Game of Thrones was one of the defining television shows of the 21st century and helped launch the careers of many famous movie and TV stars. As one of the most popular television shows of all time, it’s no surprise that appearing on Game of Thrones opened the door for its actors to pursue other incredible projects across various genres. While for many cast members, Game of Thrones signaled their breakout role, there were other performers who had long and illustrious careers before they found themselves caught up in the conflicts of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
The best Game of Thrones characters achieved their popularity due to the astounding performances of its actors, who have proved their range in many projects outside of this acclaimed HBO series. While most will admit there were many issues with Game of Thrones’ final season, this did not stop its cast from going on to secure deeply complex and challenging roles in subsequent movies and TV series. With a wealth of talent to spare, the cast of Game of Thrones has so many other must-watch projects for viewers to check out.
10 Me Before You (2016)
Emilia Clarke
While British actress Emilia Clarke gained her defining role as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, playing the Mother of Dragons was far from her only achievement. The HBO fantasy series may have earned her four Primetime Emmy Awards, but Clarke has also showcased her skills in other major franchises such as Terminator: Genisys and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Despite all of these impressive credits, Clarke’s most accomplished non-Game of Thrones work was actually in the romance genre.
Clarke’s portrayal of Lou Clark in Me Before You was the perfect contrast to Daenerys’s brash force and uncompromising ruthlessness. Rather than trying to lead an army of Unsullied and take over the throne, Clarke portrayed a young woman forming an intense bond with a recently paralyzed man. Me Before You was a classic tearjerker romance that proved Clarke’s skills in more grounded, sentimental, and lighthearted work.
Me Before You is a romantic drama directed by Thea Sharrock and based on the bestselling novel by Jojo Moyes. It follows the story of Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke), a quirky young woman who becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy, paralyzed man. As they grow closer, their relationship transforms both of their lives, exploring themes of love, loss, and personal growth.
- Director
- Thea Sharrock
- Release Date
- June 3, 2016
- Writers
- Jojo Moyes
9 Modern Love (2019 – 2021)
Kit Harington
Kit Harington’s role as Jon Snow was central to the success of Game of Thrones, as his status as a bastard son and challenges on the Night’s Watch made for compelling viewing. As one of the series’ most popular characters, it’s no surprise that Harington has had several interesting acting opportunities outside his work on Game of Thrones. While this included disappointing releases like the box office flop Pompeii, Harington has also impressed across other film and TV projects.
One of Harington’s most underrated roles was on the Amazon Prime anthology series Modern Love, where he portrayed Michael in the Season 2 episode “Strangers on a (Dublin) Train.” This heartwarming love story was set during the COVID-19 pandemic. It featured Harington connecting with a young woman on a train and their promise to meet once quarantine ended. However, the lockdown was longer than expected, and in a passionate story of chance encounters, it was thrilling to watch how the couple did not let circumstances stand in the way of a shot at love.
Developed by John Carney for Amazon’s streaming service, Modern Love began in 2019 and ran for two seasons until 2021. The show was classified as a Romance and Comedy Anthology series meaning each episode featured something new and followed a different theme concerning love in the modern age.
- Release Date
- October 18, 2019
- Seasons
- 2
- Network
- Amazon Prime Video
- Writers
- John Carney
- Directors
- John Carney
- Showrunner
- John Carney
8 The Staircase (2022)
Sophie Turner
Sophie Turner was just 14 years old when she first started playing Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, meaning she spent almost her entire teenage years on the show. This extraordinary commitment showcased Turner’s consistent work ethic, and audiences watched her acting talents continue to grow over the course of the show’s eight seasons. Turner even managed to carve out a feature film career while Game of Thrones was still on the air, as she portrayed Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix.
Since Game of Thrones concluded, Turner has continued to excel in television, with one of her most challenging roles coming with the HBO miniseries The Staircase. This true crime series starred Colin Firth as Michael Peterson, a man accused of killing his wife, and Turner portrayed Michael’s adoptive daughter Margaret Ratliff, whose life was equally torn apart by the accusation posited against her father. Turner portrayed Margaret with depth and maturity, although the real Ratliff voiced her opposition to the series and said she felt HBO had exploited her family’s tragedy for profit (via Vanity Fair.)
7 Pistol (2022)
Maisie Williams
At just 12 years old, Maisie Williams gained her breakout role for playing Arya Stark on Game of Thrones. With such a large ensemble cast, it was a testament to Williams’s incredible talent that she managed to stand out as one of the show’s most engaging characters, and it was thrilling to watch her grow from a mischievous kid to a sharp and mature warrior. It’s no surprise that Williams had the talent to pull off a character as fierce and uncompromising as Arya, as she beat out 300 other actresses (via Deadline) all vying for the role.
While Williams had kept busy since Game of Thrones ended, perhaps her most interesting subsequent role was in the Sex Pistols biographical miniseries Pistol. This fascinating look at the rise of punk rock through the story of one of England’s most controversial bands was directed by Danny Boyle and brought plenty of frantic energy to their rapid rise and deplorable fall. Williams portrayed Pamela “Jordan” Rooke, the bleached blonde rocker who helped define punk rock’s signature aesthetic.
6 Bodyguard (2018)
Richard Madden
The Scottish actor Richard Madden rose to prominence as Robb Stark on Game of Thrones. As the eldest son and heir of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, Robb was an important character who was crowned King of North before meeting a tragic end categorized by murder and betrayal at the Red Wedding. This untimely demise meant that Madden exited Game of Thrones during its third season, which opened the door for him to explore new opportunities in film and television.
While Madden had notable film roles in movies such as 1917 and a leading role in Marvel’s The Eternals, it was the BBC One political thriller Bodyguard that stood out as his best non-Game of Thrones part. Madden played Police Sergeant David Budd, a veteran of the Afghanistan war prone to PTSD who was tasked with protecting the Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes.) With plenty of tension, pulpy action, three-dimensional characters, and a juicy romance, Bodyguard truly had it all and made for truly addictive viewing.
Bodyguard tells the fictional story of David Budd, a heroic but volatile war veteran now working as a Specialist Protection Officer for the Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch of London’s Metropolitan Police Service.
- Release Date
- August 26, 2018
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator(s)
- Jed Mercurio
5 The Boxtrolls (2014)
Isaac Hempstead Wright
Isaac Hempstead Wright was just 12 years old when he started portraying Bran Stark on Game of Thrones and remained on the show right up until its final season, although he did not appear in Season 5. Bran was Wright’s most significant role, and he’s kept a low profile since the series ended, even going back to university to study neuroscience in London (via Anthem.) But that’s not to say Wright has not had any non-Game of Thrones roles, as he lent his voice to play Eggs Trubshaw, a 10-year-old orphaned boy in The Boxtrolls.
The Boxtrolls was an animated fantasy comedy that explored Egg’s attempts to protect the cave-dwelling trash-collecting creatures who raised him from falling victim to an exterminator. Wright was joined by an all-star cast of voice actors, including Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, and Simon Pegg in The Boxtrolls. With a surreal sense of humor and a unique premise, The Boxtrolls showcased Wright’s talents as a voice actor, as seen in his subsequent role in the Roald Dahl short film adaptation Revolting Rhymes in 2016.
Loosely based on the book Here Be Monsters! by Alan Snow, Boxtrolls tells the story of a young boy named Eggs, a human raised by the trash-collecting “Boxtrolls.” Though shunned by the townsfolk, the Boxtrolls are peaceful creatures, and it’s up to Eggs to save his adoptive family when an exterminator threatens them.
- Director
- Graham Annable , Anthony Stacchi
- Release Date
- September 26, 2014
- Studio(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Pictures
- Writers
- Irena Brignull , Adam Pava
- Cast
- Ben Kingsley , Isaac Hempstead-Wright , Elle Fanning , Dee Bradley Baker , Steve Blum , Toni Collette , Jared Harris , Nick Frost , Richard Ayoade , Tracy Morgan , Simon Pegg
- Runtime
- 97minutes
- Budget
- $60 million
4 Nightwatch (1994)
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Before gaining his role as Jaime Lannister on Game of Thrones, Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was already well-known in his home country. This was because his breakout role in the horror thriller Nightwatch was a cult favorite that even gained a 1997 American remake starring Ewan McGregor. However, Ole Bornedal’s remake couldn’t hold a candle to the eerie tension of the original, which explored mysterious disappearances and a potential serial killer at a Copenhagen medical institute.
Coster-Waldau portrayed Martin Bork, the newly appointed night watchman at the local morgue, who, after a series of murders, becomes the police’s prime suspect. As a truly tense story that kept viewers guessing right until the end, Nightwatch was an early success for Coster-Waldau that helped open the doors for him in Hollywood as he gained a role in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down. Coster-Waldau even reprised his role as Martin Bork in the terrifying legacy sequel Nightwatch – Demons Are Forever in 2023.
3 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008 – 2009)
Lena Headey
Lena Headey’s acting career began when she was still a teenager in the early 1990s, and she quickly gained acclaimed roles in British movies like Waterland, The Remains of the Day, and Mrs. Dalloway. While it was the role of Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones that gained Headey worldwide recognition, her portrayal of Sarah Connor on the sci-fi spin-off series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles stood as one of her crowning achievements. Despite being prematurely canceled after just two seasons, Headey excelled in her role and made the show a cult favorite.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles explored the aftermath of Terminator 2: Judgment Day as Sarah and her son John, the future savior of mankind, sought to fight back against the threat of Skynet. As a smart and highly entertaining series, The Sarah Connor Chronicles showcased this franchise’s potential on the small screen. While it was a real shame that the series didn’t get the opportunity to reach a natural conclusion, it’s a compelling addition to the lore of the Terminator franchise.
This spinoff of the Terminator franchise follows Sarah Connor, her son John, and Cameron, a Terminator reprogrammed to protect John. Pursued by time-traveling Terminator assassins, they must cope with life on the run as well as the impending threat of Skynet.
- Cast
- Lena Headey , Thomas Dekker , Summer Glau , Brian Austin Green , Garret Dillahunt , Richard T. Jones , Leven Rambin , Stephanie Jacobsen
- Release Date
- January 13, 2008
- Seasons
- 2
- Network
- FOX
- Writers
- David Nutter , Josh Friedman
- Directors
- David Nutter
- Showrunner
- Josh Friedman
2 The Station Agent (2003)
Peter Dinklage
The role of Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones quickly made a star out of Peter Dinklage, whose incredible way with words and impeccable comedic timing made him one of the series’ greatest characters. While Dinklage has been acting since 1993, his dwarfism made it difficult to gain parts that weren’t “elves or leprechauns” (via New York Times) as he sought to change Hollywood’s tendency only to cast dwarfs in one-dimensional or offensive roles. This opportunity came with The Station Agent, a compelling comedy-drama that stood as a defining moment in Dinklage’s career.
Dinklage played Finbar McBride in Tom McCarthy’s The Station Agent, which told the story of a quiet and solitary man with dwarfism moving to an abandoned train station in Newfoundland, New Jersey. This contemplative film was a thoughtful take on loneliness that showcased the true depths of Dinklage’s acting talents and incredible emotional range. As a story of friendship and the simple things in life, The Station Agent was an essential film in Dinklage’s uncompromising journey in breaking stereotypes and pushing back against prejudices in the way Hollywood casts and defines actors.
The Station Agent, directed by Tom McCarthy, follows the life of Finbar McBride (Peter Dinklage), a man with dwarfism who seeks solitude in an abandoned train station in rural New Jersey. His desire for isolation is disrupted by the arrival of two other seekers of companionship: a talkative food truck owner (Bobby Cannavale) and an artist dealing with personal loss (Patricia Clarkson). The film explores themes of friendship, acceptance, and loneliness.
- Director
- Tom McCarthy
- Release Date
- October 3, 2003
- Studio(s)
- SenArt Films , Next Wednesday
- Distributor(s)
- Miramax Films
- Writers
- Tom McCarthy
- Runtime
- 89 Minutes
- Budget
- $500,000
1 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Sean Bean
Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings stand as the two defining fantasy franchises of the modern era, as Peter Jackson’s trilogy showcased the immense power of cinema, while the George R.R. Martin adaptation proved the extraordinary potential of sprawling ensemble stories. One actor who can boast of his contribution to both franchises was Sean Bean, who starred as Ned Stark in the first season of Game of Thrones. Before gaining his role on the HBO series, Bean played Boromir in LOTR, a son of the Stewards of Gondor who journeys with the Fellowship towards Mordor.
Bean’s role in Lord of the Rings was an important one that even originated the famous “one does not simply walk into Mordor” meme that has become an iconic part of internet history. It’s not just on Game of Thrones or in The Lord of the Rings where Bean has excelled, as he’s been a consistent star of movies and television shows for decades. Having appeared in all three The Lord of the Rings movies, Bean was just one of many famous faces who played a significant role in Game of Thrones.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the first film in Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings trilogy. The movie follows Frodo Baggins (Elijah Woods) as he is tasked with destroying the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom after he inherits the ring.
- Release Date
- December 19, 2001
- Studio(s)
- New Line Cinema , Wingnut Films
- Distributor(s)
- New Line Cinema
- Cast
- Elijah Wood , Ian McKellen , Liv Tyler , Viggo Mortensen , Sean Astin , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Orlando Bloom , Christopher Lee , Hugo Weaving , Sean Bean , Ian Holm , Andy Serkis
- Runtime
- 178 Minutes
- Budget
- $93 Million
Sources: Vanity Fair, Deadline, Anthem, New York Times
