Top 10 most perfectly cast actors on Game of Thrones

3. Maisie Williams (Arya Stark)

It’s nigh on impossible to imagine any other young actor playing Arya Stark. Maisie Williams feels too much a part of the character. She seems to have understood the nuances right away, and has helped Arya grow and change as the seasons shaped her. She has essentially played two roles on Game of Thrones: the enthusiastic young tomboy at Winterfell and the fierce and ruthless assassin who exacts justice on those who have wronged her and her family. And yet Williams has kept the performance consistent. That’s quite the accomplishment, especially considering that she started on this when she was 12 years old.

At every given opportunity, Williams goes above and beyond the call of duty. Take, for instance, when she insisted on learning to sword fight left-handed as a way to be more true to her character. In fact, the physical aspects of her performance may be the most impressive. There was no guarantee that Williams would be able to handle all of Arya’s running and jumping and fighting as she got older, but she always did it with enthusiasm and aplomb.

As of right now, Game of Thrones is far and away the most impressive bullet point on Williams’ CV. It was, after all, her first onscreen job. It’s safe to say that she’s proven herself, and that her resume will get a lot longer and more distinguished as the years go on.