Maisie Williams reveals why Game of Thrones left her “lost for so long”

Games of Thrones star Maisie Williams has recently revealed what life was like starring in one of the biggest TV shows in the world.

Maisie Williams was only 12 years old when she first won her role in Game of Thrones. As one of the biggest fantasy series and small screen adaptations of the time, it was no small job.

Williams played Arya, the vocal and argumentative young Stark child. As the show went on, Williams became one of the main players and surviving members of the fictional family — a lot of pressure for a young actress.

While recently recalling her time on the legendary HBO series, Williams noted how the role had impacted her in a negative way.

Game of Thrones left Maisie Williams “lost”

In an interview with The Times, Maisie Williams revealed that Game of Thrones had left her struggling to understand her identity, and how it’s tough to reflect on now.

“I was so lost for so long and I knew that I was, and when I couldn’t pin down what I felt my identity was within that, it brought me a lot of discomfort,” she said. “Now I feel a lot more comfortable in my own skin. It’s hard to even put myself back there and talk about how tough it was just because I think it’s done.”

HBO

Although Arya Stark was one of the more beloved characters on Game of Thrones, audiences were quick to turn on the show when its final season came around. A lackluster and questionable finale caused fans to consider the series as a failure, despite consistently bringing in high viewership and winning industry awards. (The series won 59 Emmy Awards over its lifetime.)

But starring on an eight-season show for just under a decade would be an incredible amount of work for anyone, let alone a 12-year-old Williams. Now, following her time on Game of Thrones, she uses her experience to try to help other child actors going through similar experiences.

“I really dig within myself to try and bring out something that I feel would be really useful,” she said. “I’ve no idea if I ever have, but I know that at least they could text me or call me.”