Aisling Franciosi talks playing Lyanna Stark and the time two Jon Snows were on set

When Irish actress Aisling Franciosi auditioned for Game of Thrones, the producers didn’t give her a lot to go on. As Aisling recently told Rotten Tomatoes, she was given lines for a scene other than the one she eventually appeared in, and for a character who had a different name. It was only later that she learned she would be playing Lyanna Stark, mother of Jon Snow.

"Obviously, confidentiality on these kind of jobs is really, really high, so when I was sent the scene to audition, it wasn’t really the same scene, and it wasn’t kind of — you know, I wasn’t sure who I was even auditioning for, because names are different, and all that. And then, when I found out, I was like, “OK!”"

Franciosi had not seen the show before auditioning, but quickly rectified that in the normal fashion. “And I binge-watched,” she said, “and could say it’s excellent, just an amazing series, and I can see why it’s become such a huge success.” Still, she thinks her lack of foreknowledge was an advantage, especially given that Lyanna Stark was known fans long before she appeared onscreen.

"In a way, I think I would have been really, really nervous, if I had known how — like, say if I had been a fan, like everyone else, from the books and then, seeing the series before auditioning, I think I would have been mad with the pressure playing her."

Franciosi’s logic makes sense—fans had been looking forward to a scene revealing Jon Snow’s true parentage since the show’s early days. She only shot for one day, but there was a lot of pressure involved. Fortunately, Franciosi was immediately comfortable with her scene partner, Rob Aramayo (Young Ned Stark).

"He was really lovely, and great fun to work with, and we got on really well. You know, when you instantly have a short scene with someone, but you’re supposed to have this deep connection with, to find that when you arrive on set, that you guys get along really well, it’s always helpful and reassuring. It comes across on screen."

And in a fourth wall break that would make even Deadpool proud, apparently there was more than one Jon Snow on set that day. In addition to the newly born baby Jon Snow, Kit Harington showed up the day Franciosi filmed her scene. Adult Jon Snow and baby Jon Snow, together at last.

"I don’t know what he was there for, but, you know — my Mom, or something, or my brother, who all knew that I was there — I hadn’t said what part or what scene or anything about it — if they said, “Did you see anyone, from the cast?” I was like, “No! No, I didn’t.” Because, obviously, the question was still there as to whether he was alive or not."

So will Franciosi return as Lyanna Stark in Season 7? If she is, she’s keeping it close to her chest. When Rotten Tomatoes suggested that fans would like a peek of what Lyanna and Rhaegar Targaryen got up to in the Tower of Joy, Franciosi only said, “Well, get them to pitch it!”