The English actress reflected on her time as the legendary character in an interview with British magazine ‘GQ’ published Tuesday, as well as what she has learned about herself since the hit fantasy series ended.
Maisie Williams is opening up about her experiences playing Arya Stark on HBO’s Game of Thrones, a role and series she was cast in when she was 12 years old. Williams literally grew up on television and had numerous coming-of-age moments on set throughout the course of the show’s eight seasons, which added to mixed feelings about the character.
In a new interview with British GQ, the now 24-year-old actress recalls being handed a bra for the first time in the costume department, and how it was out of character for the tomboyish and athletic heroine that GoT fans had grown to love over the years.
“I guess I resented Arya because I couldn’t express who I was becoming when I first started becoming a lady,” she tells the publication. “Then I despised my body for not being in sync with the part of me that the world admired.” Williams was nominated for two Emmy Awards during her time on the show. Others who were honoured were Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner, Lena Headey, and Kit Harington, as well as the programme itself.
Williams says, “Can I answer none of it?” when asked what she misses about the show. Although she “liked” her experience on the fantasy series, the actress says she doesn’t want to go back to that moment in her life.
“I don’t think missing it is healthy,” she continues, “since I liked it.” “I have such good memories of it, and I am so proud of it.” But why would I want to be sad about the best thing that has ever occurred to me? I don’t want to link that to any negative emotions.”
Williams did, however, reprise his role as Arya for the Warner Bros. video game MultiVersus, though only in voice. In response to the question of whether she would reprise the role on screen, Williams tells GQ, “I’m not saying it would never happen.” “The proper time and the right people are required.”
Since the end of Game of Thrones, Williams has been in a variety of other projects, including the dramedy Two Weeks to Live, the animated adventure series Gen: Lock, and the biographical series Pistol, which is based on the life of Sex Pistols musician Steve Jones.
Williams compared the Game of Thrones aftermath to “being born again” in an interview with GQ, telling the publication that now is the moment to accept new characters. “I was rejecting a lot of the aspects of myself and my image that I’d been so widely known for,” she adds, referring to her recent cosmetic modifications. “I believe that other individuals sometimes want assistance in recognising that you are a distinct person.”
