The leading actors of Game of Thrones, after the release of the series, became famous overnight, even if no one knew their name before.
Almost all of their careers quickly went up, so even if their hero was killed for a long time in the show, now they do not suffer from unemployment.
It’s all the more interesting to remember how they started and what their debut roles were long before the start of the series from HBO.
List
- 10. Jason Momoa, “Malibu Rescuers”
- 9. Charles Dance, “For Your Eyes Only”
- 8. Nikolai Koster-Waldau, "Night Watch"
- 7. Lina Headey, “By the Water”
- 6. Natalie Emmanuel, Holliox
- 5. Mark Eddy, “Very Specific Practice”
- 4. Michelle Fairley, “Beyond the Veil of Secrecy”
- 3. Sean Bean, “Purely English Killing”
- 2. Peter Dinklage, “Living in Oblivion”
- 1. Emilia Clark, Doctors
10. Jason Momoa, “Malibu Rescuers”
The future Khal Drogo was born in Hawaii and began his journey to fame there. Working as a model with the famous designer Takeo, in 1999 he won the title “Model of the Year of Hawaii” and in the same year made his debut on television in the cult series “Rescue Malibu”.
His character Jason Joeyn appeared in 44 episodes, which was quite enough for Momoa to begin to recognize outside the islands.
Before he got a role in the Game of Thrones (by the way, he appeared there in only 10 episodes), the actor managed to star in yet another popular project - Stargate Atlantis (78 episodes with his participation).
9. Charles Dance, “For Your Eyes Only”
The British actor received the first notable role in the 1981 film “For Your Eyes Only”. This was the twelfth of the bondian, where the role of agent 007 was played by Roger Moore, and Dance appeared in the guise of an assistant hired killer.
Prior to that, he repeatedly starred in the series, but these were second appearances in one episode, and he was not always indicated in the credits.
8. Nikolai Koster-Waldau, "Night Watch"
The actor made his debut in his homeland in 1994. The thriller “Night Watch” brought him popularity, but only in Denmark, after which he faced a much more difficult task - to become a world star.
Fortunately, he was lucky: the first role in Hollywood, although it was small, but it was Ridley Scott's 2001 film “Black Hawk” with Orlando Bloom, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore and Tom Hardy.
In the same year he appeared in the movie Enigma with Kate Winslet (the role is again small), and then the Kingdom of Heaven of the same Ridley Scott and increasingly prominent roles.
7. Lina Headey, “By the Water”
The English actress in her youth wanted to become a hairdresser and did not even think about filming a movie, but the case brought her together with a casting agent who spotted talent in a 17-year-old girl.
With his submission, she got to audition for the film "By the Water" in 1992. She worked with actors such as John Heard, Ethan Hawke (just gaining popularity) and Jeremy Irons, who already had an Oscar.
The role of Cersei Lannister Headey was already quite famous, but she became a real star thanks to the “Game of Thrones”.
Her character in the survey of The Independent publication took the first line in popularity, primarily due to the excellent actress play.
By the way, in 2004-2006 she had an affair with Jerome Flynn, who later starred with her in the guise of a mercenary Bron.
6. Natalie Emmanuel, Holliox
The actress made her television debut in 2007 in the British soap opera Holliox, which tells about life in the fictional suburb of Chester. She starred in episode 191, after which she continued her television career.
In 2011, she appeared in the same series of "Disasters" and "Garbage", but then practically disappeared from the screens for 2 years, until she was called to the screen version of George Martin's novels.
Now she has an active work in two Fast and the Furious and Maze Runner, and she is only 30 years old, so she is still ahead.
5. Mark Eddy, “Very Specific Practice”
Like most of the heroes on our list, the future Robert Baratheon began his career on TV: the first time he appeared on the TV series “Very Specific Practice” in 1988, followed by “Heartbeat”, “Married ... with children”, “Thin Blue Line” other.
Everywhere Mark had small episodes, but gradually he was given more and more screen time.
In the big movie, he first starred in the 1997 film “Male Striptease”, for which he immediately received the BAFTA nomination as Best Supporting Actor.
4. Michelle Fairley, “Beyond the Veil of Secrecy”
Despite the fact that the actress’s official debut is the 1987 Secret City movie, we’ll still take the 1990 drama “Behind the Veil of Secrecy,” since it’s hard to even notice in the frame of the first film.
After that, Michelle focused on television and work in the theater, almost without acting in big films.
3. Sean Bean, “Purely English Killing”
The spoiler man (his heroes almost always die), who celebrated the 60th anniversary on April 17, graduated from the London Academy of Dramatic Art in 1981 and played for the first time exclusively in the theater.
On TV, he first appeared in the cult series “Purely English Murder” in 1984 (a total of 2,400 episodes of the show were filmed) in a small episode, after which he interrupted for 7 years in minor roles.
Success came to him in 1991 with the release of the action movie "Game of the Patriots", where he played the terrorist and main opponent of the hero Harrison Ford.
2. Peter Dinklage, “Living in Oblivion”
The one whom everyone now calls nothing more than Tyrion Lannister, received his first role in the low-budget arthouse “Life in Oblivion” in 1995, which received several awards at the Sundance festival.
After that, there were about a dozen more insignificant works, until in 2003 the Station Warden came out, warmly received by critics.
As for Game of Thrones, his character in the series is second only to Cersei in popularity, according to a survey by The Independent.
1. Emilia Clark, Doctors
“Daenerys from the Targaryen’s house, called the First, Burning, Queen Mierina, Queen Andalov, Roynar and the First People, Khalisi of the Dothraki Sea, Breaking the Frames and Mother of Dragons” - this is how all the titles of the heroine Emilia Clark sound completely in “Game of Thrones”. Sound, solid, even "a little" pathetic.
When the actress was just starting her career, everything was much more modest: a small episode in the British series Doctors, where her character was called Saskia Mayer. You must admit that it cannot be compared with the current name.