You know what they say — sex sells.
You know what they say — sex sells.
“Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams learned that first hand when she was thrust into the spotlight at age 12. The actress considers herself one of a “lucky” few who haven’t been cast as a sex object.
“I have been really lucky, in that I play characters who aren’t necessarily the eye candy, ” she told Sunday Times Style . “It’s hard for young actresses who still feel like scrappy teenagers but are sort of forced to play characters who are a lot more mature, because, you know, ‘young sexy woman’ really sells in Hollywood.”
Still, Williams has faced her share of pressure. The British actress admitted that playing Arya Stark on the HBO original series was fun early on, but as the show got bigger her self-esteem suffered.
‘Game of Thrones’ final season may feature extra-long episodes
“At 12, I was fearless and didn’t care, so I really enjoyed it, ” she said. “But then as each season passed, the pressure built and it became a little destructive. Everyone goes through that dip in confidence. That also came with puberty. It all fizzled out a bit, and I lost my confidence, and now I’m slowly starting to get it back again.”
Williams isn’t the first female “Game of Thrones” star to go public about the show’s effect on her confidence. In fact, co-star Lena Headey — known for playing Cersei Lannister on the series — recently opened up to Net-A-Porter about pressure women in Hollywood feel to look a certain way.
“I’m happier now (that) I’m older, playing women who aren’t expected to be beautiful. That pressure has gone for me, ” she said.
” (Male) actors can be ‘interesting, ‘ but there’s a really pressure on woman to be beautiful and skinny, ” Headey added.
‘Game of Thrones’ character Hodor appears in KFC commercial
Neither Williams nor Headey has allowed outside pressure to affect the portrayal of their “Game of Thrones” characters, both of whom are strong in their own right.
Both will be instrumental in the penultimate season of the HBO series. Headey’s character, currently seated on the Iron Throne, will have to protect her title while the young Stark girl continues making her way back toward Westeros.
All the while an army of white walkers, led by the Night King, will be closing in on the Seven Kingdoms.
The new season of “Game of Thrones” premieres on July 16 at 9 p.m. on HBO.
