager John Reid in the Freddie Mercury biopic. Yes, that would be the same skeezy music manager John Reid who Richard Madden played in the Elton John biopic. The man truly got around.

    Other recent projects: Gillen was in multiple installments of the Maze Runner films, and took roles in Peaky Blinders, Kin, and Mayor of Kingstown.

    16. John Bradley (Samwell Tarly) — Marry Me

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Barry Wetcher /Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: After being sent to the Night's Watch by his hateful father, Sam befriends Jon Snow, helps brainstorm the plan to kill the White Walkers, marries Gilly, and ultimately becomes a Grand Maester.

    Best role since: Bradley got to star alongside Jennifer Lopez in this year's musical romp Marry Me, playing an assistant to Lopez's Kat Valdez. Oh, to be graced with such stardom.

    Other recent projects: He was also in this year's Moonfall, but we won't talk about that.

    17. Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister) — The King's Man

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Peter Mountain/20th Century Studios/Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Tywin Lannister held a tight grip on the politics of Westeros, bulldozing the competition in favor of his children and grandchildren's claims for the throne. Unfortunately, he didn't quite know how to manage family dynamics as well as he did political ones and was murdered with a crossbow while shitting at the hands of his own son in Season 4.

    Best role since: The prolific actor has appeared in numerous projects since his character was offed, but lended some gravitas to the recent Kingsman prequel playing Herbert, Lord Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War.

    Other recent projects: Where do we even begin? Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Ghostbusters, Johnny English Strikes Again, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Mank, Against the Ice (with onscreen son NCW), The Little Drummer Girl, and a glitzy role in The Crown. The man is WORKING, and we are here for it.

    18. Kristian Nairn (Hodor) — Our Flag Means Death

    HBO, Aaron Epstein/HBO

    GoT claim to fame: Hodor carried around Bran, said his name, and ultimately was destroyed by White Walkers in one of the most gut-wrenching sequences of the entire show. A hero!

    Best role since: Nairn, who started out as a DJ at a gay club in Belfast, made a name for himself as Hodor, before becoming a pirate obsessed with fire in the comedy series which was recently renewed for a second season.

    Other recent projects: The Our Flag Means Death role is his only major one since Game of Thrones, but he did guest star on an episode of The Rookie.

    19. Lino Facioli (Robin Arryn) — Sex Education

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Netflix

    GoT claim to fame: Good ole sweet Robin was mostly sucking on his mom's tit and demanding people be thrown out the moon door. However, once his mom was murdered by Littlefinger, he seemed to do okay and was last seen agreeing that Bran should be king in the series finale.

    Best role since: His one and only role since Game of Thrones has been in Sex Education where he plays Dex Thompson, a member of the Quiz Heads team who memorably runs around campus naked holding a goat in Season 3.

    Other recent projects: We're waiting for more.

    20. Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon) — The Crown

    HBO, Netflix

    GoT claim to fame: Stannis, the no nonsense brother of OG king Robert Baratheon, shacks up with Melisandre and her fire witchcraft as he tries to become King of Westeros. An initially successful bid for the North, however, goes south (see what I did there?) when Ramsay Bolton sacks his camp. He burns his own daughter at the stake, and is ultimately killed by Brienne of Tarth (vengeance for killing queer icon and soft boy Renly with a ghost).

    Best role since: Dillane is one of several GoT actors who have appeared on The Crown. While he's only in one episode, it's a memorable turn as Graham Sutherland, an artist who paints a birthday portrait of Winston Churchill that Churchill DESPISES.

    Other recent projects: Dillane is a series regular on Alex Rider and also appeared in Mary Shelley, Outlaw King, and another Winston Churchill-adjacent project Darkest Hour.

    21. Carice van Houten (Melisandre) — Instinct

    Helen Sloan/HBO, A24

    GoT claim to fame: Melisandre, the fire witch, spent her time on Game of Thrones wreaking havoc through various whispered prophecies and spells. She's initially Team Stannis, but once her plan to burn his daughter doesn't quite pan out, she resurrects Jon Snow, convinces Arya to kill the White Walkers, and then turns to dust as she's actually a billion years old held up by magic necklace.

    Best role since: The Dutch actress hasn't appeared in much, but she did star in an erotic thriller about a prison psychologist falling in love with an inmate called Instinct that was directed by Bodies Bodies Bodies filmmaker Halina Reijn.

    Other recent projects: A Starz adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons is in the works atm.

    22. Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) — Picnic at Hanging Rock

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Amazon/FreemantleMedia Australia / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Margaery Tyrell is THE GOAT of Game of Thrones. If you think any other individual deserved the Iron Throne more, you are a stone cold idiot. An LGBTQ+ ally, she was willing to let Renly and her brother Loras do the dirty so long as she became queen. When Renly dies, she relocates to King's Landing where she snows the Lannisters into letting her marry Joffrey, repeatedly dunks on Cersei with incredible one liners, and becomes a Princess Diana-level princess of the people. Once her grandmother poisons Joffrey, she then marries Tommen, the next king, who falls head over heals for her. Even though she's arrested by the High Sparrow, she secures her freedom and that of her brother. She's the one who figures out Cersei's bomb threat, and her "death" is enough to land the final blow to Cersei's sanity as Tommen, racked with grief and furious at his mother, jumps out a window. Margaery is the smartest, most stylish, wittiest, most talented character in all of Game of Thrones, and I REFUSE to believe she died in that explosion. She's hiding somewhere biding her time. House Tyrell is always "growing strong," and Margaery is going to make short work of Bran whenever she comes out of hiding.

    Best role since: Dormer, who is exquisite, should be getting more juicy roles, but her best to date has been as Hester Appleyard, the headmistress of a girls school that suffers the disappearance of several students.

    Other recent projects: She, too, voiced a character in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance with Lena Headey, and starred in the one-season Penny Dreadful spinoff City of Angels. Dormer and her Grade A smirk should be utilized more, though. Why has she not been a guest star on Succession? Tell me that isn't a match made in heaven!

    23. Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth) — The Personal History of David Copperfield

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Searchlight Pictures

    GoT claim to fame: Brienne spent much of Game of Thrones trying to find someone to be a loyal soldier on behalf of and was subsequently passed around like a hot potato. She sleeps with Jaime once, but then he ditches her for Cersei. Brienne does survive all eight seasons to become the commander of Bran's Kingsguard.

    Best role since: She hasn't had much time, but she is incredibly fun in a small role in The Personal History of David Copperfield as Jane Murdstone.

    Other recent projects: She was in two episodes of The Sandman and has both Wednesday, the Addams Family spinoff, and Flux Gourmet, a black comedy, coming out soon.

    24. Tom Wlaschiha (Jaqen H'ghar) — Stranger Things

    HBO, Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: The Faceless Man pops up in Season 2 while Arya is at Harrenhal, gives her a coin, and changes his face. He then teaches her to be a a shapeshifter inside the House of Black and White. We last see him in Season 6 when Arya leaves to return to Westeros.

    Best role since: The German actor most notably appeared in Season 4 of Stranger Things as one of Hopper's Russian captors who ultimately helps him defeat the forces from the Upside Down.

    Other recent projects: He's worked in a variety of international projects including the German adaptation of Das Boot. In the States, he also appeared in several episodes of Prime Video's Jack Ryan series.

    25. Michael McElhatton (Roose Bolton) — Chernobyl

    Helen Sloan/HBO, HBO

    GoT claim to fame: Roose starts as one of Robb Stark's allies before betraying him to the Lannisters to gain more power for him and his bastard son Ramsay. Unfortunately, the power-hungry gene runs in the family, and Ramsay murders him in Season 6 when he fears his father might be making moves to disinherit him.

    Best role since: A noted British character actor, McElhatton has appeared in multiple projects including the lauded HBO miniseries Chernobyl where he plays the trial prosecutor.

    Other recent projects: The man is busy. The Zookeeper's Wife, King Arthur: Legend of theSword, The Foreigner, Justice League, The Last Duel, Das Boot, The Alienist: Angel of Darkness, and The Wheel of Time are only some of his recent roles.

    26. Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy) — Emma.

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Focus Features

    GoT claim to fame: Theon's queer sister is definitely the more resilient of the pair, sailing all around Westeros to be involved in a variety of contests in hopes of becoming Lady of the Iron Islands, a title she eventually earns at the end of Season 8, when the other Greyjoys are mostly dead.

    Best role since: The antithesis of her Game of Thrones character, Whelan plays Mrs. Weston, Emma's lovely governess who goes off and gets married, thus launching Emma into a new string of meddling antics.

    Other recent projects: Most notably, Whelan did appear in Season 3 of Killing Eve as Geraldine, the daughter of Fiona Shaw's Carolyn.

    27. Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane) — Downhill

    HBO, Jaap Buitendijk/Fox Searchlight/Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Tormund is a leader of the Wildlings who gets roped up in the northern battle against the White Walkers in the show's later seasons. He thinks Brienne is hot and ultimately returns north of the wall with Jon Snow's direwolf Ghost.

    Best role since: The Norwegian actor hasn't had many roles since the show's end, but he did star in Downhill, the American remake of the incredible Force Majeure, which he also stars in.

    Other recent projects: He voiced a character in DuckTales and starred in Norwegian crime drama called Twin.

    28. Michiel Huisman (Daario Naharis) — The Flight Attendant

    HBO, HBO Max

    GoT claim to fame: Perhaps, Dario is the real Faceless Man as he was played by Ed Skrein in Season 3 before Huisman arrived for Seasons 4-6. After helping Dany gain power in Slaver's Bay, he stays behind while she travels to Westeros. Unclear as to what happens to him after she leaves.

    Best role since: I for one loved the fizzy first season of The Flight Attendant, and Huisman was fun as Alex Sokolov, and his ghost that followed Kaley Cuoco's Cassie around and helped her solve his murder.

    Other recent projects: Huisman, of course, also starred in The Haunting of Hill House and the wonderfully named The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (which I dare you to remember correctly).

    29. Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei) — F9

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Missandei arrived in Season 3 as a new slave for Dany but quickly became one of her closest confidants. While we wanted a happy ending for the intelligent and beautiful aide, she was beheaded by The Mountain in the show's final bloodbath.

    Best role since: While Emmanuel took on her role of Ramsey in Furious 7 while still filming Game of Thrones, she appeared in the two followup films and is set to return in both parts of the 10th installment.

    Other recent projects: She's in the recent vampire film The Invitation, starred in the remake miniseries of Four Weddings and a Funeral, and (along with other GoT ladies) provided a voice for a puppet in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

    30. Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm) — Interview with a Vampire

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Alfonso Bresciani / ©AMC+ / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: You can't talk about Missandei without mentioning her bestie/lover, the eunuch warrior Grey Worm of the Unsullied. After Missandei's death, he, like Dany, goes buck wild, but surprisingly, he survives the series, sailing off to Missandei's homeland of Naath at the show's conclusion.

    Best role since: Anderson recently made headlines as Louis de Pointe du Lac in the Interview with the Vampire series where he's having wild, horny, vampiric gay sex with costar Sam Reid.

    Other recent projects: Prior to his (blood)lust, he appeared in several episodes of Doctor Who.

    31. Ciaran Hinds (Mance Rayder) — Belfast

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Rob Youngson / Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: The legendary Irish actor arrived at the beginning of Season 3 as the former member of the Night's Watch turned "King-beyond-the-Wall," uniting the wildlings together. While his fate is unknown in the books, in the show, he is sentenced to be burned alive by Stannis/Melisandre, but is ultimately killed with an arrow from Jon Snow who thinks he deserves a less painful death.

    Best role since: Can't get much better than an Oscar nomination, can you? Hinds received a Best Supporting Actor nod last year for playing the grandfather (and husband of Judi Dench) in Kenneth Branagh's Best Picture-nominated drama.

    Other recent projects: After his five episodes on Game of Thrones, Hinds snagged roles in numerous top tier projects including Martin Scorsese's Silence, Justice League as the villain Steppenwolf, First Man, Frozen II, and Kin, where he starred opposite fellow GoT alum Aidan Gillen.

    32. Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Jojen Reed) — The Queen's Gambit

    HBO, Ken Woroner / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Jojen Reed, and his sister Meera, appear in Season 3 mostly to help get the wheelchair/sled/Hodor-bound Bran to the Three-Eyed Raven north of the wall. After two seasons of trudging through snow, Jojen was killed by wights, just as the crew arrived at their destination.

    Best role since: Brodie-Sangster gained more notoriety for his role as Benny Watts, one of the romantic interests in The Queen's Gambit, where he played opposite Anya Taylor-Joy in the world of chess. He also had a mustache and wore hats.

    Other recent projects: He appeared alongside other GoT alum in Wolf Hall, was in the western Godless, and starred alongside Dylan O'Brien in the Maze Runner films.

    33. Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon) — 1917

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Francois Duhamel / Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: After the death of Joffrey, Tommen got thrust onto the throne. He didn't really want to play the game, fell head over heals in love with Margaery, and then threw himself out a window at the end of Season 6 after his mother murdered her.

    Best role since: Chapman was absolutely incredible in 2019's Oscar darling 1917, for which he probably should have been nominated himself. He played a young soldier in 1917 attempting to get a message across enemy lines to his brother.

    Other recent projects: The Liam Neeson thriller The Commuter, the Anya Taylor-Joy drama Here Are the Young Men, and the recent Lena Dunham-directed Catherine Called Birdy are among some of his film credits post defenestration.

    34. Pedro Pascal (Oberyn Martell) — The Mandalorian

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Disney+ / Lucasfilm / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Oberyn Martell provided fresh blood to Season 4 as he arrived in King's Landing to stir up trouble. For as sexy and charismatic as he was, however, he didn't last long as his skull was imploded by The Mountain during a duel.

    Best role since: I would argue that no one has turned their five seconds of GoT fame into more than Pascal who snatched up the lead role in the Star Wars spin-off (which I'm sure is helping him rake in the dough).

    Other recent projects: Since 2014, Pascal also landed a lead role in Narcos, appeared in The Book of Boba Fett, and stole the show in installments of the Kingsman, The Equalizer, and Wonder Woman franchises. He was also in the gorgeous If Beale Street Could Talk and this year's meta Nicolas Cage flick The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. All that from seven episodes of Game of Thrones.

    35. Jonathan Pryce (The High Sparrow) — The Two Popes

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Peter Mountain / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: With Oberyn gone, The High Sparrow appeared in Seasons 5 and 6 as the chief Lannister opponent in King's Landing. While initially gaining the upper-hand, he was eventually offed by Cersei in the explosion that also eliminated Margaery.

    Best role since: The veteran actor received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Pope Francis in this drama starring opposite Anthony Hopkins' Pope Benedict XVI.

    Other recent projects: Pryce has taken roles in several meaty dramas including The Wife and All the Old Knives. He will also be taking over the role of Prince Philip from Tobias Menzies in Season 5 of The Crown which premieres in November.

    36. Jessica Henwick (Nymeria Sand) — Love and Monsters

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Perhaps the worst late-Game of Thrones additions to the cast were the Dornish Sand Snakes, who were largely ineffective and loathed by the fans. Nymeria and her sisters were all killed in Season 7 with Nymeria being choked to death by Euron Greyjoy and hung from the prow of the ship. Good riddance.

    Best role since: Henwick, however, made good on her brief stint on the show, appearing in the delightful monster flick/romance Love and Monsters, which is a severely underrated favorite of mine.

    Other recent projects: Henwick also appeared in The Matrix Resurrections last year as the blue-haired Bugs and will be making her way to the big screens again shortly in the Knives Out sequel Glass Onion.

    37. Hannah Waddingham (Septa Unella) — Ted Lasso

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Septa Unella arrived to be one of The High Sparrow's lackeys in the back half of Season 5, where she shouted "shame" at Cersei and kept guard of her and Margaery. Once Cersei returned to power, however, she delivered Unella into the hands of The Mountain to be tortured. It was there we last heard her screaming.

    Best role since: Waddingham, virtually unrecognizable from her GoT character in the habit, won an Emmy for her role as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso. She's come a long way.

    Other recent projects: You may also recognize her as one of the lesbian moms from Sex Education and a brief appearance in Hocus Pocus 2 more recently.

    38. Bella Ramsey (Lyanna Mormont) — Catherine Called Birdy

    Helen Sloan/HBO, Alex Bailey / Amazon Prime Video / Courtesy Everett Collection

    GoT claim to fame: Lyanna Mormont made brief appearances at the end of Season 6 of the show as the tiny, but sassy head of House Mormont. She was such a fan favorite, they brought her back in both of the two final seasons. Unfortunately, the feisty lady is killed while killing a wight giant singlehandedly.

    Best role since: Ramsey stars along Game of Thrones alum Dean-Charles Chapman in the charming medieval comedy Catherine Called Birdy. She is electric on screen, and I can't imagine her not scooping up a dozen more roles based on the charm she exudes in this performance.

    Other recent projects: She's taken a number of tiny roles, the most notable of which is probably a stint on His Dark Materials.

    Watch all these actors battle for the Iron Throne on the original Game of Thrones series now, only on HBO Max!

    HBO / Via giphy.com

    We hope you love the shows and movies we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of revenue or other compensation from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI: Platform, prices, and other availability details are accurate as of time of posting.

    Get your heart pumping with Fall, a new thriller that will take you to terrifying heights. Own it on Blu-Ray and Digital now!

    Lionsgate

    Promising Review: "FALL (Amazon Prime, maybe others): Tight, terrific, and very, very scary. Reminded me a bit of DUEL. Wish I'd written it." – Stephen King