Song of Ice and Fire Casting Call

Gwendoline Christie is Brienne of Tarth

2011-07-11T19:38:00.001+10:00

The official Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones Season 2 is Gwendoline Christie. A British actress with theatrical experience. She is 6 ft 3 inches.

Brienne of Tarth is the only daughter and heiress of Lord Selwyn of Evenfall in the island of Tarth also known as the Sapphire island due to its blue waters. Brienne is a highly-trained and skilled warrior who is more comfortable wearing mail than women's clothing. Brienne is easily mistaken for a man due to her abnormal size, strength and looks.

Richard Madden is Robb Stark

2011-06-29T15:17:00.004+10:00

Richard Madden talks about his character Robb Stark in the HBO TV Series Game of Thrones.

Sophie Turner is Sansa Stark

2011-06-29T15:14:00.003+10:00

Sophie Turner talks about her character Sansa Stark in the HBO TV Series Game of Thrones.

Maisie Williams is Arya Stark

2011-06-29T15:12:00.000+10:00

Maisie Williams talks about her character Arya Stark in the HBO TV Series Game of Thrones.

Kit Harington is Jon Snow

2011-06-29T15:00:00.001+10:00

Kit Harington talks about his character Jon Snow in the HBO TV Series Game of Thrones.

Margaery Tyrell

2011-06-24T09:30:00.000+10:00

Natalie Dormer from the Tudors has been casted to play Margaery Tyrell of House Tyrell.

Margaery Tyrell is the sister of Loras Tyrell. Margaery is an intelligent and shrewd young woman who is supposed to be very beautiful, with softly curling brown hair, brown eyes and a slender yet shapely figure.

I can't remember who I imagined Margaery to be while reading the books a few years ago but I can visualize Natalie playing this character well. She was a great Ann Boleyn in the Tudors.

Viserys Targaryen Harry Lloyd Interview

2011-06-21T17:33:00.000+10:00

Harry Lloyed interview regarding the character he played, Viserys Targaryen in the Game of Thrones tv show.

Game of Thrones Spoof Buddy Movie

2011-06-20T13:30:00.001+10:00

Game of Thrones Spoof. A buddy movie.

One and a Half Men starring Tyrion and Bronn.

Unfortunately, there might be an ad in there before it starts.

Dance With Dragons

2011-06-18T14:00:00.008+10:00

The much anticipated book Dance with Dragons is finally coming out next month. July 12 2011.

I've started rereading the books since it's been awhile and I've forgotten a lot of things already. I wanna be up to date on things before I get into the next one!

FINALLY!! It's coming. Just like Winter.

Hitler Finds Out that Eddard Stark is Dead

2011-06-15T23:00:00.002+10:00

Game of Thrones Trailer

2011-02-23T12:50:00.000+10:00

Winter is coming! April 2011

Official Cast of Game of Thrones

2009-12-21T12:45:00.000+10:00

It has been awhile since I posted my cast fantasy for A Song of Ice and Fire - back in early '08, actually. The pilot for the TV Show is coming out 2010 and will be called Game of Thrones, which is what the first book for the series is called.

I'm ecstatic to find out that Eddard Stark will be played by Sean Bean! He was my choice to play Eddard!

Here's the official list of cast for the TV Show Game of Thrones, according to IMDB:

Harry Lloyd - Viserys Targaryen (1 episode, 2009)
Mark Addy - Robert Baratheon (1 episode)
Alfie Allen - Theon Greyjoy (1 episode)
Sean Bean - Eddard Stark (1 episode)
Esmé Bianco - Red Headed Whore (1 episode)
Jamie Campbell Bower - Ser Waymar Royce (1 episode)
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau - Jaime Lannister (1 episode)
Peter Dinklage - Tyrion Lannister (1 episode)
Ron Donachie - Rodrik Cassel (1 episode)
Jennifer Ehle - Catelyn Stark (1 episode)
Jack Gleeson - Joffrey Baratheon (1 episode)
Iain Glen - Ser Jorah Mormont (1 episode)
Kit Harington - Jon Snow (1 episode)
Lena Headey - Cersei Lannister (1 episode)
Richard Madden - Robb Stark (1 episode)
Joseph Mawle - Benjen Stark (1 episode)
Rory McCann - Sandor Clegane (1 episode)
Ian McNeice - Illyrio Mopatis (1 episode)
Tamzin Merchant - Daenerys Targaryen (1 episode)
Jason Momoa - Khal Drogo (1 episode)
Richard Ridings - Gared (1 episode)
Donald Sumpter - Maester Luwin (1 episode)
Sophie Turner - Sansa Stark (1 episode)
Bronson Webb - Will (1 episode)
Maisie Williams - Arya Stark (1 episode)

Here's hoping it will become a success and they will have an ongoing TV series. Towards the end of the book series (so far), apart from Jon Snow and Sandor Clegane, I was leaning towards Little Finger as my fav character. It will be good to see him in the TV series.

Anyway, even though the much anticipated follow up to the book is still not completed, at least there's the TV show to look forward to.

Daenerys Targaryen

2009-02-25T16:40:00.004+10:00

The Official Daenerys Targaryen in the tv series Game of Thrones is played by Emilia Clarke.

Update June 2011: Emilia is a newcomer like most of the cast. I wasn't sure about her at first but she's grown on me and she's portrayed Danny quite well.

My fantasy cast for Daenerys a few years ago was Melissa George.

Daenerys Targaryan in A Song of Ice and Fire is a the daughter of King Aerys II, and her mother was Aerys's sister, Queen Rhaella. Daenerys was conceived during Robert Baratheon's rebellion that would ultimately end her family's reign. Before she was born, her pregnant mother and her brother Viserys fled the royal seat at King's Landing for the safety of Dragonstone, the family's ancient home.

Daenerys was born as a fierce storm struck Dragonstone, and so was called "Stormborn." Her mother died as a result of the labor. Shortly thereafter, Dragonstone fell to the rebel forces, and Daenerys and Viserys were smuggled away to the Free City of Braavos by a loyalist knight, Willem Darry. Ser Willem was old and sickly, but he treated Daenerys kindly and fter his death, his servants drove Daenerys and Viserys from the house. Daenerys wept as they were forced out, and the house with the red door became her symbol for the childhood she had never known.

In the Free City of Pentos, the Targaryens were the guests of Illyrio Mopatis, a rich and powerful magister. Illyrio and Viserys arranged to marry the thirteen-year-old Daenerys to Khal Drogo, a great leader among the Dothraki people, who are nomadic horse lords. Viserys hoped to use the thousands of men in Drogo's khalasar to conquer Westeros. Despite Daenerys' fear and apprehension, she had no choice but to accept her brother's will and wed Drogo. At her wedding, the exiled knight Jorah Mormont pledged his service to Daenerys. He would become her closest companion.

Daenerys grew to love her husband, Drogo and blossomed into a strong and confident khaleesi (queen).

Although there are hundreds of young blonde actresses that may make a good Daenerys, once Melissa George came to mind I couldn't shake it off - so throughout the book, Daenerys to me was played by Melissa. The photo above was photoshopped with Melissa's eyes colored purple.

Sandor Clegane

2009-02-25T15:45:00.007+10:00

The Official Sandor Clegane, also known as The Hound is played by Rory McCann.

Updated June 2011: Rory McCann has played bit parts in movies such as Solomon Kane, Season of the Witch and the recent remake of Clash of the Titans.

So far, they haven't featured The Hound a great deal, he's mostly stood in the background looking manacing. They have cut back scenes of him with Sansa but they did show the part when he fought his own brother "The Mountain". He's okay playing the role but I imagined the Hound having more of a gruff voice.

My fantasy cast for Sandor Clegane was Javier Bardem - that was way back when his most recognized film was No Country for Old Men. He's been in a lot of movies since then.

Sandor Clegane from A Song of Ice and Fire is the younger brother of Gregor Clegane and a retainer to House Lannister. He is nicknamed "The Hound," in part because his family arms feature three dogs, and in part for his savage nature and unquestioning obedience to his masters. He regularly wears a distinctive helm in the shape of a snarling dog's head. He is considered one of the most dangerous fighters in Westeros, though he frequently drinks himself into stupors. As a child, Sandor received gruesome facial burns when Gregor shoved his face into a brazier for playing with one of Gregors toys. He now has a phobia of fire, and loathes his brother, Gregor Clegane, and the hypocrisy of knighthood in general.

Sandor acted as bodyguard and servant of Joffrey Baratheon, who regularly called him "Dog". He won the Hand's Tourney after saving Loras Tyrell from Gregor's wrath. While drunk off his winnings, Sandor became enamored with Sansa Stark, but also mocked her for her polished manners, calling her a "little bird" who chirps on command. Sandor was eventually named to the Kingsguard, despite refusing to become a knight, and in this capacity he was often assigned to watch over Sansa. Despite his loyalty to Joffrey, he strategically defended her from Joffrey's wrath several times, and was the only member of the Kingsguard who was never commanded to beat her. Sandor also fought heroically during the Battle of the Blackwater, but eventually deserted after refusing to return to the flame-choked battlefield.

Javier Bardem came to mind while reading about Sandor Clegane. Even though he seems kinda sweet in interviews and is actually quite good looking, I've only seen Javier's acting in No Country for Old Man.

Petyr Baelish Littlefinger

2009-02-24T22:14:00.008+10:00

The Official Petyr Baelish, also known as Littlefinger is played by Aidan Gillen.

Updated June 2011: Aidan Gillen was in The Wire, which was another one of my favorite tv show. He's doing well as Littlefinger so I'm not too disappointed.

My fantasy cast for Littlefinger was Tom Hollander, who was Lord Cutler Beckett from Pirates of the Carribean.

Lord Petyr Baelish, also known as "Littlefinger," begins the series as Master of Coin (or treasurer) on King Robert's Small Council. He is also a master of court intrigue, with his brilliance matched only by his ambition. He is handsome and meticulously stylish, but also quite short, giving a double entendre to the mocking nickname Edmure Tully bestowed on him. Though a lord, his original holdings are possibly the smallest in all the Seven Kingdoms, situated on the smallest of the Fingers. His grandfather was Braavosi, and took the Titan of Braavos as his sigil. but wears a mockingbird as his crest instead.

During the War of the Ninepenny Kings, Petyr's father became friends with Lord Hoster Tully, and later used this friendship to have his son, Petyr, as a ward of Lord Hoster at Riverrun, the great castle of the riverlands. Petyr was raised alongside his social betters, the Tully children - Catelyn, Lysa and Edmure. He fell in love with Catelyn, who in turn loved him as a brother, but no more. When the betrothal between Catelyn and Brandon Stark was announced, Petyr challenged Brandon to a duel for her hand. Brandon won handily, but spared Baelish's life in compliance with Catelyn's pleas. Catelyn did not speak to him afterwards and burned the single letter Petyr sent after Brandon's death.

Lysa Tully, on the other hand, was in love with Petyr. She slipped into his bed one night while he was in a miserable, drunken stupor. The delirious Petyr may have mistaken Lysa for Catelyn, and indeed called her "Catelyn" that night. He has since claimed to have taken the maidenhood of both Tully sisters, however Catelyn's own private thoughts identify her husband Eddard Stark as taking her maidenhood and not Petyr. Later, Lysa became pregnant with Petyr's child. When Hoster Tully discovered this, he banished Petyr from his house and had Lysa drink Moon Tea to abort the pregnancy.

Baelish was given work at Gulltown by Lord Jon Arryn, to please Lord Arryn's young wife Lysa Tully. Petyr's wizardry with finances brought large sums of money into Gulltown and the Vale of Arryn, however, and Lord Arryn recognized Petyr's worth. He raised Petyr to the position of Master of Coin. His influence furnished him with many allies and contacts, including the City Guard of King's Landing. With these resources as a starting point, Baelish used a series of lies and double-crosses to achieve a meteoric rise to political power.

The only person that came to mind to play Petyr Baelish in this novel series A Song of Ice and Fire was the nasty Lord Cutler Beckett from Pirates of the Caribbean - Tom Hollander.

Arya Stark

2009-02-24T12:07:00.004+10:00

The Official Arya Stark in the Game of Thrones is played by Maisie Williams.

Updated June 2011: Maisie Williams is a total newcomer who is playing Arya Stark to perfection! She is one of the well casted characters in the show and after seeing her as Arya, I can't imagine anybody else playing this role.

I didn't really know any young female actresses back then when I was trying to cast actors for these characters in my head - the most that I could think of was that girl from the recent version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Julia Winter.

Arya Stark is a spirited young girl with an interest in fighting and exploring. Throughout her travels, Arya displays great resourcefulness, cunning, and an unflinching ability to accept hard necessity. She is skinny, athletic, and often mistaken for a boy. She has strong Stark family features, with a long face and brown hair. She is said to take after her fiery aunt Lyanna in temperament and appearance. Her direwolf companion is named Nymeria.

For Arya, I actually pictured a young Natalie Portman from the movie Leon or The Professional. I suppose if they were to create the TV show, maybe that spoilt rich girl - Julia Winter, from Charlie the Chocolate Factory might be alright.

Sansa Stark

2009-02-24T10:05:00.008+10:00

The Official Sansa Stark in the tv show Game of Thrones is Sophie Turner.

Updated June 2011: Sophie Turner is a newcomer and the role of Sansa Stark is her first on tv. She's doing well as Sansa, although, I thought they would hire someone who was much older but looked young because of certain events that happens in the book regarding Sansa.

The person I had in mind while reading the book was that chick from M2M, Marion Raven. She still looks pretty young today but I guess she's busy with her music to act in what will hopefully be a long running tv series.

Catelyn and Eddard's elder daughter, Sansa Stark is a strong believer in the world of chivalry portrayed in stories and songs. She is traditionally beautiful, with high cheekbones, vivid blue eyes, thick auburn hair like her mother and as she grows up, a tall and graceful figure. She excels at many female leisure activities, including singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, sewing, fashion, and social graces. She does not always have a good relationship with her sister Arya, whose interests are opposite in many respects and bewildering to Sansa. Her direwolf companion was named Lady.

Throughout the series, it was made obvious that she's extremely beautiful, even more so than her mother. I couldn't really think of anyone to play Sansa at the start but eventually just imagined her as the gorgeous Marion Raven, who was formerly the other half of the 90's duo M2M.

Bran Stark

2009-02-24T09:57:00.004+10:00

The official Bran Stark in the tv series Game of Thrones is played by Isaac Hempstead Wright.

Updated June 2011: Isaac is adorable and suits the part of Brandon Stark incredibly well. Very pleased with this actor playing Bran.

The only kid I could think of back then who would've suited Bran while I was reading the books was Thomas Sangster.

Catelyn and Eddard's second son, Bran enjoys climbing and exploring Winterfell. Like his siblings, he is dutiful and tough-minded. He is named for his deceased uncle Brandon, elder brother of Eddard. He dreams of one day being a great knight. His direwolf companion is named Summer.

I imagined Bran as one of the kids from Nanny McPhee - Thomas Sangster. While I was looking for photos of him, I realised he's grown up quite a bit. He's almost past his teens now and no longer that little boy. Oh well...

Robb Stark

2009-02-24T09:00:00.005+10:00

The Official Robb Stark in the tv series Game of Thrones is played by Richard Madden.

Updated June 2011: Richard Madden has been in a couple of tv shows in the UK, none of which I've heard of. He's doing well with Robb's character so I'm pleased with this casting.

I imagined Robb as Henry Cavill, who was in The Tudors.

Robb is Eddard Stark's eldest legitimate child, and the heir to Winterfell. He bears great responsibility and shares his father's devotion to honor and justice. His appearance favors his Tully side, with a stocky build, blue eyes, and thick auburn hair. His companion direwolf is named Grey Wind. When Eddard became the King's Hand, Robb remained at Winterfell to rule in his father's stead.

I thought Henry Cavill from Stardust would make a good Robb Stark.

Jon Snow

2009-02-23T12:46:00.005+10:00

The Official Jon Snow in the Game of Thrones is Kit Harington.

Updated June 2011: Kit Harington is doing a great job as Jon Snow - very happy with him. At first I thought it didn't quite match as Jon wasn't supposed to be this strong looking guy, but Kit is doing such a fantastic job that he's grown on me as Jon Snow.

When I was reading the books, I imagined Jon as Zac Efron, who is known for being in those corny High School Musical movies.

Jon Snow is a the claimed bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark, by a mother whose identity is not widely known. His direwolf companion is the mute, albino Ghost (due to his albinism and eerie silence, cementing the 'outsider' status caused by Jon's bastardy).

Jon, who received the surname customarily assigned to illegitimate northerners, is of an age with Robb. He was sired during the War of the Usurper, and Ned took possession of him some time after the battle at the tower of joy, which only Ned and Howland Reed survived. Despite his wife Catelyn's objections, Ned insisted on taking responsibility for the boy, and he grew up side-by-side with the trueborn Starks. He has a long face, grey eyes and lean build, with strong Stark coloring—in fact, he looked more northern than many of Lady Stark's trueborn children, which was part of why Catelyn could never accept his presence in her household. Unlike the more usual experiences of illegitimate children, Jon knows the identity of his father but has no idea who his mother might be.

As Jon was growing up, his position became increasingly awkward. During King Robert Baratheon's visit to Winterfell, Jon asked his uncle Benjen Stark to join the Night's Watch and was refused at first but was eventually allowed to go. Jon was initially resented by other recruits for his noble background, but he learned to fit into the crowd by assuming leadership and uniting the recruits first against their caustic master-at-arms, Alliser Thorne, and then in protection of the cowardly but good-natured Samwell Tarly. In the beginning he had trouble adjusting to the life of the Night's Watch, as it was very different from what he had imagined. At the outbreak of the War of the Five Kings, he tried to desert to join Robb's army, but his new friends brought him back before he could be punished for desertion. By finally deciding to honor his bonds and abandon his past, Jon came to accept the Night's Watch as his new brothers.

Jon Snow is my favourite character in the Song of Ice and Fire series and the guy I picture as Jon is Zac Efron.

Tyrion Lannister

2009-02-23T12:33:00.004+10:00

The Official Tyrion Lannister in the tv series Game of Thrones is played by Peter Dinklage.

Update June 2011: Peter Dinklage is doing an excellent job as Tyrion. Most of my favourite scenes in the tv show so far have been the ones with Tyrion and Bronn in it. The only other movie I know him from was Elf, where he was the "angry elf". He's also been in Narnia but I can't remember his character there since it's been awhile since I've seen it. Nevertheless, I wouldn't be surprised if he wins awards for is acting performance as Tyrion.

Back when I was reading the books, I imagine Tyrion as the actor who played Willow, Warwick Davis.

Tyrion Lannister in A Song of Ice and Fire is a misshapen dwarf nicknamed "The Imp" and "The Halfman" who was despised by his father, Tywin and sister, Cersai. Though Tyrion shared his father's talent for political maneuvering, he received little respect from Tywin because of his deformity, sharp tongue, penchant for whoring, and the death of his mother during his birth. He is capable of cruelty to his enemies, but also has great sympathy for fellow outcasts and the mistreated.

Early in life, Tyrion found himself ostracized from regular family life, and sought his own entertainment. When Tyrion was 13, he and his brother Jaime rescued a common girl, Tysha, from a compromising situation. Tysha found Tyrion pleasing, and they wed in secret, but when Lord Tywin found out, he explained that she was a prostitute whom Jaime had hired for Tyrion's benefit. His father then had her gang-raped by a barracks of his guardsmen before Tyrion's eyes, and then forced the boy to do the same; while each of the guards paid Tysha a silver coin, Tywin gave Tyrion a gold piece instead, because "I was a Lannister, and worth more." This incident scarred Tyrion mentally, but also brought him closer to Jaime, the only person who ever showed kindness to him.

I imagined that guy from Willow to be Tyrion, as I wasn't really familiar with short people apart from him & Mini Me from Austin Powers. I soon found out the actors name was Warwick Davis and didn't realize that he's appeared in a lot of popular movies including Harry Potter.

Tywin Lannister

2009-02-23T11:48:00.008+10:00

The Official Tywin Lannister in the tv series Game of Thrones is Charles Dance.

Updated June 2011: Charles Dance has been in a lot of tv shows, tv movies and films. So far, he has been excellent as Tywin Lannister. One of the most memorable scenes in the tv series Game of Thrones is when Tywin was skinning that deer while having a conversation with his son Jaime.

I thought back then when it was announced that the books will be made into a tv series that Gerald McRaney from Deadwood would have made a good Tywin.

Twyin Lannister was Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport and Warden of the West. He was known for being a calculating, ruthless, and controlling man who didn't smile. He was happily married to Joanna Lannister, a cousin, but she died in childbirth while delivering his son Tyrion, and he took no other wife. He loved his children Jaime and Cersei, but despised Tyrion for being deformed and causing his beloved Joanna's death, as well as shaming the family name with his frequent whoring.

During his youth, Tywin managed to single-handedly restore his family's honor and fortunes from near ruin, and from then on dedicated all his efforts to maintaining Lannister prestige. Though ruthless, Tywin Lannister was also an able and shrewd ruler who brought great prosperity during his dual tenures as Hand of the King. He was especially talented at the raising of funds, leading to persistent rumors of a "Midas touch" and even the whispered jest that he must "shit gold".

I visualized Tywin Lannister to be Gerald McRaney - George Hearst in Deadwood. I mentioned this to my husband and he said that he imagined Tywin to be of slim built. But either way, I thought Gerald McRaney would be a good Tywin Lannister in this novel series of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Viserys Targaryan

2009-02-22T16:05:00.001+10:00

The Official Viserys Targaryan in the Game of Thrones was played by Harry Lloyed.

Updated June 2011: Harry Lloyed did a superb job as Viserys. Before Game of Thrones, he appeared in several tv shows including Doctor Who and Robin Hood.

When I read the books, Prison Break was still on tv so I thought of Wentworth Miller as Viserys.

Viserys Targaryan in A Song of Ice and Fire was the second son of Aerys II and was known as "The Beggar King". Viserys fled Westeros when he was 8 years old, along with his sister Daenerys, and spent fifteen years wandering the Free Cities until he arranged the marriage of Daenerys to Khal Drogo, hoping to buy Drogo's armies with her, and to use them to reclaim the Seven Kingdoms. Viserys, while ambitious, was also blind to reality - he saw himself as a rightful, victorious savior to the people of Westeros, due respect and adoration, never noticing that even his sister and his sworn knight Jorah Mormont scorned his petty, vindictive nature. Despite a constant loss of dignity and standing among Drogo's khalasar for his outrageous behavior, he continued to demand Drogo's aid.
Even though Viserys was supposedly in his early to mid 20's, I pictured him to be a young Cary Elwes as he was in the Princess Bride. He's aged now, like Michael Paré, who I thought of as Renly Baratheon, but still, blonde and youthful looking was how I thought Viserys to be, even though he had a mustachio. Perhaps someone like Wentworth Miller would make a good Viserys.

Renly Baratheon

2009-02-22T15:26:00.008+10:00

The Official Renly Baratheon in Game of Thrones is Gethin Anthony.

Update June 2011: Gethin Anthony has appeared in several tv shows before being casted as Renly. To be honest, I don't like the direction they took regarding Renly in the tv show. As I recall in the book, he was a bit of a ladies man and a real charmer. Maybe I read it wrong - perhaps the ladies swooned over him and that was all but it certainly wasn't obvious that he was gay. There may have been subtle hints that he and Loras Tyrell may have been really "close" but not to that point where they had scenes like they had in the tv show.

Renly Baratheon is the younger of Robert's brothers, the Lord of Storm's End, and Master of Laws on Robert's Small Council. He is a handsome and charismatic man, winning friends easily, but also strikes some people as frivolous.

Though Renly is Robert's youngest brother, Robert gave the Baratheon seat of Storm's End to him rather than Stannis. The lands of Storm's End are considerably larger and richer than those of Stannis's Dragonstone, giving Renly more power than his older brother.

Renly Baratheon in A Song of Ice and Fire is supposed to be a younger version of King Robert and throughout the book I imagined him to be the very handsome Michael Pare during his younger years in Eddie & the Cruisers and Streets of Fire. But for the sake of who's young and pretty boyish enough today to play this character, if HBO does decide to make a TV show out of the books, then I think Jason Ackles from Supernatural will do quite well as Renly Baratheon.

Stannis Baratheon

2009-02-20T23:54:00.009+10:00

According to IMDB, Stannis Baratheon in Game of Thrones is being played by Gerard Butler.

Updated June 2011: Looking at his recent photos, Gerard Butler would be a suitable Stannis. Whether this is true or not, we'll find out soon enough. It has been mentioned that this is a hoax and HBO has not confirmed whether Gerard is the man.

Gerard Butler is known for his roles in 300 and Rock 'n' Rolla. I'm a bit of a fan so I'm excited to see if he is the official Stannis Baratheon.

Back then, I thought Rufus Sewell would be a good Stannis. Another actor I've thought of since then who would be a good Stannis is Mark Strong, who was also in Rock 'n' Rolla and was the villain in the recent Sherlock Holmes.

Stannis is Lord of Dragonstone and Master of Ships on Robert's Small Council. Stannis is known as a brooding, humorless man known for harsh and unyielding sense of justice. His stubbornness and determination are legendary, most famously shown in resisting the Siege of Storm's End under desperate conditions. He is also a capable naval commander, having trapped and destroyed much of the Iron Fleet during Balon's Rebellion.

His wife is Lady Selyse of House Florent, a mighty noble house sworn to Highgarden and House Tyrell. They have one daughter, Shireen, a small girl of poor health, and bearing a disfigurement from a childhood ailment.

In the book series A Song of Ice and Fire, Stannis Baratheon is bald with a beard and a hard face - I imagined him to have a villainous look about him and Rufus Sewell was the one I visualized as Stannis, even though he had a lot of hair from the movie I remembered him from, which was A Knight's Tale.

Robert Baratheon

2009-02-20T23:34:00.010+10:00

The Official Robert Baratheon in the Game of Thrones was played by Mark Addy.

Update June 2011: Mark Addy was awesome as Robert Baratheon. He stood out in the scenes he was in and deserves awards for his performance as Robert.
While reading the books, I imagined Robert as Julian McMahon, the Nip and Tuck guy. He was supposed to have been handsome in his younger days who let himself go when he got older.

Robert Baratheon is the eldest of three sons and was crowned King of the Seven Kingdoms after winning the War of the Usurper, also known as Robert's Rebellion.

Like Eddard Stark, he was fostered at the Eyrie by Lord Jon Arryn. Robert's parents were lost to a shipwreck during this time, making him lord of the Stormlands. He also became betrothed to Ned's sister Lyanna, whom he loved deeply. When Rhaegar Targaryen apparently kidnapped Lyanna, Robert was enraged by the abduction, and by the thought of Rhaegar raping her. Though Robert won his war and killed Rhaegar personally on the Trident, Robert did not get Lyanna back, as she died under unknown circumstances. Robert was thereafter haunted by her memory, and bore an irrational hatred against Targaryens in general and Rhaegar in particular.

In the aftermath of the war, Robert assumed the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms on the pretext of a distant relation to the Targaryens (his grandmother was the daughter of Aegon V). In lieu of Lyanna, he married Cersei Lannister to cement her family's loyalty to his rule. He pardoned many of his former enemies and, in fact, won some over as allies. He named Jon Arryn his Hand of the King, and, not bothering to hide a contempt of politics and court intrigue, left much of the governance of the realm in Arryn's hands.

When Jon Arryn died suddenly, Robert journeyed to Winterfell to meet the last person he truly trusted, Eddard Stark.

Robert was a veritable giant of a man, standing six and a half feet tall, broad chested, muscled, and clean shaven, during his youth. His strength was evident in his wielding of a warhammer lesser men (such as Eddard Stark) could barely lift. However, after years of sedentary ruling and participating and feasts and celebrations, he gained thirteen stone and grew a coarse beard to hide his jowls. The mighty warrior who led Robert's Rebellion and defeated Rhaegar Targaryen at The Trident was gone, replaced by a fat and unhealthy man who closed his eyes to anything he didnt want to see.

He had fathered his first bastard before the age of sixteen, and sired more over the years. He was known for his gregarious, outgoing nature, and was frequently able to turn foes into friends; he was also, despite his philandering ways, deeply in love with Lyanna, having started a civil war solely to get her back. Instead he won a kingdom, a throne made of swords, Cersei Lannister, and a crypt for his beloved, which he still paid respects to long years after her death; ironically, he was more loyal to his dead first love than his actual wife.

Julian McMahon played the part of Robert Baratheon - in my head, anyway, as I was reading the book series A Song of Ice and Fire. He's supposed to be fat and bearded but was good looking while he was young.

Jaime Lannister

2009-02-20T17:14:00.008+10:00

The Official Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones is played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

Update June 2011: Nikolaj has been in a lot of tv shows since the 90's before landing the role of Jaime Lannister. Although my first thoughts when I saw him as Jaime was that he wasn't dashingly handsome enough, he's grown on me and find him okay as Jaime.

I imagined Matthew McConaughey as Jaime while reading the books because he looked great with the golden locks and later on, without it. I mean, look the photos below (especially when he had no hair)... that's Jaime Lannister!

Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister is the younger twin to Cersei, and son of Tywin and Joanna in the novel series A Song of Ice and Fire. Jaime is one of the most famous knights in all of Westeros. At fifteen, he became a knight and ascended to the elite Kingsguard, the members of which can neither hold lands nor marry. Two years after his induction he murdered Mad King Aerys during the sack of King's Landing, earning him the nickname "Kingslayer". Though he shares his sister's arrogance and striking good looks, he is much more reckless and easily amused.

I know that Matthew McConaughey looks nothing like Angelina but when it mentioned in the books of golden curls and good looks, I imagined Matthew McConaughey as Jaime.

Cersei Lannister

2009-02-20T16:25:00.015+10:00

The Official Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones is Leana Headey.

Update June 2011: The greatest disappointment I have in the tv version of this epic story is the casting of Cersei Lannister. She is supposed to be this sexy diva who is a conniving bitch. Leana's portrayal of Cersei doesn't even scratch the surface of the character. She's too subtle, rigid and the most she can do to look evil is smirk. I don't know what it is about this actress but she lacks expression or is not animated enough in her movements. Plus her tone doesn't change much, there's no highs or lows - no depth.

Angelina Jolie would have been the perfect Cersei Lannister, but let's face it - her name is too big, she's too expensive and too busy to commit to years of tv even if it's something as awesome as the Game of Thrones.

Cersei is the twin sister of Jaime Lannister and matches his beauty, with golden hair and bright eyes. After Robert's Rebellion she married the new King, Robert Baratheon, and became Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

Cersei has shared an incestuous relationship with her brother Jaime since they were youths, and continued it throughout her fifteen-year marriage to King Robert, made possible both by Cersei's craftiness and Robert's philandering nature. Her three children Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen, were all fathered by Jaime, rather than her husband; this secret, when discovered by Jon Arryn, Eddard Stark and Stannis Baratheon, was used as a political tool during the War of the Five Kings.

I imagined Angelina Jolie to play the often bitchy and conniving Cersei Lannister in A Song of Ice and Fire epic novel series.

Catelyn Tully Stark

2009-02-20T16:02:00.008+10:00

The Official Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones is Michelle Fairley.

Update June 2011: Michelle has been in a lot of tv shows before landing the role of Catelyn. So far, she's doing a great job with it even though at first I thought she wasn't really attractive enough to play Catelyn.

I imagined Catelyn as Famke Jensen when I was reading the books. I still think she would have been the perfect Catelyn.

Catelyn Tully Stark is Lord Hoster's eldest child and once the heir to Riverrun until the birth of her brother. She is the wife of Eddard Stark of Winterfell and mother of their five children, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon.

Catelyn is seen as honorable and has a deep love for family and a strong faith in the Seven. However, she regards Eddard's bastard Jon Snow as an outsider to her family, and has never forgiven Eddard for bringing him into her household. She has a strong and stately beauty, with auburn hair and blue eyes.

I thought Famke Janssen made a great Catelyn even though she naturally has brown eyes. This picture of her here has been photoshopped to make it look like she has blue eyes. After I pictured Famke as Catelyn Tully Stark in the Song of Ice and Fire series, I can't imagine someone else playing her.

Eddard Stark

2009-02-20T15:40:00.009+10:00

The Official Eddard Stark in Game of Thrones was played by Sean Bean.

Update June 2011: Sean Bean was who I had in mine as Ned while reading the books so I was utterly thrilled when they did cast Sean Bean as Eddard Stark. He played the role well and was the perfect Eddard Stark.

Eddard Stark also known as "Ned", was Lord of Winterfell, Lord Paramount of the North, and Warden of the North.

Ned was fostered by Jon Arryn at the Eyrie when he was eight years old, alongside Robert Baratheon. Ned befriended Robert, and came to consider Lord Arryn a second father. After Ned's father and brother died by command of King Aerys II, the king demanded that Arryn send him the heads of the two wards. Arryn refused and instead launched a rebellion, in which Ned and Robert joined as lords of their houses and chief commanders.

Shortly before the final battles of the rebellion, Ned married Catelyn Tully, who had been betrothed to Ned's brother Brandon before his death. Ned was present, along with Howland Reed, at a tower on the Dornish border known as the "tower of joy" when his sister Lyanna died there, an incident surrounded in mystery that haunted Ned ever after.

Once the conflict had ended and Robert had taken the throne, Ned returned home, bringing with him a bastard son, Jon, about whose origins he refused to speak, even to his own wife; he quickly silenced rumors that the boy's mother was the Dornish noblewoman Ashara Dayne. He spent the next fifteen years as Lord of Winterfell, a task he had never expected and did not always feel equal to; he rarely left his lands, and did not involve himself in the complex intrigues of the southern courts.

After Jon Arryn's death, King Robert asked Eddard to replace him as Hand of the King, the monarch's closest advisor.

Sean Bean was my choice to play the honorable Eddard Stark in this major epic series A Song of Ice and Fire.