Maisie Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maisie Williams
Williams at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	Margaret Constance Williams (1997-04-15) 15 April 1997 (age 28) Bristol, England
Education	Norton Hill School
Occupation	Actress internet entrepreneur
Years active	2011–present
Known for	Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

Margaret Constance "Maisie" Williams (born April 15, 1997) is an English actress. She is most famous for playing Arya Stark in the HBO fantasy TV series Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2019. This was her first acting role, and it made her famous around the world. She was so good in the show that she was nominated for two Emmy Awards.

Besides Game of Thrones, Maisie has been in many other shows and movies. She played Ashildr in the science fiction series Doctor Who in 2015. That same year, she starred in the TV film Cyberbully. She also played the main character in the action-comedy series Two Weeks to Live (2020) and the punk rock icon Jordan in Pistol (2022), a show about the band the ... Pistols.

In 2014, she starred in her first movie, The Falling, and won awards for her performance. She has also appeared in movies like Mary Shelley (2017) and voiced a character in the animated film Early Man (2018). In 2020, she starred in the superhero movie The New Mutants.

In 2019, Maisie also helped create a social media app called Daisie. It's designed to help artists and creators connect and start their careers.

Early Life and Education

Margaret Constance Williams was born in Bristol, England, on April 15, 1997. Her parents divorced when she was a baby. She grew up with her mother, stepfather, and three older siblings in a village in Somerset. She has been called "Maisie" since she was little, after a cartoon character from a comic strip called The Perishers.

Maisie loved to dance. She studied many types of dance, including ballet, tap, and street dance. She hoped to become a professional dancer. She left school when she was 14 to focus on her acting career after landing her role in Game of Thrones.

Acting Career

Breakthrough Role: Game of Thrones

Williams (left) with Game of Thrones co-star Sophie Turner in 2013

When she was 13, Maisie got the part of Arya Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones. It was only her second audition ever, and she almost missed it for a school trip to a farm. Luckily, her mom convinced her to go. The show became a huge hit, and Maisie became famous all over the world.

Arya Stark was a fan-favorite character. She was a tough and brave young girl who became a skilled fighter. Maisie, who is right-handed, learned to use a sword with her left hand for the role. She did most of her own stunts and fight scenes. For her work on the show, she won several awards, including a Saturn Award. She was also nominated for two Emmy Awards.

Playing Arya was a big part of Maisie's life, but it was also challenging. As she grew up, she had to wear costumes that made her look like a boy. This was difficult for her as a teenager. Still, she is very proud of her work on the show.

More Roles on Screen and Stage

Williams at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con

While still on Game of Thrones, Maisie took on other roles. In 2014, she starred in the movie The Falling as a troubled schoolgirl. Critics praised her performance, and she won awards for it.

In 2015, she guest-starred in the popular BBC show Doctor Who as a Viking girl named Ashildr. She also starred in the TV film Cyberbully, playing a teenager who is bullied online. Her performance was described as powerful.

In 2018, Maisie performed in a play for the first time. She starred in I and You at the Hampstead Theatre in London. Her performance was a success with both critics and audiences.

In 2020, she starred in the superhero movie The New Mutants as Rahne Sinclair, also known as Wolfsbane. She also played the lead role in the comedy series Two Weeks to Live. In 2022, she played the real-life punk icon Jordan in the series Pistol. More recently, in 2024, she played Catherine Dior, the sister of fashion designer Christian Dior, in the series The New Look.

Beyond Acting

A Social Media App for Artists

Williams at TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco (2019).

In 2018, Maisie Williams helped launch a social media app called Daisie. The app is a place for artists, writers, musicians, and other creators to show their work and connect with others. The goal of Daisie is to help new artists find opportunities and build their careers without needing to be popular or have many followers.

Maisie has said she wants to help artists take control of their careers. She even gave a TEDx talk about her idea, telling people to focus on being talented instead of being famous.

Activism and Charity Work

Williams at Paris Fashion Week in 2019

Maisie is passionate about protecting the environment. She is a global ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for climate and nature. She has also supported campaigns to protect dolphins, stop bullying, and provide clean water to people around the world.

In 2021, she became a global sustainability ambassador for the clothing brand H&M. The partnership aims to encourage recycling and reduce waste in the fashion industry. Maisie uses her fame to speak out on important issues and encourage young people to make a difference.