British actress Maisie Williams, who rose to fame for her role as Arya Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones, has revealed that the character left her feeling “lost” for a while.
“I was so lost for so long, and I knew I was, and when I couldn’t pinpoint what felt like my identity within that, it made me really uncomfortable,” Williams told The Times of London. “Now I feel much more comfortable with myself. It’s hard even to go back there and talk about how difficult it was just because I feel like it’s done.”
Maisie Williams also mentioned that this complicated the search for other acting jobs while she was part of Game of Thrones. “I would just compare myself to other actresses, to people’s looks, and all the most destructive ways you can compare yourself,” Maisie explained, noting that she now feels “much more comfortable in my own skin.”
Despite those experiences, Williams appreciates the help of older actors, who helped her overcome and develop as an actress on set.
“Charles Dance stood out in Game of Thrones. I admired watching him rehearse and the things he and the director talked about,” she said.
The 26-year-old actress rose to fame when she was only 12 years old. She had to beat out around 300 youngsters to get the role that would ultimately make her globally famous. But after experiencing fame as a child star, she now dedicates herself to advising other young actors facing pressures.
“I really delve into myself to try to pull out something that I think would be really useful,” Williams says. “I have no idea if I’ve ever done it, but I know they could at least text me or call me.”
Maisie Williams portrays Catherine Dior, the fashion designer’s sister and a member of the French resistance, in The New Look, which will be streamed on Apple TV.
This story was written in Spanish by Daniel Matute in Cultura Colectiva.