Game of thrones season 1 cast featured Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner and other performers who introduced American audiences to the world of Westeros in 2011. The HBO drama premiered in the United States on April 17, 2011, with 10 episodes in its first season. The ensemble combined established actors with young performers who would later become international stars.
The first season established the major families, rivalries and personal relationships that shaped the series. Sean Bean led the central Stark storyline as Eddard Stark, while Peter Dinklage brought Tyrion Lannister to life. Emilia Clarke portrayed Daenerys Targaryen, and Kit Harington made his debut as Jon Snow.
Fifteen years after the series first arrived on HBO, the original performers remain closely associated with their characters. Several have built major careers in film, television and theater, while others have taken quieter paths after leaving Westeros.
The Main Game of Thrones Season 1 Cast
The first season introduced a large ensemble across several interconnected storylines. HBO’s original cast included the principal Stark, Lannister, Baratheon and Targaryen characters, along with important figures at the Wall and in King’s Landing.
The central performers included:
- Sean Bean as Eddard “Ned” Stark
- Mark Addy as King Robert Baratheon
- Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
- Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
- Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister
- Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
- Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen
- Kit Harington as Jon Snow
- Richard Madden as Robb Stark
- Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
- Maisie Williams as Arya Stark
- Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark
- Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon
- Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont
- Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
- Aidan Gillen as Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish
- Rory McCann as Sandor “The Hound” Clegane
- Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo
The season also featured John Bradley as Samwell Tarly, Conleth Hill as Varys, Jerome Flynn as Bronn, James Cosmo as Jeor Mormont, Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister and several other important supporting performers.
Sean Bean as Ned Stark
Sean Bean played Eddard Stark, the head of House Stark and Lord of Winterfell.
Ned begins the series as a respected nobleman whose sense of duty drives many of his decisions. King Robert Baratheon travels north to ask Ned to become the new Hand of the King after the death of Jon Arryn.
That request moves Ned and his daughters to King’s Landing. His investigation into the royal succession soon places him in serious danger.
Bean gave the first season a strong dramatic center. Ned’s reputation for honor also created an important contrast with the political maneuvering around the Iron Throne.
His role became one of the most memorable parts of the show’s opening season.
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
Peter Dinklage portrayed Tyrion Lannister, the youngest child of Tywin Lannister.
Tyrion quickly became one of the show’s most distinctive personalities. He uses intelligence, humor and political awareness to survive in a world where his family’s power does not always protect him.
His relationship with Jon Snow begins during Season 1. The two characters meet before Jon leaves for the Wall, creating one of the show’s early connections between different parts of Westeros.
Dinklage stayed with the series for all eight seasons. His performance became one of the most acclaimed elements of the production and helped establish Tyrion as a major fan favorite.
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
Lena Headey played Cersei Lannister, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and the wife of Robert Baratheon.
Cersei’s power comes from her position within the royal family and her close relationship with her children and twin brother Jaime.
Season 1 gradually reveals the complicated relationships surrounding the Lannister family. Cersei is protective of her children and determined to preserve her family’s influence.
Headey continued playing Cersei throughout the entire series. Her performance helped turn the character into one of the most recognizable figures in modern television fantasy.
Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark
Michelle Fairley portrayed Catelyn Stark, Ned’s wife and the mother of the Stark children.
Catelyn is fiercely protective of her family. Her concerns about Bran’s fall lead her into a dangerous conflict with the Lannisters.
Her decision to take Tyrion into custody becomes a major turning point in the first season. The move creates consequences that reach far beyond her immediate intentions.
Fairley’s performance gave the Stark storyline an emotional dimension that complemented Bean’s portrayal of Ned.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau played Jaime Lannister, Cersei’s twin brother and a celebrated knight.
Jaime enters the story with an impressive reputation as a warrior. His status within the royal family also gives him considerable influence.
The character’s complicated relationship with Cersei is one of the major secrets introduced during the opening season.
Coster-Waldau remained with the show until its final episode and became one of its longest-serving principal performers.
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
Emilia Clarke made her international breakthrough as Daenerys Targaryen.
Daenerys begins the season in exile with her older brother Viserys. He believes she can help restore their family’s claim to the Iron Throne.
Her marriage to Khal Drogo changes the course of her life. She gradually develops confidence and begins making decisions independently.
Clarke’s performance became one of the defining elements of the series. Daenerys remained a central character through all eight seasons.
Kit Harington as Jon Snow
Kit Harington played Jon Snow, Ned Stark’s son and a new member of the Night’s Watch.
Jon chooses the Night’s Watch after feeling separated from the rest of his family. His decision sends him to the Wall, where he encounters a very different side of Westeros.
His friendship with Tyrion develops before Jon leaves Winterfell. At the Wall, he begins adapting to life among the Night’s Watch recruits.
Harington remained with the series from the first episode through the finale.
His career continues to attract attention in 2026. Harington and Peter Dinklage reunited publicly this year to discuss their years working together and their lives after Game of Thrones. Harington has also remained active in major television projects.
Richard Madden as Robb Stark
Richard Madden portrayed Robb Stark, the eldest son of Ned and Catelyn Stark.
Robb begins the series as the heir to Winterfell. The events surrounding his father and family soon force him to assume responsibilities far beyond his age.
Madden’s performance established Robb as a serious and capable young leader.
The role helped launch Madden into a wider international career after his time on the series.
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
Sophie Turner made her acting debut as Sansa Stark.
Sansa begins the story fascinated by royal life. She dreams about becoming queen and marrying Prince Joffrey.
Her experience in King’s Landing quickly changes her understanding of the royal court. She learns that appearances and reality can be very different.
Turner remained with Game of Thrones throughout its eight-season run. Her performance evolved as Sansa changed from a sheltered young girl into a politically experienced survivor.
Turner has since continued working across television and film, building a career beyond her most famous role.
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark
Maisie Williams portrayed Arya Stark, Sansa’s younger sister.
Arya has little interest in the traditional expectations placed on noble girls. She prefers swordplay and independence.
Her relationship with Jon Snow becomes especially important during the opening season. Jon gives her a sword before leaving for the Wall.
Williams joined the series at a very young age and grew up in front of viewers. Arya later became one of the show’s most popular characters.
In a September 2026 interview, Williams reflected on her early years in the spotlight and her career after Game of Thrones. Her recent work includes The New Look, while she is also associated with Practical Magic 2.
Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark
Isaac Hempstead Wright played Bran Stark.
Bran is fascinated by climbing around Winterfell. His life changes dramatically after an incident involving Jaime and Cersei.
That event begins one of the show’s most important long-term storylines.
Hempstead Wright joined the series as a child and remained with it until the finale. His character’s journey eventually became closely tied to the supernatural mythology of Westeros.
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon
Jack Gleeson portrayed Prince Joffrey Baratheon.
Joffrey stands at the center of the royal succession during Season 1. His position makes him important to both the Stark and Lannister storylines.
His behavior toward other characters quickly creates tension. Gleeson’s performance made Joffrey one of the series’ most recognizable young antagonists.
Gleeson later stepped away from acting for several years after the series.
Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont
Iain Glen played Ser Jorah Mormont, an exiled knight serving Daenerys.
Jorah provides Daenerys with advice and protection as she adjusts to life among the Dothraki.
His experience helps connect the Targaryen storyline with the wider political world.
Glen remained a major performer throughout the series.
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
Alfie Allen portrayed Theon Greyjoy, who was raised at Winterfell as a ward of the Stark family.
Theon’s position creates a complicated relationship with Robb and the other Stark children.
Season 1 establishes his loyalty to Robb while also showing the importance of his Greyjoy heritage.
Allen’s later work has included major film and stage projects. His performance as Theon remains one of the more complicated character journeys in the series.
Aidan Gillen as Littlefinger
Aidan Gillen played Petyr Baelish, commonly known as Littlefinger.
Littlefinger does not rely on military strength. He gains influence through information, alliances and political calculation.
Season 1 establishes him as a character whose motivations are difficult to predict.
Gillen’s performance became a key part of the King’s Landing storyline.
Rory McCann as the Hound
Rory McCann portrayed Sandor Clegane, better known as the Hound.
The Hound serves the royal household and acts as Joffrey’s protector.
His appearance and reputation make him intimidating, but the character becomes more complicated as the series develops.
McCann remained with the production for the majority of its run.
Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo
Jason Momoa played Khal Drogo, leader of a powerful Dothraki khalasar.
Drogo becomes Daenerys’ husband during the first season.
His relationship with Daenerys plays an important role in her transformation. The character also introduces viewers to Dothraki culture and its military strength.
Although Drogo’s time on the series was limited, Momoa’s performance became one of the memorable elements of the opening season.
Important Supporting Performers
The first season depended on a large supporting cast to make Westeros feel like a functioning political world.
John Bradley played Samwell Tarly, who becomes Jon Snow’s close friend at the Wall. Conleth Hill portrayed Varys, a royal adviser with an extensive network of information.
Jerome Flynn played Bronn, a sellsword who develops a strong connection with Tyrion.
James Cosmo portrayed Jeor Mormont, the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch.
Charles Dance appeared as Tywin Lannister, the powerful head of House Lannister and father of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion.
Other notable Season 1 performers included Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon, Kate Dickie as Lysa Arryn, Ian McElhinney as Barristan Selmy and Miltos Yerolemou as Syrio Forel.
These supporting characters gave the opening season additional political, military and personal conflicts.
How the Cast Established the Major Storylines
The first season divided its characters among several major locations.
The Stark family provided the emotional center at Winterfell and later King’s Landing. Ned’s appointment as Hand of the King brought the family into direct contact with the royal court.
The Lannisters dominated the political environment in King’s Landing. Tyrion also traveled north before becoming connected to events surrounding the Starks.
Jon Snow’s storyline unfolded at the Wall. His experiences introduced viewers to the Night’s Watch and the dangers beyond Westeros’s northern frontier.
Daenerys followed a separate storyline across the Narrow Sea. Her journey introduced the Dothraki and the surviving members of House Targaryen.
These separate threads eventually became increasingly connected.
The First Season’s Lasting Impact
The original ensemble helped make Game of Thrones one of television’s most influential fantasy dramas.
Many performers arrived without knowing how large the series would become. Younger actors such as Turner, Williams and Hempstead Wright spent much of their formative years working on the production.
Established performers such as Bean and Dinklage provided immediate credibility. Clarke, Harington, Madden and Coster-Waldau later became internationally recognized through their roles.
The cast also benefited from characters who could change significantly over time. Viewers did not simply follow a traditional hero-versus-villain story.
Instead, the performers portrayed people whose choices, loyalties and relationships continued to evolve.
Where the Original Stars Stand Today
The careers of the Season 1 performers have taken very different directions.
Dinklage has continued working across major movies and television projects. Headey has maintained a strong presence in film and television. Coster-Waldau has worked extensively outside Westeros as well.
Madden has built a successful career in major television productions and films. Turner has continued taking prominent roles after Sansa Stark.
Williams has moved into different types of projects and has also pursued production work. Hempstead Wright has taken a more selective approach to acting since the series ended.
Harington remains one of the most visible members of the original ensemble. His continued work in television has kept him in the spotlight, while his reunions with former castmates have renewed interest in the original group.
The cast has also occasionally reunited for interviews and public appearances. Those moments continue to attract attention because of the unusual length of time the performers spent working together.
Game of Thrones Season 1 Cast: Key Takeaways
- The first season premiered on HBO on April 17, 2011.
- Season 1 contained 10 episodes.
- Sean Bean played Ned Stark.
- Peter Dinklage played Tyrion Lannister.
- Lena Headey played Cersei Lannister.
- Emilia Clarke played Daenerys Targaryen.
- Kit Harington played Jon Snow.
- Richard Madden played Robb Stark.
- Sophie Turner played Sansa Stark.
- Maisie Williams played Arya Stark.
- Isaac Hempstead Wright played Bran Stark.
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau played Jaime Lannister.
- Jason Momoa played Khal Drogo.
- The original ensemble included established performers and young actors who later became major stars.
The opening season remains important because it introduced the actors who became the faces of Westeros. Their performances established the personalities, relationships and conflicts that audiences followed throughout the show’s eight-season run.
Which Season 1 cast member remains your favorite today? Share your pick and stay tuned for more updates on the stars of Westeros.