7 Game of Thrones cast members who had to train like a warrior for their roles

The audience praises the Game of Thrones series for its compelling storylines, complex characters, intense battle sequences, and demanding physical movements. The cast members spent their time in physical training to realistically represent the people from Westeros' harsh medieval landscape.

Since swordfighting and horseback riding were crucial to their performance, the performers dedicated their time to learning these abilities. The actors' attempts at physical metamorphosis improved their emotional and combat sequences, making the show more suspenseful at times. These are seven notable actors who deserve a spot on our list.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

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The list of 7 Game of Thrones cast who had to train like a warrior for their roles

7. Kit Harington (Jon Snow)

One of the major characters in Game of Thrones was Jon Snow, portrayed by Kit Harington. Harington underwent sustained physical workouts to appear experienced while portraying a warrior character. He dedicated himself to improving his physical strength, horseback riding ability, and sword skills. Harington asserts that the character needs to be physically fit for his role. He said,

"You want to be able to be putting your full weight behind a sword."

Jon Snow reaches his highest point of combat excellence during the Battle of the Bastards in Season 6. Jon assumes command of his troops in this tense event as they confront Ramsay Bolton's military flank. Jon advances through a chaotic battle to demonstrate his stamina and swordplay abilities. His decision to perform his stunts added genuine quality to the film sequence.

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6. Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth)

Brienne of Tarth, played by Gwendoline Christie, was a noblewoman and a talented female knight. Christie had to complete a lot of character-related training for the part. She gained 14 pounds of new muscle mass while training with personal fitness professionals who emphasized strength, posture, and flexibility.

The actress combined various training elements for her role, such as yoga poses with boxing kicks, horseback riding, swordplay, and sword-handling techniques. Christie's intention to imitate a medieval warrior was evident in her use of appropriate posture to maintain a masculine fighting stance.

During Season 7, Brienne and Arya Stark display their battle capabilities in a friendly sparring match. They test each other's abilities in the Winterfell courtyard. The actors show Brienne's strength and her admiration for Arya's extraordinary skills during the choreographed movements of the fight scenes. The actresses Christie and Maisie Williams (Arya) conducted complete training for this sequence to establish narrative elements through their actions.

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5. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (The Mountain)

When playing the fearsome warrior Gregor Clegane, Bjørnsson embodied the character's nickname, The Mountain, through his acting performance. Björnsson took on demanding workouts. However, since Björnsson has a sports background, he was used to professional training. He ate between 8000 and 10000 daily calories to preserve his gigantic body while performing weight-heavy exercises. The training sessions for fight performances required Björnsson to build strength and mobility to deliver reliable action movements.

The Mountain achieves his best combat display during his Season 4 duel against Oberyn Martell. The Mountain displays all of his physical prowess and fierce fighting instincts during this vicious battle. The physical training Björnsson underwent allowed him to master the elaborate moves, so his battle became a series highlight.

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4. Maisie Williams (Arya Stark)

Arya Stark (played by Maisie Williams) is the second daughter and third child of Lord Eddard Stark and Lady Catelyn Stark. Williams went through substantial training efforts to play Arya by developing left-handed fighting skills since her character displayed this unusual ability in the book series. Her dedication led her to learn Eskrima (also known as Arnis or Kali) since it helped improve her weapon-handling and agility skills.

In the show, we saw Arya was taught by the Faceless Man at the House of Black and White in Braavos after barely escaping House Lannister's persecution of House Stark. She uses her skills to exact revenge on her family. As retaliation for the Red Wedding, she destroys the Frey male line when she gets back to Westeros.

When Arya first appeared in the episode The Long Night, she was practicing with a special split spear that was modeled after Eskrima two-stick fighting tactics. Williams committed himself to maintaining disciplined physical movement along with stunt work, which resulted in memorable scenes for Arya, such as her triumph against the Night King.

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3. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister)

Jaime Lannister played the cunning warrior with the title of "Kingslayer" throughout the show, showcasing his knightly prowess. From the beginning of his role as a veteran warrior, Coster-Waldau underwent comprehensive physical training.

Coster-Waldau built his power alongside his visible fitness targets by performing heavy compound moves that included both deadlifts and squats. The actor executed various exercises for his mobility to achieve better flexibility while lowering his chances of getting hurt.

The battle skills of Jaime Lannister appeared in Season 3 while he fought Brienne of Tarth. While his health is feeble and his hands are bound, he engages in fierce sword combat against Brienne to showcase his warrior abilities. The body of Coster-Waldau received special training to execute advanced battle movements that distinguished this fight sequence from others in the television show.

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2. Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo)

Jason Momoa played the powerful Dothraki commander Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones. Through the AR-7 program, Momoa underwent physical training that delivered multiple workout repetitions spanning various muscle groups during minimal rest time to change his physique into his character. Momoa developed a body shape that satisfied Khal Drogo's physical requirements due to his determined exercise regimen.

The challenging battle between Drogo and Mago occurs during Season 1 of Game of Thrones. During the difficult battle, Drogo demonstrates his strength and primitive behavior by fighting barehanded against an adversary. Through his intense training, Momoa achieved physical capabilities that enabled him to execute the demanding actions of his scene, which improved his interpretation of the Dothraki leader role.

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1. Joe Naufahu (Khal Moro)

Joe Naufahu played Khal Moro in Game of Thrones Season 6. Naufahu worked as a rugby professional for teams in New Zealand, including the Canterbury Crusaders and Glasgow Warriors, before becoming an actor. He began acting after retiring because of knee injuries. Naufahu worked hard before playing Khal Moro to build his strength and endurance. He underwent intense physical training, including using "fun pieces of equipment" like sledgehammers and tires. He also mentioned that he did bodyweight training. In an interview with FAULT Magazine, he stated,

"We do train in a very functional way... These natural movements we use and the patterns that we train in, pretty much simulate the lifestyle of a Dothraki warrior. I did also manage to get out and do some horse riding which was a lot of fun."

Khal Moro experienced his most memorable moment in the Book of the Stranger episode. This episode depicts Daenerys Targaryen encountering all of the Dothraki khals at their camp, including Moro, after he stomps her as a captive. In their intense meeting, Moro and his fellow khals issued threats against Daenerys as they tested her leadership capabilities. Daenerys set the temple ablaze, resulting in the deaths of all khals, including Moro.

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We can conclude that the seven actors worked tirelessly to accurately portray their Game of Thrones characters using their full physical abilities. The training went beyond outer looks because it allowed actors to embody warrior strength and realism in their performances. The actors made significant contributions through their dedication, resulting in intense, memorable fight scenes that audiences will never forget.