Maisie Williams Gets Emotional While Recalling Her Tragic Upbringing

2022 seems to be the year for young stars to speak out against the abuses they faced in childhood, and fans are eager to support them. Jennette McCurdy, of Nickelodeon and "iCarly" fame, recently published a memoir titled, "I'm Glad My Mom Died." As Today reported, it quickly shot to the top of the New York Times bestseller list, and has inspired many to speak out about their own hardships.

Now, Maisie Williams has joined the ranks of voices. The 25-year-old actor first rose to fame after being cast on "Game of Thrones" at just 12 years old. In a GQ interview, it was asserted that Williams was uniquely suited for the role of "headstrong daughter" Arya Stark, due to her "adolescent tenacity." "Game of Thrones" explores many complex family relationships, but its star Williams has recently opened up about her own experiences, and her truth is even more devastating than fiction.

In a new interview, fans got further insight into exactly what Williams had to overcome as a young girl, and her experiences are harrowing.

Maisie Williams recently sat down in conversation with Steven Bartlett for "The Diary of a CEO" podcast. The interview quickly became highly introspective, with Bartlett asking Williams if she thought there was a specific source of her anxiety, which she has mentioned in previous interviews. The actor said thoughtfully, "There's a period of your childhood where, you know, certain situations can really stunt or just alter forever who you are going to become."

She went on to say that she never related to a childhood sense of having no inhibitions, and often struggled with a "sense of impending doom." Eventually, Williams revealed her turning point. A schoolteacher asked her if she had eaten one day and, as she went on to discover that Williams didn't normally eat breakfast, began "asking the right questions." From there, Williams alluded to her parents' fraught relationship and the abuse she faced. 

Although she was eventually removed from the situation, she revealed that this brought its own hardships. "I was like, indoctrinated in a way," she reflected. "My whole world flipped on its head. I thought, 'God, I'm so glad I don't have to see my dad again' ... it was still against everything I knew to be true." Following the release of the episode, fans were amazed by her strength, with one Twitter user writing, "What an incredibly powerful human." 

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.