Game of Thrones' Sexy New Cast
All Men Must Die. In High Valyrian, it translates to valar morghulis, and serves as the ominous tagline to the highly anticipated fourth season of Game of Thrones.
Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and adapted from A Song of Ice and Fire, George R.R. Martin’s series of epic fantasy novels, the HBO show boasts hundreds of characters spread out across numerous continents, all of whom engage in a surfeit of sex and swordfights to determine who will secure the Iron Throne and control the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
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This season will see a plethora of new characters be introduced to the sprawling universe of Game of Thrones. Here’s a primer on all the new faces, from Oberyn Martell, a.k.a. the “Red Viper,” to a trio of real-life porn stars.
Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell, a.k.a. the “Red Viper”
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Martell is a hedonistic hellraiser who’s determined to seek vengeance for the death of his beloved sister Elia, who was raped and murdered by members of House Lannister. He has eight bastard daughters, known as the Sand Snakes, and is bisexual—though his No. 1 squeeze is Ellaria Sand. He’ll be played by Pedro Pascal, a Chilean-American journeyman actor who’s had brief stints on Homeland, The Good Wife, and Graceland, and will star in the upcoming ABC pilot Exposed, a drama series about investigative journalists, alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Michiel Huisman as Daario Naharis
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A Tyroshi sellsword, Naharis was a lieutenant in the Second Sons, who, during Season 3 of Game of Thrones, foiled a plot against Daenerys Targaryen by murdering his superiors, Mero and Prendahl na Ghezn. He’s the sworn protector of Daenerys, and was previously played by actor Ed Skrein. He’s been recast in Season 4 and will now be played by Michiel Huisman, a Dutch TV and film actor who’s best known for playing Sonny, a drug-addicted musician, on the HBO series Treme, as well as Liam McGuinnis, a troublemaking music producer on ABC’s Nashville.
Hafþór Júlíus “Thor” Björnsson as Ser Gregor Clegane
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Following in the footsteps of Conan Stevens and Ian Whyte, the role of Ser Gregor Clegane, the head of House Clegane—knights to House Lannister—will now be played by Björnsson in his first ever acting role. Björnsson is an Icelandic strongman competitor who won the 2011 Strongest Man in Iceland contest. He stands 6’8”, and weighs close to 400 pounds. Clegane, meanwhile, is a giant of a man known as The Mountain That Rides, and is a brutal warrior. He raped and murdered Princess Elia Martell, sister of Oberyn, during the sacking of King’s Landing.
Sigur Rós as Joffrey’s Wedding Band
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In a fun twist, the acclaimed Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós will appear as the wedding band during the nuptials of Prince Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) and Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer). And, in typical Joffrey fashion, he treats his entertainment like garbage.
Samantha Bentley as TBA
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Bentley is a 26-year-old British porn star who took home an AVN Award in 2013 for Best All-Girl Group Sex Scene, and was crowned Best Female Performer at the U.K. Adult Producers (UKAP) Awards in 2013. She’s been in the adult-film industry since 2011 and has appeared in close to 50 films. Bentley will play an unspecified part during the fourth season of Game of Thrones.
Jessica Jensen as TBA
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Jensen is a 22-year-old award-winning British porn star who has appeared in over 30 porn films since entering the adult industry in 2011. She was crowned “Best Newcomer” at the U.K. Adult Producers (UKAP) Awards in 2012, appears in a minor role in the upcoming movie FILTH, alongside James McAvoy, and, in a fun twist, has appeared in numerous “cosplay” (costume play) porn films (see above). Jensen will assume an unspecified role in Season 4 of Game of Thrones.
Indira Varma as Ellaria Sand
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Sand is the paramour of Oberyn Martell, and mother to the four youngest of his bastard daughters, the Sand Snakes. She’s bisexual and very sexually adventurous, often initiating many of the sexual experiences of she and Martell. Sand is played by Indira Varma, an English actress. Her first major role was in Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, and she’s since starred in the TV series’ Rome, Luther, and Fox’s Human Target.
Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Lord Mace Tyrell
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Lord Mace Tyrell is the head of House Tyrell, and father to Loras and Margaery Tyrell. After the War of the Five Kings, he sought out an alliance with House Lannister, supporting Joffrey Baratheon’s claim to the Iron Throne in exchange for marrying his daughter, Margaery, thus making her the new queen. Ashton-Griffiths is a 57-year-old British character actor who’s had roles in numerous films, including Brazil, The Madness of King George, Gangs of New York, and more.
Yuri Kolokolnikov as Styr, Magnar of Thenn
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Styr, the Magnar of Thenn, is the leader of the Thenn and a wildling. He’s a lean giant of a man with no ears, and is bald. He rules the Thenn with an iron fist. The role is played by Yuri Kolokolnikov, a 23-year-old Russian actor who has over 30 credits in Russian film and television. His role on Game of Thrones is his first in an English-language production.
Paola Dionisotti as Lady Anya Waynwood
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Lady Anya Waynwood is the head of House Waynwood, a powerful vassal to House Arryn. She’ll be played by Paola Dionisotti, a journeywoman character actress who’s appeared in a number of roles since 1975, including as Lady Patricia Broughall on Forever Green, Aunt Nicholls in Harbour Lights, as well as numerous performances in Shakespearean roles onstage. In 2000, she received the London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress for her turn in Further Than the Furthest Thing at the Royal National Theatre.
Alisdair Simpson as Ser Donnel Waynwood
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Ser Donnel Waynwood is a knight of House Waynwood and, later on, serves House Arryn as the Knight of the Gate. He’ll be played by Alisdair Simpson, a British actor known for his voiceover work, having narrated over 200 films for the BBC, including Expedition Borneo, Operation Iceberg, and more.
Aeryn Walker as Craster’s Wife
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Craster’s Wife is one of the wives to Craster (Robert Pugh), a wildling and master of Craster’s Keep—a place located beyond the Wall. The role will be played by Aeryn Walker, an Australian amateur porn star who specializes in “cosplay” (costume play) porn (see above).
Mark Gatiss as Tycho Nestoris
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Tycho Nestoris is a representative of the Iron Bank of Braavos who’s sent to Westeros on a diplomatic mission. He’ll be played by Mark Gatiss, an English actor who’s made brief appearances on the TV series’ Sherlock and Doctor Who.
Joseph Gatt as Thenn Warg
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Joseph Gatt is a unique-looking 39-year-old British actor who’s best known for starring as The Albino on the Cinemax series Banshee, as well as Frost Giant Grundroth in the Marvel superhero flick Thor. He’s credited as playing Thenn Warg in the fourth season of Game of Thrones, though that may be a bit of misdirection on the part of the producers since no character with that name exists in the books.
Sarine Sofair as Lhara
There’s no mention of a “Lhara” in A Song of Ice and Fire, but it’s been reported that a character named Lhara will appear in Season 4 of Game of Thrones, and will be played by Sarine Sofair—a redheaded British actress who’s had tiny roles in the recent films Anna Karenina, alongside Keira Knightley, and The Look of Love, opposite Steve Coogan.
Grahame Fox as Ralf Kenning
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Ralf Kennign is an ironborn raider (later turned captain) and a member of House Kenning, whose claim to fame is taking part in the Battle of Moat Cailin. He'll be played by Grahame Fox, a journeyman Welsh actor who's appeared on the U.K. soap EastEnders and the TV series Casualty.
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