Maisie Williams
She grew up on screen as the fierce, needle-wielding Arya Stark, defining a generation's idea of a young female action hero.
Born 1997 (age 29)·British actress·Birthday: April 15·Generation Z
Biography
Maisie Williams was plucked from a dance class in Bristol at age twelve, with no prior acting experience, and handed one of television's most transformative roles. As Arya Stark in 'Game of Thrones,' she didn't just play a part; she embodied the evolution of a girl hardened by trauma into a formidable force of vengeance. The global phenomenon shaped her entire adolescence, demanding a maturity that earned her critical praise and Emmy nominations. Since the series' end, Williams has deliberately chosen eclectic projects, from a recurring role on 'Doctor Who' to co-founding a social media app for creatives. Her career now is a conscious navigation of post-Westeros identity, seeking roles that challenge both her and audience expectations, marking her as an actor unafraid to redefine her path.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Maisie was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maisie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Maisie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Arya Stark.
- Won a BBC Radio 1 Teen Award for Best British Actor for her work on 'Game of Thrones'.
- Co-founded and served as Creative Director of the social media app Daisie, focused on creative collaboration.
Did You Know?
She learned sword fighting, horse riding, and even how to skin a rabbit for her role on 'Game of Thrones'.
Her first major purchase after 'Game of Thrones' success was a tortoise named Tost.
She is a trained dancer, having studied ballet, tap, and street jazz.
““I spent so much of my childhood thinking I was ugly. I’d look in the mirror and say, ‘You’re so ugly,’ and now I’ve grown up, and I’m not ugly.””
