The Game Of Thrones Cast Has Only Gotten Hotter

Across all seven kingdoms of Westeros, the cast of "Game of Thrones" have made a name for themselves regarding both their looks and talent. Many are gorgeous in real life despite playing grimy and gruff characters. While some have dark secrets they've tried to hide, and some have made headlines that change how you see them, many continue to get hotter. 

That's not to say it's the actors themselves who particularly enjoy it. In fact, some find it more demeaning than flattering. "It can sometimes feel like your art is being put to one side for your sex appeal. And I don't like that," actor Kit Harington, who portrayed Jon Snow, once told Page Six. "In this position, you get asked a lot, 'Do you like being a heartthrob? Do you like being a hunk?' Well, my answer is, 'That's not what I got into it for.'"

It's not just Harington's "heartthrob" looks that have kept the actor beloved since "Game of Thrones" ended in 2019. The "Eternals" actor is committed to his mental health practices as he is to his fitness routine. "If I don't go to the gym at least three times a week, the sad boy in the corner comes back," he admitted to Mr. Porter.

How exactly does he keep that warrior-like physique even after his peak Westeros days? He keeps a consistent routine while incorporating boxing as he approaches a new decade of life. "I quite like looking less bulky now," he told the outlet. "As I get older, I think it looks better. So, I've swapped protein shakes for intermittent fasting instead.'

He's even gone viral for becoming a regular at a Connecticut-based gym, where he put some of those new tactics to the test. After leaving rehab for alcoholism in 2019, he was referred to Iron House Fitness, where he became a staple there for about a month. "He trained 28 days straight," the gym shared in a Facebook post. "Not for a role. Not because someone told him to. Because something clicked... He got his edge back."

As (eventual) Queen Daenerys Targaryen, Emilia Clarke became one of the most popular and beloved actors in the entire "Game of Thrones" universe. She starred in other famous franchises, including "Terminator: Genisys" and "Solo: A Star Wars Story." But what makes her attractive is not her stunning looks; it's her willingness to move forward with grace despite any setbacks she faces, professionally or personally. "I entered into already existing franchises, so when they don't work out, it's not personal," she shared with Variety.

While she's faced plenty of fantastical foes on screen, the "Ponies" star dealt with more pressing personal details that almost ended her life. After experiencing multiple brain hemorrhages while filming the HBO series, she later opened up about the lasting effects that experience has had on her both physically and mentally. 

From parts of her brain no longer being usable to having an increased risk of stroke and heart attack following treatment, Clarke claims that she is more resilient and reflective than ever. "Your memory is obviously incredibly important [as an actor] and I consistently tested that," she wrote in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. "There's no point in kind of continually racking your brains as to what might not be there because what you have now is great."

As Arya Stark, actor Maisie Williams endeared herself to millions as the (spoiler alert) one who finally defeated the Night King. In real life, Williams spent her childhood blossoming on television, something that made her develop a specific fear about her future in Hollywood. Realizing she wasn't what Hollywood deemed a classic beauty, Williams tapped into her own beauty standards and reinvented her look with edgy hairstyles and dark makeup trends. 

"It's a very shallow industry," she told The Irish Times in 2018. "And I don't look like someone who is cast in roles that are, well, sexualised. Don't get me wrong. I'm completely in awe of Hollywood's leading ladies ..."

She's grown into more adult roles in films like "The New Mutants" and "Practical Magic 2" and, with it, an era that finds her embracing the beauty of the here and now. From therapy sessions to reading, writing, and exercising, returning to herself moves her forward in both her career and her life. "Life is actually quite fun, but we all torture ourselves over the agony of what could be," she told The Guardian in 2023.

Sophie Turner caught the world's attention as Sansa Stark on "Game of Thrones," but after the show ended, she continued to develop as an actor and a young woman. Most famously, she married Joe Jonas and now shares two daughters with the musician. Though they divorced in 2023, motherhood changed her views on beauty. 

"To be honest, having kids was the best thing for my relationship to my body," she revealed to British Vogue in 2024. "... [My therapist] reminded me how amazing it is that our bodies can do this and how important it is to put all the nutrients in your body so that it can do that."

Apart from motherhood, Turner embraced new acting roles, including a sensual thriller opposite her on-screen brother, Kit Harington. She even worked her way into another iconic role as Lara Croft in a live-action "Tomb Raider" series, something that tested her physically and mentally as she prepared. "I'm not normally seen as an action girl or strong in who she is as a person," she admitted to Net-a-Porter. "It's refreshing to do something different."

The visage of "Kingslayer" Jaime Lannister made Nikolaj Coster-Waldau a household name on "Game of Thrones." But he claims not all of that attention is due to his looks, as the costuming goes a long way to aid his character's arc. "If you've got armor on, there's something very hard and brutal and masculine about that," he explained to Vogue in 2017. "Jaime has had such a roller-coaster emotional ride, so I'm trying to get out of the armor . . . both emotionally and physically."

After Jaime's fate came crumbling down (spoiler alert), Coster-Waldau continued working on-screen and projects, like Audible's "Radioman" podcast. Aging hasn't stopped him from diving back into action projects, including those that have him performing numerous fights and stunts. In fact, he relishes that part of the job. "Physical stuff like that is always fun and a little painful," he told The Independent. "Knock on wood, I don't feel a lack of energy."

As Tyrion Lannister, arguably the unsung hero of the entire "Game of Thrones" series, Peter Dinklage won numerous awards. His character was belittled, tortured, and doubted throughout all 8 seasons and was never really recognized as one of the show's sexier characters. But the character's depth made Tyrion a fan favorite.

"I think Tyrion can be the most relatable to the modern sensibility because he's not a hero and not a villain," he explained to The Guardian in 2015. "He has a sense of humour even in the worst of times."

He has continued to steal scenes on film and television with roles in "Cyrano" and "Wicked," making him an irresistible icon of the industry and a new type of leading man for modern times, a role he is more than willing to embrace. "Hollywood is finally opening the door wider to more realistic portrayals of who people are," he told the outlet. "It's not just about beautiful Hollywood stars."

Though his time on "Thrones" was short, Pedro Pascal can credit the HBO hit for his superstardom. His character, Oberyn Martell, was sleek, stylish, sensual, and charming to audiences and other characters. After leaving King's Landing in S4, Pascal earned roles in recognizable franchises including "The Last of Us," "Fantastic Four," and "The Mandalorian." 

He also became one of the internet's go-to meme generators, endearing himself to even more fans worldwide. As how he is as a person, many have shared what they see on screen is mirrored in his real life. "There doesn't seem to be a separation in his depth of feeling, as a human being on earth and as a character in a play," Oscar Isaac told Esquire. "The emotional through line is consistent, just really raw and honest."

Now that he's past 50, he's only gotten hotter — both physically and mentally. In many interviews, Pascal shows charming introspection and humor, but it's also his toned, superhero-ready physique that fans love. But how does the new Mr. Fantastic keep in Avengers-level shape?. "Lots of core work and mobility combined with calisthenics, focusing more on movement than aesthetics," trainer David Higgins shared with British GQ.

Before he was Aquaman, Jason Momoa was better known as Khal Drogo, the beast-like husband of Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen in the first season of "Game of Thrones." His hulking, often shirtless figure drew many eyes, and even after his "Thrones" demise, he remained a beloved figurehead of the show's brutal nature. To keep that incredible physique, many would think he's spent countless hours in the gym. 

However, he's more into hobbies like rock climbing and surfing to stay fit. That's not to say he doesn't train hard in the gym when he's getting into superhero shape. "Whenever I wake up, I'm up, I don't lie there like an idiot," he quipped to Men's Health. "I get up, run up a hill, get some exercise and have some time with my thoughts."

But it doesn't matter what he looks like for fans to find him sexy. Whether he wears his long hair up or down, dons a bright pink suit, or even shaves his famous beard (which left many fans saying the same thing), his larger-than-life physique and accompanying attitude make him irresistible to audiences. "I'm pretty secure in my masculinity," he told InStyle in 2020. "I don't really give a s*** what anyone thinks."

Many remember Richard Madden as the doomed eldest Stark son, Robb, in the first three seasons of "Game of Thrones." After his character's bloody demise, Madden went on to woo audiences as Prince Kit (Charming) in Disney's 2015 live-action adaptation of "Cinderella" and as a tough but tender secret agent in Netflix's "Bodyguard" series. He even made his Marvel debut in the 2021 epic "Eternals." 

All the while, he wowed fans worldwide with his big brown eyes, lush dark curls, and thick Scottish brogue. Was there ever a chance we wouldn't find him handsome? Ironically, he has had his own doubts about his features. "I don't like the look of me in the mirror," he revealed to The Guardian, mentioning that he was overweight as a child and constantly bullied.

You wouldn't have guessed his self-deprecating demeanor, but the "Rocketman" star continues to rack up leading man roles. He hit a new milestone in 2026 when he turned 40, marking the occasion on Instagram with a poignant post. "Just gettin' [sic] started," he captioned alongside pictures of his birthday cake and balloons.

As Missandei, Nathalie Emmanuel stole hearts with her soft but strong commitment to the future queen. In real life, the UK-based performer has become a go-to for fashion, turning heads on the red carpet and runway. Like many celebrities, she has a dedicated style team team to help her balance out what she calls "sensory overload." 

But when it comes to styling herself, Emmanuel is all about confidence through comfort with a bit of urban flair. "I like to play with the masculine and the feminine, and generally mix it up," she once told Elle UK. "I'm open to trying pretty much anything."

When she's not striking a pose with her signature corkscrew curls and big brown eyes, she's tearing up the screen in the "Fast & Furious" series and horror flicks like the sultry vampire thriller "The Invitation." But just as important as her career is her focus on her overall health. Emmanuel turns to yoga to find balance, and has even trained to become an instructor. "It's important to check in physically, mentally, and emotionally and see what's going on," she told Shape.

Like his "Thrones" love interest Nathalie Emmanuel, Jacob Anderson has traded one fantasy realm for another. After endearing audiences with his portrayal of the deeply dedicated Unsullied commander Grey Worm, he broke big as Louis de Pointe du Lac in AMC's "Interview with a Vampire." His short hair and expressive eyes work in his favor in whatever role he plays, from forlorn and lovesick to sultry and serious. 

But when he's in character, it takes more work to get out of their hair (literally) to fully return to himself. "I always have a shower after work, wash my hair, because Louis has got such slicked hair," he told Men's Health. "... It does 'de-wind' me, and I feel like I'm kind of shedding Louis a little bit.

Another way he inhabits his characters is through fitness. He's picked up specific routines to help the aesthetic energy for roles. While preparing for "Vampire," he unlocked a side of himself. "The secret that came out of [training] was that being in my body really changed how my brain functioned," he admitted to the publication. "That was the biggest surprise."

The statuesque six-foot-three Gwendoline Christie became an instant sensation as the beloved, butt-kicking Brienne of Tarth on "Game of Thrones." When she's not making major moves in series like "Star Wars" and "Wednesday," she taps into a new side of her talent: modeling. 

From strutting on the runway for John Galliano's Maison Margiela and Vivienne Westwood to posing for the 2026 Pirelli calendar, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty has made a whole new name for herself in the fashion world. "I've spent my whole life wanting to be invisible or someone else," she told People. "[But now] the remarkable thing is that I'm probably more comfortable and confident about who I am."

Fashion is part of Christie's day-to-day in more ways than one, as her partner is fashion designer Giles Deacon. Christie often wears his designs on the red carpet and at events including the Met Gala, and has found a new appreciation for fashion. "You always feel celebrated as a woman when you wear [his designs]," she gushed to The Telegraph in 2016 about her partner's first couture collection . "Their confidence somehow increases yours."