Gwendoline Christie As Brienne Of Tarth

Standing at six-foot-three, Gwendoline Christie knew early on that she didn’t fit the norm. But that didn’t stop her from achieving success as an actress and an occasional model. And it’s all thanks to her being cast at age 33 as Game of Thrones’ Brienne of Tarth, which was her first proper screen role, too.

But while her unique physique and beauty made her a perfect cast, Christie still had to work hard to embody the warrior. Aside from trying out horse riding and sword fighting, she cut her tresses short for the first time and worked with a personal trainer to prepare for the role’s physicality.