Maisie Williams Admits 'Game of Thrones' Gave Her Body Image Issues

Going through puberty is, in and of itself, a tough time in any young person’s life. We feel awkward in our own bodies, have some pretty embarrassing moments, and have to re-learn how to be comfortable in our (often acne-ridden) ever-changing skin. But to go through puberty while being a central cast member on one of the most-watched TV series in history? That is flat out brutal.

USA Today reports that Maisie Williams, who is best known for playing Arya Stark on the HBO series Game of Thrones, was recently joined by Vogue for an interview special, “24 Hours with Maisie Williams.” In the above below, she is documented while attending Paris Fashion Week, and is asked about her current style.

The 22-year-old actor, who was hired at the age of 14 to play the GoT role, revealed that while she is now comfortable with her femininity, this wasn’t always the case. Williams explained, “Maybe around Season 2 or 3, my body started to mature and I started to become a woman. But Arya was still very much, like, trying to be disguised as a boy.”

The Then Came You star stated that GoT would work to disguise her changing body. “I had really short hair and they constantly covered me in dirt and shaded my nose so it looked really broad and I look, like, really manly,” Williams said. “They would also put this strap across my chest to flatten any growth that had started, and I don’t know, that just felt horrible for six months of the year.”

Though the process of playing Arya during her adolescence made her insecure, the Daisie founder says now loves the skin she is in. “With this new phase of my style, it is nice to look more feminine and have a real waistline and just embrace the body that I have,” she added.

It is great to hear that Williams has found her stride.