Top 10 most perfectly cast actors on Game of Thrones

2. Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth)

HBO couldn’t cast just anyone as Brienne of Tarth. The physical requirements were very specific. Must be tall. Must be blonde. And oh yeah, she has to be able to wield a sword with expert skill.

Gwendoline Christie came to the Game of Thrones casting department like a gift from the old gods. At 6’3” with broad shoulders and a great head of blonde hair, she looked like she was born to play Brienne. Her background in dance and gymnastics must have given the stunt coordinators goose bumps.

It must have been an even more pleasant surprise to discover that Christie is one of the finest acting talents on the series. While her resume prior to Game of Thrones was fairly limited, her own personal backstory contributed to her intimate understanding of the character. Christie had been told early in her career that she would probably never find work due to her unique physique, and even had an agent explicitly say “good luck with that” when she said she wanted to work on screen.

As such, there’s a level of authenticity to Christie’s performance as Brienne that cannot be replicated. She knows what it’s like to be the tall, strong woman people underestimate, and she’s leaning into that.