Maisie Williams and Kit Harington recently spoke about the impact, both positive and negative, that Game of Thrones has had on their lives. George R.R. Martin answered fan questions from Time Magazine staffers and Sean Bean weighed in on HBO’s planned Game of Thrones prequels.
In an interview with The Guardian, Maisie Williams, now 21 years old, talked about the personal challenges she faced going through adolescence while starring on a hit TV show.
“15, 16 [years of age] … that’s when the hormones are really flying. Going through that and trying to juggle other people’s opinions on who you are and how you should act, that’s difficult, just because you’re desperately trying to find your own identity,” she said.
Williams was bullied when she returned to school after the first few seasons of Game of Thrones. The situation became so bad that she eventually opted for homeschooling. Quite understandably, Williams said this experience molded her outlook on the world at the time.
“Leaving school, and then going back and having this awful experience, made me really bitter about life and people …” she said. “It is a very honest teenage mindset of, ‘Bad things happen to me, so the world is bad.’ Those are your first steps into the big wide world. It’s not very encouraging.” When asked if the fog has cleared yet, she answered “I think I’m still clearing it,” and laughed.
As for facing the finale of season 8 of Game of Thrones, Williams seems eager to move forward.
“I got to the end and I didn’t want more. I had exhausted every possible piece of Arya,” she said. “And this season was quite big for me. I had a lot more to do … mainly because there’s just less characters now, so everyone’s got more to do.”
George RR Martin recently answered some questions submitted The New York Times Style Magazine staff, which ranged in topic from allegorical interpretations of A Song of Ice and Fire‘s characters and plots to where Martin gets his famous hats. When asked whether fans will ever get to know more about Joanna Lannister, Martin coyly answered that we’ll just “have to keep reading the books to find out.”
Kit Harington spoke with Rick Edwards at Esquire Townhouse to discuss, among other things, how Game of Thrones has impacted his life. Though he shared a funny story about going to Wimbledon after seasons 5 and getting asked by Camilla Parker Bowls whether or not Jon Snow was really dead, he was also honest about the downsides of notoriety.
“I’d be lying if I wasn’t saying I was at drama school dreaming of going into a big TV show, walking red carpets, going to the Emmys or the SAG awards. Of course that’s what I wanted and Thrones threw that like a ten ton truck at [me],” he said.
Case in point, the other day he had to shoo off a fan who was approaching him during an emotional moment at the airport.
Harrington didn’t say much in the video about how life has changed for him since completing Game of Thrones. However, he did express his delight at finally getting to respond to the fan greeting, “Are you Jon Snow” with “Not anymore.”
Lastly, while discussing his upcoming TV show, Medici: Lorenzo the Magnificent with The Hollywood Reporter, Sean Bean was asked if he’d be interested in appearing in any Game of Thrones prequels.
“I’m always a bit reluctant to go back to shows under a different format or guise,” he admitted. “But you never know with something like this, it just depends on the time frames. I think if the quality was maintained. You know, the kind of thought behind it, if it didn’t look as though it was an add-on just to capitalize on earlier success.”
ASNAWP!
ASNAWP indeed! 🙂
I still think it would be cool for this so called documentary program if they did some (serious and not) skits in costume/character with Sean. I’d enjoy watching Ned talking to Arya about things that have happened to her for instance.
We’d purely LOVE to “just keep reading the books” – were there any new ones. Just sayin’, George!
Re: Maizie Williams getting bullied when she went back to school – that seemed to fit in pretty well with Arya’s life at that time, too. I hope Ms Williams was able to use this experience in her acting.
YES YES YES. When Maisie says “this season is quite big for me. I had a lot more to do..”
that’s the best news I’ve had in a long time!!!
“And this season was quite big for me. I had a lot more to do … mainly because there’s just less characters now, so everyone’s got more to do.”
…Fewer
Maisie’s interview is proof that more than 8 seasons wasn’t possible.
Thanks for this great banquet !
This Kit Harrington article was a link at the bottom of the page you referred us to:
Kit Harington On Fashion, Fans And New Play ‘True West’
He refers to three years ago (when he was 28) as being one of the worst years of his life. I wasn’t following the fandom back then — does anybody know what made him so miserable?
I reckon that it could be a matter of state of mind for the actors after they know they’re finished. If they knew they had one more season they’d probably be fine. 🙂 Of course, if this past filming season wasn’t the last it also probably wouldn’t have been so long and grueling. They’d have been done on S8 months earlier and now back to work again filming S9…
___________
OT regarding filming, I saw a quiet rumor yesterday that a rather big name actress has supposedly been cast for GoT: TLN.
It may have something to do with having to constantly lie about Jon Snow’s fate post-S5 and always trying to hide during filming. Perhaps some personal stuff as well 🤷♂️.
Jay Targ,
Thnx!
Yes, I suspect friends would be personally insulted if he wouldn’t confide Jon Snow’s rebirth to them, times about 1000 other people he’d meet, asking about it.
??? TLN ???
Clob,
I don’t want to try to analyze their minds. If they say Season 8 was enough and they wouldn’t want more than that I trust them.
cos alpha,
The Long Night.
cos alpha,
The Long Night, the GOT prequel series. That’s not the official name, but it’s what we’re calling it for now.
BrienneBabe,
I think he and Leslie had a break up period. Don’t remember the timing exactly, but it happened twice (2013 and 2015).
So, maybe he’s referring to that period, or maybe just a family thing.
The prequel, and it’s about Naomi Watts
Ditto!
I hope she surivives and goes off on a journey, exploring beyond West of Westeros.
*grits teeth*
Thank You, mau, Young Dragon and Alba!
The Long Night – I should have known.
I thought, TLN were the initials of the “big name”…
*tz*
Alba,
Awww poor thing, yes, his exclamation intensity fits with a heavy personal issue
thnx!
Tron79,
Right?! ASNAWP!
On another note, it’s really disheartening to hear about some of the bullying Maisie has had to endure as a result of her fame. It’s all jealousy no doubt.
Yes, I didn’t realize she was bullied. Have you seen Maisie in Cyberbully? I thought it was an important short film. I didn’t know when I saw it that she had been bullied herself in real life.
C’mon, Beanie!!!!
This left out what I thought was one of the most important parts of the Guardian article, which I’d read a few days ago… Maisie’s description of her final scene. Her stressing that she was alone for it was something I felt might be significant as to the way her character ends:
“She will say, however, that her final scene was “beautiful. I ended on the perfect scene. I was alone – shocker! Arya’s always bloody alone. But I was alone and I had watched a lot of other people wrap. I knew the drill, I had seen the tears and heard the speeches.” “
As a girl who was bullied myself, I empathise with Maisie, I’m sure a lot of us do.
As for Mr Kitty Kat, I love his attitude. That’s why I thought his and Rose’s wedding was lovely. Just family and friends and unlike some celebs, full of people, most of whom they have never met, just so certain magazines can sell more copies.
This is really interesting and fits with her being the last to wrap (certainly last woman to wrap). So I guess that article from the other day where Dinklage was referring to an emotional last young person’s scene wasn’t Maisie’s? I was guessing Sophie for that one anyway. I wonder if the fact that Arya’s last scene is one where she is alone suggests that she does sail west like many assume she will. I am pretty certain they wouldn’t have her die alone and if she stayed in Winterfell, I can’t see how she would be alone either…
…as I type this, I realise the blindingly obvious fact that they shoot out of sequence and her last filmed scene is unlikely to be her last shot on the show. Never mind me, just ignore the rambling! 😬
Off topic but why are there two “mau” accounts ?
The “last to wrap” fits in with Maisie’s blood-splattered sneakers and “Last Woman Standing” post from months back. Peter Dinklage’s paen to a young woman who has grown, as has her role – well, I’d love for that to be Arya, but Arya and Tyrion had approximately zero scenes together, in all 8 to 9 years of the series.
Tron79,
I know of it and know that she’s in that movie but have not seen it. Good on her for taking a role like that to shed light on this issue. In the end though, she’ll have the last laugh. Her talent, perseverance and commitment is to be admired!
zandru,
I know they don’t shoot in sequence necessarily but it does kind of feel like she’s talking about Arya’s final scene. Or maybe she just put it that way to throw us all off… Maisie is quite a wily young lady!
Anyhow, if she is alone for her final scene it could be a number of scenarios… she’s sailing to see what is west of Westeros, she’s alone in Winterfell because the other Starks are dead or living elsewhere, or the worst that came to mind, she’s fleeing alone on a ship because the White Walkers win and kill everyone, haha.
My partner and I were batting around all kinds of wacky theories this morning over breakfast.
That one was a puzzler, since she wouldn’t plausibly have been wearing sneakers while shooting, unless it was an extra take just for head shots. Maybe she took one last stroll around the set after getting out of costume? A carnage-strewn battlefield scene? Arya arrives late to the party and spots lots of familiar corpses? That would be a pretty heartbreaking scene, but if the corpses don’t reanimate, I guess it means the Good Guys won.
BTW, I keep trying to post that I’ve seen Maisie’s new movie, but twice now they have disappeared down the moderation vortex. It’s called Then Came You (changed from the original title Departures), and it’s a funny/heartbreaking YA friendship story in which she plays a terminal cancer patient who enlists Asa Butterfield’s character to help her check things off her bucket list. They shot most of it near where I live and premiered it at the Woodstock Film Festival last weekend. Recommended!
Enharmony1625,
Thanks! I needed that.
If she sails off to discover what’s west of Westeros, she can’t do it all by herself. I don’t imagine that a rowboat like Gendry’s could make it safely across the Sunset Sea. But maybe a crew of sailors doesn’t count as other actors with which she’s interacting, if the scene is shot in a way meant to bookend her departure for Braavos.
Firannion,
Hmmm… maybe a team of wolves pulling a boat by dog-paddle swimming similar to a dogsled team on land. 🙂
I’m tickled to hear that Braavos is GRRM’s choice for where he’d prefer to live in Planetos. It’s the most appealing place for me as well. Guess I need to figure out a way to afford to visit Venice before I die.
Firannion,
Venice is great….if you love insanely huge crowds.
IMO, The best parts of Venice are the places less traveled. Piazza San Marco is nothing more than a tourist trap. I suppose if you go either really early or really late it’s more tolerable though.
Go in the cooler months, and early mornings in sort-off-season and when no big events like festivals are happening. Do it when schools and colleges in the US are in session.
San Marco is architecturally interesting, so do pop in but move on to streets that look quieter.
Unfortunately, this overcrowding is a growing problem in the famous tourist spots.
That said, there are fascinating hamlets in Italy that are virtually empty. Three years ago, I visited two Italian villages in early spring that were stunning – and empty! I think only two houses were occupied at the time as indicated by sounds (radio and movements) and open windows. We saw no-one. Just our party of 4 on the street. I am sure the local police person (we did not see them) were notified of our arrival and movements.
Oh, what did you think of Maisie and Nina Dobrev? And did they have many scenes together? Nina is one of my other favorite actresses so I was thrilled that she and Maisie were doing a film together. I’ve been anxious to see it.
Braavos is also my choice! 🙂 Well, that, or the North, which is most similar climate and nature wise to where I live in RL.
While Westeros seems to be a stagnating feudal northwestern Europe, Braavos is vibrant, like early Rennaissance northern Italy. The commerce, the art, the changing society!
Mr Derp,
We were taken really early – barely daylight – to Piazza San Marco.
My 3-day visit to Venice was a bizzarre experience. We (I, mum, dad) were staying with mum’s old artist friend who lived alone in her actual family palazzo on the Lagoon. She was quite dilapitated but not as much as her palazzo, she joked about it. She was going to bequath it to some Venice heritage foundation as a nasty surprise they have to try to keep from sinking.
Most of the palazzo was unheated, only the kitchen and three rooms downstairs were liveable, but gods old and new! the beautiful rooms upstairs! Stripped bare of all former glory, all tapertries, paintings, panels, artworks, objects d’art had been sold. The rooms had plenty of room for her own artwork – contemporary art: strange, intriguing chickenwire and paper-mache sculptures; huge, colourful canvases. Outside, the fog of Venetian winter.
On her insistence, we did the must-see tourist stuff very early in the morning… often walking along the temporary walkways put up because of the floods.
It was not a Canaletto painting, it was far more interesting and sad. A sense of doom hanging over it all. A place looking back to the old glory days, unfeasible in the modern world though they’d kick-started the modern western capitalist world.
I’m glad GRRM included Braavos and the Iron Bank in his fantasy world, also Myr with its superior glassworking (Murano in our world), Tyrosh and its dyes etc… The Free Cities are “early Rennaissance” while Westeros is still feudal medieval.
It’ll be interesting to see what Westeros will be like after the bottleneck of the Long Night.
I’d never seen Nina Dobrev in anything else, to my knowledge. Her character and Asa Butterfield’s both work in an airport, and he has a crush on her, but is shy because she’s several years older. So Maisie’s character jumps in and instigates conversations between them. Not a lot of scenes together, but good opportunities for Maisie to act more zany and extroverted than Arya usually gets to be.
Another incentive for me to visit Venice: One of my other favorite authors, Guy Gavriel Kay, has a new historical fantasy novel coming out next spring. It’s set in an alternative version of Renaissance Venice, previously visited in his preceding book about alt-Croatian pirate culture, Children of Earth and Sky. Anyplace Kay describes becomes a place I want to go!
Firannion,
“BTW, I keep trying to post that I’ve seen Maisie’s new movie, but twice now they have disappeared down the moderation vortex. It’s called Then Came You (changed from the original title Departures), and it’s a funny/heartbreaking YA friendship story in which she plays a terminal cancer patient who enlists Asa Butterfield’s character to help her check things off her bucket list. They shot most of it near where I live and premiered it at the Woodstock Film Festival last weekend. Recommended!”
——-
I thought that movie wasn’t going to be released until 2019. Good to hear it’s out.
Firannion,
BTW, I keep trying to post that I’ve seen Maisie’s new movie, but twice now they have disappeared down the moderation vortex. It’s called Then Came You (changed from the original title Departures), and it’s a funny/heartbreaking YA friendship story in which she plays a terminal cancer patient who enlists Asa Butterfield’s character to help her check things off her bucket list. They shot most of it near where I live and premiered it at the Woodstock Film Festival last weekend. Recommended!
zOMG I <3 Asa Butterfield, this will be amazing with them both
TY for the news
zOMG I <3 Asa Butterfield, that will be amazing with them both.
TY for the news
It’s only out on the festival circuit for now. In the Q & A, the director said that general theatrical release was planned for shortly before Valentine’s Day.
No live Maisie in 2018. 😞 (Voicing cartoon characters in animated movies doesn’t count.)
Firannion,
… And X-Men: New Mutants has been pushed back to August, 2019.
What could be more live than a play? She’s in one (“I and You” by Lauren Gunderson, co-starring Zach Wyatt) at the Hampstead Theatre right now. Well outside my travelling distance, though!
Well, she was live when I saw her in “I and You.” Her Caroline is a funny, adorable, heartbreaking gamine who is cantankerous and stubborn to protect her vulnerability. Maisie seemingly loved every minute, as did the audience. My mate who lives outside London went with me. He’s never seen GoT and was suitably impressed, especially when afterwards I told him about Maisie as ASNAWP. And he assumed she was a Yank. In the event, he was gobsmacked. BTW, if anyone is going, no need for a taxi. Take the Tube! The theatre is maybe 50 steps from the Swiss Cottage station on the Northern Line.
And Firannion, you’re also very lucky in having seen the film early. It bears some resemblance with “I and You” apparently. Not only does it have “You” in the title, but Maisie plays a sick teen who’s life is changed by a young man. I suspect her film character is much sicker.
Sorry. Swiss Cottage is on the Jubilee line. The London tube can be confusing.
Indeed she is, but more importantly, her character is more the changer than the changed in this dynamic. I was actually reminded a fair bit of one of my all-time favorite movies, Harold and Maude, with Maisie as teenaged Skye taking over Ruth Gordon’s role of 80ish manic pixie dream crone as Maude. Asa Butterfield’s character Calvin is a hypochondriac, rather than death-obsessed like Bud Cort’s Harold, but it’s the doomed Skye who whacks him upside the head with a heightened appreciation for what life has to offer. It’s one of those ‘Don’t forget to live while you’re alive’ stories.
“The Creators” Funko Pop 😂
http://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2018/10/18/the-creators/
Review: I and You, with Maisie Williams
https://monstagigz.com/2018/10/22/theatre-review-i-and-you-starring-maisie-williams-and-zach-wyatt-at-hampstead-theatre/
Sounds like she’s taking to stage acting well 🙂
Maisie in I and You
https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2018/10/24/12/maisie-williams-caroline-in-i-and-you-at-hampstead-theatre.-photo-credit-manuel-harlan.jpg?width=1368&height=912&fit=bounds&format=pjpg&auto=webp&quality=70
Ten Bears,
Well done, you. You’ve chosen a pivotal moment when her character suddenly drops much of her self-defensive offensiveness and a new attitude manifests itself. IIRC, this got a laugh too. You’d never know it from GoT, but Maisie is a terrific comedienne.