Peter Dinklage Has the Most Successful Career Post-‘Game of Thrones’; Who Else Is Doing Well?
It’s been two and a half years since the highly-anticipated final episode of Game of Thrones released — causing quite a stir among fans. The series was known for starting with a bunch of relatively unknown actors, many quite young and new to the scene. In the years since the popular and violent series premiered, some have gone on to stunningly impressive careers.
All told, Peter Dinklage (who portrayed Tyrion Lannister) has had the most successful career since the show ended, but some other former Westeros-dwellers are not far behind.
Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) has seen huge success
As A Forum of Ice and Fire post reports, Tyrion Lannister appeared in the most episodes of any character on the show (61 total episodes). This gave fans a chance to see Peter Dinklage show a range of acting skills that took him from the comic relief of his early appearances to the deep and well-hone moral compass he portrayed in later seasons. Dinklage had an established acting career prior to appearing on Game of Thrones, but he certainly expanded his name recognition with the part of Tyrion. It has paid off in a big way.
The star has a net worth of $15 million and earned the number one spot on Yahoo‘s list of most successful Game of Thrones actors. Since the series wrapped, he’s been in I Care a Lot (2020), The Croods: New Age (2020), and Cyrano (2021). His list of upcoming projects is extensive and includes a rumored appearance in the Jamie Foxx-led Western called The Wild Bunch and parts in American Dreamer, Hitpig, and The Toxic Avenger, which are all in various states of completion.
Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) is doing well
Like Dinklage, Headey was no newcomer when she took on the often-sinister role of Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones. Still, the part boosted her visibility and has led to even more successful roles. She has stayed busy with steady television appearances including in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Infinity Train, and Masters of the Universe: Revelation. She also has seen success in film parts including Twist (2021), a modern-day retelling of Oliver Twist, and Gunpowder Milkshake, a female-centric action flick. Upcoming projects include the movies Crooks and Nine Bullets.
Kit Harington (Jon Snow) was a breakout star
Kit Harington was new to the acting scene when he took on the pivotal role of Jon Snow for Game of Thrones. It’s safe to say that the part launched a massive career, and we can expect to see quite a bit from the actor in coming years. Since the series wrapped, he’s already appeared in the TV series Criminals: UK and Modern Love. He also appeared alongside Gemma Chan and Angelina Jolie in Eternals (2021). Upcoming projects include the television series Extrapolations, which aims to explore the impacts of changes to the planet through a very human lens.
Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) has found success across genres
It will be hard to top the part of Mother of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen, and the role remains Emilia Clarke’s most recognizable to date. The newcomer had only had a few appearances prior to snagging the part, which definitely served as a breakthrough role. Since then, Clarke has starred in the crime film Above Suspicion (2019) as well as the horror Murder Manual (2020). It’s clear that she’s willing to try out different genres and tones, but she’s found the most success with her appearance in Last Christmas (2019), a romance in which she plays a singing elf in a year-round Christmas store. Upcoming projects include a starring part in The Pod Generation and the part of Jean Kerr in the biopic McCarthy.
Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) has faced rejection
When she landed the part of Arya Stark, Maisie Williams was just 14 years old. It was the second audition she had ever done, and it clearly launched a career as it also served as a backdrop for her literal growth into adulthood. It was difficult to leave such a long-running role and face the realities of competing for parts as a lead star, but Williams has adapted. In 2020, she had a lead part in the horror The New Mutants. She then returned to the small screen with Two Weeks to Live and Gen: Lock. She’s currently filming the series Pistol and will reprise the part of Arya Stark (or at least her voice) for the video game MultiVersus.
