The entire cast ofGame of Thronesis 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 inGame of Thronesinstantly made her a big namewithin the fantasy genre, but her contributions to additional franchises shouldn’t be overlooked.

Game of Throneschanged 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.

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Not all the actors had worked in the genre before signing on toGOT, but Fairley got a little bit of experience just before the series began. Newfantasy shows are avoidingGame 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.

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

InHarry 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 beforeGame of Throneshit the small screen.

Though Fairley doesn’t have much to do in the scene,it sets the tone for what’s to comeand makes it clear that the characters are going to have to sacrifice a lot. Since the film premiered in 2010, a year beforeGame of Throneshit 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 momentsin the stories. It’s a good thing she could dip her toe intoHarry Potterbefore committing to theGOTworld. It will be interesting to see how theHBO remake improvesHarry Potter, as so many of these small but effective casting choices are part of why viewers still love the movies.

Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

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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 inGame 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. AsGOTgrew in popularity, Fairley became entrenched in the fantasy genre and is now associated with it thanks to how well she embodied Catelyn.

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 theGame of Thronestapestry.