Every once in a while, Game of Thrones [1] makes us cringe or emotionally scars us for life [2], but that doesn't stop us from coming back for more. Through all these seasons, one detail that's really stuck out is the age of each character, particularly when we're considering new couples [3] or the deaths of younger characters [4]. While the show ages for these characters may not be so wildly inappropriate, it's still fascinating to know how old they all are when the books begin, as contrasted by how old the actors who play them are in real life. It'll definitely change your perspective, especially when you think of some of the marriages and sex scenes that have been on this series.
Arya Stark, Played by Maisie Williams
- Age at the start of the books: 9
- Williams's age in real life: 21
Jon Snow, Played by Kit Harington
- Age at the start of the books: 14
- Harington's age in real life: 31
Tommen Baratheon, Played by Dean-Charles Chapman
- Age at the start of the books: 7
- Chapman's age in real life: 20
Margaery Tyrell, Played by Natalie Dormer
- Age at the start of the books: 16
- Dormer's age in real life: 36
Sansa Stark, Played by Sophie Turner
- Age at the start of the books: 11
- Turner's age in real life: 22
Daenerys Targaryen, Played by Emilia Clarke
- Age at the start of the books: 13-14
- Clarke's age in real life: 31
Samwell Tarly, Played by John Bradley
- Age at the start of the books: Unknown
- Bradley's age in real life: 29
Bran Stark, Played by Isaac Hempstead-Wright
- Age at the start of the books: 7
- Hempstead-Wright's age in real life: 19
Theon Greyjoy, Played by Alfie Allen
- Age at the start of the books: 19
- Allen's age in real life: 31
Myrcella Baratheon, Played by Nell Tiger-Free
- Age at the start of the books: Roughly between 7 and 12 (as the Baratheon middle child)
- Tiger-Free's age in real life: 18
Jaime Lannister, Played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
- Age at the start of the books: Unknown
- Coster-Waldau's age in real life: 47
Cersei Lannister, Played by Lena Headey
- Age at the start of the books: Unknown
- Headey's age in real life: 44
Tyrion Lannister, Played by Peter Dinklage
- Age at the start of the books: Unknown
- Dinklage's age in real life: 48
Joffrey Baratheon, Played by Jack Gleeson
- Age at the start of the books: 12
- Gleeson's age in real life: 26
Ygritte, Played by Rose Leslie
- Age at the start of the books: 19
- Leslie's age in real life: 31