7 Shocking Ways 'Game Of Thrones' Actors Dealt With Intense Weight And Body Image Criticism

The conversation surrounding "Game of Thrones fat" is far more complex than a simple character description. While the character of Samwell Tarly is famously mocked for his size, the true, deeply personal, and often shocking revelations come from the actors themselves—including stars like Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams—who faced relentless public scrutiny and criticism about their changing bodies while growing up on screen. This intense focus on physical appearance, which continues to be a major topic of discussion as of December 2025, reveals a dark side to the show's massive global success and the mental health toll it took on the young cast. The show's massive global reach turned every actor's physical transformation into a public spectacle, forcing many to confront severe body image issues and disordered eating habits. These personal battles, often fought in silence while portraying some of the most iconic characters in modern television history, provide a crucial and often overlooked layer to the legacy of HBO’s epic fantasy series. The discussion moves beyond the fictional world of Westeros into the very real struggles of Hollywood fame.

The Actors' Personal Battles: Biography and Body Image Revelations

The "fat" discussion in *Game of Thrones* is intrinsically linked to the experiences of the actors who embodied these roles. Here is a look at the key figures who have spoken out about the scrutiny they faced.

• John Bradley-West (Samwell Tarly): Born September 15, 1988, in Manchester, England. Role: Samwell Tarly, the timid but brilliant member of the Night's Watch and best friend to Jon Snow.
• Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark): Born February 21, 1996, in Northampton, England. Role: Sansa Stark, who transitions from a naive noblewoman to the Queen in the North.
• Maisie Williams (Arya Stark): Born April 15, 1997, in Bristol, England. Role: Arya Stark, the fierce, independent younger sister who becomes a faceless assassin.
• Hannah Murray (Gilly): Born July 1, 1989, in Bristol, England. Role: Gilly, a Free Folk woman who becomes Samwell Tarly's partner.
• Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth): Born October 28, 1978, in Worthing, England. Role: Brienne of Tarth, a formidable and honorable warrior.

1. Sophie Turner's Mental Health Battle and 'Sansa Got Fat' Comments

Sophie Turner, who was cast as Sansa Stark at the age of 13, has been the most vocal about the damaging effects of public criticism on her body image. She revealed that she was told to lose weight while filming *Game of Thrones*. The constant scrutiny from social media and online forums led to a significant mental health struggle. Online trolls would frequently post comments like, "Damn, Sansa gained 10 pounds," or "Sansa needs to lose 10 pounds," which deeply affected the young actress. Turner admitted that the negative feedback and the pressure to maintain a certain image led her to develop disordered eating habits and seek therapy. This experience highlights the intense social media scrutiny young actors face as they transition from childhood to adulthood in the public eye.

2. Maisie Williams' Struggle with Feeling 'Ashamed' of Her Body

Like her on-screen sister, Maisie Williams also struggled with self-image issues during her time as Arya Stark. Williams, who was cast at age 12, felt "ashamed" of her body for a period while on the popular HBO series. Her body was changing naturally as she grew up, but the pressure to maintain the appearance of a younger, often androgynous character like Arya Stark was immense. This pressure, combined with the general exposure of Hollywood, contributed to a negative self-perception, a common experience for child actors in high-profile roles.

3. John Bradley-West's Unexpected Path to Self-Acceptance

In stark contrast to the experiences of Turner and Williams, the actor who played the show's most famously "fat" character found a surprising route to self-acceptance. John Bradley-West, who played Samwell Tarly, has credited the role with helping him accept his own weight and body image. Bradley-West admitted that before *Game of Thrones*, he was unhappy with his weight and feared his life would "pass [him by]" because of his insecurities. Playing Sam, a character whose physical appearance was often mocked but whose intellect, loyalty, and heart ultimately made him a hero, allowed the actor to think differently about himself. The character's journey provided a powerful narrative that transcended the initial physical description, offering a positive message about inner worth.

4. The Samwell Tarly Paradox: Character Mockery vs. Real-World Acceptance

Samwell Tarly's description in George R.R. Martin's *A Song of Ice and Fire* books is explicitly focused on his size, earning him the cruel nickname "Sam the Slayer" in jest, and constant ridicule from his father, Lord Randyll Tarly. In the show, this mockery is a recurring theme, used to underscore his status as an outcast and a non-traditional hero. However, the actor, John Bradley-West, made a conscious decision not to lose weight for the role, despite fan speculation that the character should be slimming down as he trained at the Night's Watch or traveled to Oldtown. Bradley-West argued that maintaining the character’s physical appearance was crucial to the visual storytelling of his journey, ensuring the external perception of him as a weakling remained, making his eventual triumphs—like studying at The Citadel and becoming Grand Maester—more impactful.

5. Gwendoline Christie's 'Weight Loss' for Brienne of Tarth

The physical demands of playing Brienne of Tarth also contributed to the show's complex body narrative. Gwendoline Christie revealed that she "lost a lot of weight" and deliberately adopted a less feminine style to embody the brutal warrior role. Brienne's character is constantly judged for her height and muscular build, which deviates from the Westerosi ideal of a noblewoman. Christie's transformation was necessary to convey the character's rejection of traditional gender norms and her struggle for respect in a male-dominated world, adding another layer to the show's commentary on body type and societal expectations.

6. Fan Speculation on Gilly (Hannah Murray) and Character Weight Gain

The intense public focus wasn't limited to the main cast. Fans on social media platforms like Twitter also speculated about actress Hannah Murray, who played Gilly, suggesting she had gained weight during the show's run. This level of detailed, unsolicited analysis of an actor's body, even for a secondary character, demonstrates the aggressive nature of the fan base's scrutiny. It reinforces the topical authority of the "Game of Thrones fat" discussion as a broader issue of body shaming and unrealistic expectations placed on those in the entertainment industry.

7. The Broader 'Game of Thrones' Narrative on Bodies and Nudity

Beyond the "fat" discussion, *Game of Thrones* has always had a controversial relationship with bodies. Critics have debated the extensive use of nudity and violence, with some arguing it was exploitative, while others contended it was a realistic depiction of a brutal, medieval-inspired world. Some analyses suggest that the show, despite its flaws, did promote a form of "body positivity" by featuring diverse body types and ages in various scenes, contrasting with the often-homogenous look of other fantasy productions. However, the real-life struggles of actors like Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams provide a stark counter-narrative, proving that the on-screen diversity did not shield the performers from the harsh realities of public judgment and weight criticism. The show’s legacy is now inseparable from the actors’ candid discussions about their mental health battles, a fresh perspective that continues to resonate in December 2025.