The Star Wars franchise is full of actors from different genres. Sir Alec Guinness, whose legacy was born in the London theater and in movie classics, brought Obi-Wan Kenobi to life in A New Hope. Natalie Portman, who played Padme Amidala in the prequel trilogy, made her movie splash in the indie cult hit The Professional. Now the Star Wars films have become a haven for Game of Thrones actors. Let’s take a look at the who’s who in Thrones/Star Wars franchise — did you catch any of these faces in The Last Jedi?
Gwendoline Christie
Gwendoline Christie, who plays the fearless Brienne of Tarth on Game of Thrones also plays Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. As both Phasma and Brienne, Christie brings to life fierce warrior women. While Phasma may be on the darker side of the spectrum, Brienne clearly makes up for that in her loyalty to the Starks.
Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke might be the most recognizable Game of Thrones actor to date, outside of Kit Harrington, who plays Jon Snow. Clarke plays the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen on the show, and has for eight seasons. She will make her Star Wars debut this May in the prequel film Solo: A Star Wars Story. No word yet as to who she is playing in the film, but she was recently introduced at the 2018 Golden Globes by host Seth Meyers as “from Star Wars.”
Kate Dickie
Kate Dickie, who played the troubled Lysa Arryn in Seasons 1 and 4 of Game of Thrones recently appeared in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Dickie was on board General Hux’s ship in the opening scene of The Last Jedi. Dickie was Hux’s First Order Monitor in the film. It was a surprise to see Dickie in the film, but she wasn’t the first Thrones actor to appear on General Hux’s ship.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Another Game of Thrones actors to appear on Hux’s ship is Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Brodie Sangster played a First Order Communications Officer in The Force Awakens. He reported Poe and Finn’s stolen tie-fighter in one of the first shots in the film. In Game of Thrones, Brodie-Sangster played Jojen Reed, one of Bran Stark’s faithful companions in Seasons 3 and 4.
Jessica Henwick
Jessica Henwick played elusive Sand Sister Nymeria in Game of Thrones Seasons 5, 6, and 7. In The Force Awakens she played X-Wing pilot Jessika Pava. Her call sign was Blue Three in the battle over Star Killer base. Henwick was not in The Last Jedi, likely because of her role in Marvel’s Iron Fist.
Keisha Castle-Hughes
Nymeria Sand isn’t the only Sand Sister to have a role in Star Wars. Keisha Castle-Hughes, who played Obara Sand on Game of Thrones, was in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. She played the newly elected leader of Naboo, Queen Apailana. Queen Apailana followed after Queen Amidala became Senator.
Max von Sydow
Before Bran became the Three-Eyed Raven there was another Three-Eyed Raven. He was played by actor Max von Sydow. You may recognize von Sydow from the opening scene in The Force Awakens. When Poe arrived on Jakku, he received the missing map to Luke Skywalker from a man named Lor San Tekka. Lor San Tekka was played by Max von Sydow. Kylo Ren killed Tekka, making Sydow’s appearance brief but memorable.
Julian Glover
Julian Glover is a very recognizable Game of Thrones character. He has played Grandmaester Pycell on the show for six seasons. However, you may not recognize him from Star Wars. He played General Veers in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. He led a squadron of AT-AT walkers against the Rebels during the Battle of Hoth. His character destroyed the Rebel shield generator in the film.
Mark Lewis Jones
Mark Lewis Jones was the dreadnaught Captain Canady in the beginning of The Last Jedi. His ship was supposed to be a “fleet killer.” However, Poe Dameron cleared all his guns so his ship could be destroyed. Jones previously played Shagga on Game of Thrones Season 1. Shagga was the leader of the Stone Crows, a group that pledged loyalty to Tyrion Lannister.
There are more crossover actors not mentioned above, like Spencer Wilding, who played Darth Vader in Rogue One and a White Walker on Thrones, Miltos Yerolemou, who played Arya’s fencing teacher Syrio Forel on Thrones and was in Maz’s Cantina in The Force Awakens, and the minstrel who lost his tongue to Joffrey, actor Emun Elliott. Patrick O’Kane was also in The Last Jedi, he played Jaqen H’ghar after he changed his face. All of these casting crossovers are thanks to Nina Gold, who happens to be the casting director for both Game of Thrones and Star Wars.
