A Year Before Its Debut, Game Of Thrones' Catelyn Stark Actress Was In Another Huge Fantasy Franchise

The entire cast of Game of Thrones is worthy of praise, as the ensemble is what propels the series as a whole, but Michelle Fairley’s Catelyn Stark always stood out. Fairley’s acclaimed work in Game of Thrones instantly made her a big name within the fantasy genre, but her contributions to additional franchises shouldn’t be overlooked.

Game of Thrones changed fantasy forever, and the actors who were a part of the series will always be connected to these stories and their characters. There’s nothing wrong with this, especially for someone like Fairley, who gave such an emotionally resonant performance. However, it’s interesting to look back on what they were doing before the show premiered.

Not all the actors had worked in the genre before signing on to GOT, but Fairley got a little bit of experience just before the series began. New fantasy shows are avoiding Game of Thrones‘ problems, as the series started flagging in the later seasons. Despite this, Fairley’s work remains a vital part of the show’s success, keeping us interested in her projects.

Michelle Fairley Has A Blink-And-Miss-It Appearance In Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows

She Plays Hermione’s Mom At The Beginning Of The Movie

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Fairley can be spotted for just a few moments when Hermione is preparing to say her goodbyes and leave with Harry on his journey. She plays Hermione’s mom, whom the young witch enchants to forget that she ever had a daughter. While this is meant to keep her mom safe, it’s an emotional scene.

The film premiered in 2010, a year before Game of Thrones hit the small screen.

Though Fairley doesn’t have much to do in the scene, it sets the tone for what’s to come and makes it clear that the characters are going to have to sacrifice a lot. Since the film premiered in 2010, a year before Game of Thrones hit the small screen, audiences were unaware of who Fairley would go on to be within the fantasy genre.

Both characters are mothers and help anchor intense moments in the stories. It’s a good thing she could dip her toe into Harry Potter before committing to the GOT world. It will be interesting to see how the HBO remake improves Harry Potter, as so many of these small but effective casting choices are part of why viewers still love the movies.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Game of Thrones (2011–2019)	89%	85%

Game Of Thrones Made Michelle Fairley A Much Bigger Name In The Fantasy Genre

It Was GOT That Catapulted Fairley To Fame

Fairley gave her all to portraying Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones, and her hard work quickly paid off. The epic fantasy show was defined by its strong, memorable characters, and Catelyn is no exception. As GOT grew in popularity, Fairley became entrenched in the fantasy genre and is now associated with it thanks to how well she embodied Catelyn.

10 Game Of Thrones Episodes That Are Considered Masterpieces

There are many standout moments throughout Game of Thrones’ eight seasons, but some episodes of the HBO show are masterpieces from start to finish.

There’s no moment throughout the episodes when the viewer doubts that Fairley is anything but pure Catelyn, which is especially important considering how many pivotal storylines she’s a part of. Big moments, like The Red Wedding in “The Rains of Castamere” and the upheaval that she goes through following Ned’s death, make Fairley an underrated part of the Game of Thrones tapestry.