The Women Who Rule ‘Game of Thrones’

The ladies, past and present, who have helped shape HBO's hit fantasy series.

By Adrian Lam / August 27, 2017 5:00 am

There was a time not long ago when HBO’s Game of Thrones came under dragon-fire from feminist critics over the show’s depiction of rape and male-dominated action. But as the fantasy series heads into Sunday’s Season 7 finale, the landscape of Westeros has changed considerably.

A woman sits on the Iron Throne, albeit the evil Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), and her biggest threat to that seat of power is the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). And arguably the fiercest warrior in the land is pint-sized Arya Stark (Maisie Williams).

So to help keep Game of Thrones fans warm through the long winter that’s coming before the series’ eighth and final season, RealClearLife celebrates the 19 women (or at least 19 featured actresses) of the Seven Kingdoms.

Daenerys Targaryen-Emilia Clarke