A 1930s maid, Hermione's mother and a porridge oats commercial: Lena Headey, Michelle Fairley and Rory McCann before Game Of Thrones



Their complex characters may now be firmly imprinted on fans' minds, but life before Westeros was rather different for many of the actors on Game Of Thrones.



Lena Headey, who plays the evil and manipulative Queen Cersei began her acting career at the age of 20, and landed a small role of a maid in Academy Award nominated film Remains Of The Day.



Instead of her long strawberry blonde wig and long gowns, the 40-year-old wore her naturally dark hair styled into an old fashioned set of curls for scenes with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.

Scroll down for video...



Who's that girl? Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister (left) and aged 20 in The Remains Of The Day as a maid named Lizzie



Lena went on to star in several British television dramas before landing a role in short lived TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles back in 2008.

As Lady Catelyn Stark, Northern Irish actress Michelle Fairly possessed a nerve of steel and a protective instinct, but the actress also appeared as Hermione Granger's non-magical mother in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part One.

Natalia Tena who played wildling Osha in the series, also starred in the Harry Potter films - as feisty witch Nymphadora Tonks, a member of the Order Of The Phoenix.



A departure: Michelle Fairley appeared in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part One as seen with Emma Watson's Hermione Granger

A gory end: Catelyn Stark was killed during the notorious Red Wedding last season



Still wild: Natalia Tena as wildling Osha and in Harry Potter as feisty Tonks



In a substantial departure from his role of savage swordsman Sandor Clegane, Scotsman Rory McCann became famous for his shirtless appearance in a Scott's porridge oats commercial - his first acting role.

And although the 45-year-old actor keeps his torso covered up with heavy armour on the show, he has not been short of attention from female fans.



'Well, I'm aware that there's fans and they like the Hound, yes,' McCann told Rolling Stone last month. 'I get letters and all sorts of requests.



'It doubles your chance on a Saturday night. I've gone to a few conventions and they all go crazy! I'm obviously having some effect, because the times when they have a photo opportunity, you can feel them shaking. Really trembling, like it's a really big deal.



'At the end of the day, if there's a whole line of them, you end up with a sweaty side because of their arms around you.'

Commercial success: Rory McCann went shirtless in a television commercial for Scott's Porridge Oats in his first acting job



King pin: Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon and as stripper Dave in 1997 smash hit The Full Monty



Sellsword Bronn is something of a tough guy in Westeros - having already saved his employer Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) from certain death.

However, Jerome Flynn, who plays him will be recognised by eagle eyed UK fans as one half of chart topping double act Robson & Jerome.



Alongside Robson Flynn, who co-starred with Jerome on UK TV series Soldier Soldier, the duo's cover of Unchained Melody became the best selling single of 1995 and spent a whopping seven weeks on the UK singles chart.



The duo also released four albums - the last one a compilation of love songs back in 1999.



The warrior: Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo in Game Of Thrones



Unrecognisable: Jason (top left) as he appeared fresh faced in Baywatch Hawaii back in 2000

Two of the most recognisable names from the first season of the show - King Robert Baratheon and Khal Drogo - starred in very different projects before battling for survival - and losing in George R.R. Martin's universe.



Addy played Fred Flinstone in panned movie The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas after appearing as a stripper in 1997 low budget hit film The Full Monty.

'It’s great to be varying things up,' Addy said after his character was poisoned by wife Cersei. 'That’s the nice thing about this job.'

Early career rise: Jack Gleeson, who retired from acting after the death of King Joffrey, also had a small role in 2005 film Batman Begins



Prestigious: Grand Maester Pycelle may be a small role, but Julian Glover has a long distinguished career and played General Veers in The Empire Strikes Back

Jack Gleeson retired from the show aged just 21, following the death of King Joffrey at the purple wedding this series, but the star had actually been in the industry since a child - and even appeared as a child in Batman Begins.



'It was always a recreation beforehand, but when I started doing Game of Thrones, perhaps the reality was made too real for me,' the actor told Rolling Stone of his retirement. 'The lifestyle that comes with being an actor in a successful TV show isn't something I gravitate towards.'

And he may play the small role of Grand Maester Pycelle, Julian Glover has a long and distinguished acting career behind him - even starring as General Veers in 1980 Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back.

