Maisie Williams's first professional role was Arya Stark on Game of Thrones, a job that's earned her plenty of awards, a new best friend, and her fair share of fame. But even after starring on one of the biggest shows in television history, Williams acknowledges that Hollywood's rigid beauty standards may keep her from landing another role as good as Arya.

In an interview with The Irish Times this week, the 20-year-old spoke about how her looks might impact her future in acting. "It's only now I'm starting to realize the characters that are available to me because of the way I look and the characters that aren't available to me," she said. "It's a very shallow industry. And I don't look like someone who is cast in roles that are, well, sexualized. Don't get me wrong, I'm completely in awe of Hollywood's leading ladies. I love looking at those totally jaw-droppingly beautiful women. But I think it's sad that you only get to see one type of beautiful on screen."

She's right: Even after progress in recent decades, the majority of women in movies and TV shows are still white (or white-passing) and thin, with features that conform to narrow beauty ideals. As a slender, white woman, Williams may have an easier time landing roles than non-white, non-straight-size performers her age. Still, she makes an important point: Hollywood needs to embrace diversity in all senses of the word.

In her interview, Williams also spoke about learning to embrace feminism during her formative years in the spotlight. "I didn't even know what the word 'feminist' meant until I became an actress. Within my family, I never felt that I had to conform to any kind of types. I had no idea about what was typically male or typically female. I didn't even know about skin color," she said. "I think it's quite lovely that I was so clueless." That said, she always admired powerful feminist icons — including one surprising one. "Growing up, I loved Chicken Run, because it's driven by Ginger, who is such a fantastic character," Williams said. (Her next role is in Early Man, a film from animation director Nick Park, the creator of Chicken Run.) "So to be a part of that same world, and to be playing another woman who is popular for her talents and not for her looks, and whose main story arc has nothing to do with the interest of boys, is very cool."

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