Sure, you recognize them in their wigs and armor, or fighting wights—or even on a dragon. But would you be able to pick all the Game of Thrones actors out of a lineup? Or if they appeared on your TV in a #tbt role? Well, wonder no more. Here's what your GoT faves looked like before the show—some of them totally transformed before they came to the Seven Kingdoms.
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1
Olenna Tyrell
HBO
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2
Diana Rigg (1968)
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Before her turn on Game of Thrones as the Lady of Highgarden, the English actress was known for playing Emma Peel in the 1960s TV series The Avengers.
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3
Eddard Stark
HBO
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4
Sean Bean (1992)
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Bean is known for his roles in Patriot Games, GoldenEye, Troy, and as Boromir in the Lord of the Rings series.
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5
Catelyn Stark
HBO
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6
Michelle Fairley (1996)
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Fairley starred in a number of British television shows including The Bill, Holby City, and Casualty. She also played Hermione Granger's mother in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
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7
Cersei Lannister
HBO
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8
Lena Headey (1995)
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Headey got her start in acting at the age of 17 before appearing in Waterland, Remains of the Day, Mrs. Dalloway, and The Brothers Grimm.
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9
Jaime Lannister
HBO
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10
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (2001)
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The Danish actor starred in Nightwatch and Misery Harbour before making his U.S. film debut in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down.
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11
Tyrion Lannister
HBO
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12
Peter Dinklage (2003)
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Dinklage refused to take roles that were written for someone specifically with his condition, noting that the "roles written for someone my size are a little flat"—often either comical or "sort of Lord of the Rings." The actor appeared in Living in Oblivion, Bullet, 13 Moons, and Station Agent.
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13
Robb Stark
HBO
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14
Richard Madden (2007)
The Scottish actor had his first role when he was 11 years old in the film Complicity. He then went on to play Romeo in a stage adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and had a lead role in British TV series Hope Springs.
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15
Melisandre
HBO
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16
Carice Van Houten (2006)
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Before playing the Red Priestess, Van Houten gained recognition for the 2006 Dutch film Black Book.
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17
Jon Snow
HBO
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18
Kit Harington (2008)
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Harington landed a role in the 2008 stage adaptation of War Horse before he rose to fame playing the King of the North.
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19
Margaery Tyrell
HBO
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20
Natalie Dormer (2005)
Thrones fans might recognize Dormer from Elementary, Casanova, Distant Shores, and The Tudors (in which she played Anne Boleyn).