So you're searching about the cast of season 7 of Game of Thrones? Smart move. After rewatching those seven episodes more times than I'd like to admit (blame lockdown boredom), I realized how much crucial stuff happens with both returning favorites and fresh faces. This isn't just some list you'll glance at and forget - we're digging into who mattered, who vanished, and why certain performances made us throw popcorn at the screen.

The Core Players Who Carried Season 7

Look, season 7 moves at breakneck speed. Characters who spent seasons apart suddenly share scenes, and you need to track who's scheming where. The main cast of season 7 of Game of Thrones boils down to these power players:

What surprised me most rewatching? How much screen time Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) got managing Winterfell. Their tense dynamic felt like vintage Thrones - two sisters changed by trauma struggling to reconnect. Sansa's political maneuvering versus Arya's lethal skills created this fantastic friction.

Supporting Cast That Stole Scenes

Season 7's secret sauce was its secondary characters. These folks delivered memorable moments despite limited screen time:

• Diana Rigg as Olenna Tyrell: Her final scene ("Tell Cersei it was me") remains one of the series' best mic-drop moments. Brutal honesty till the end.
• Rory McCann as The Hound: His reluctant hero arc peaked during the frozen lake battle. That "fire kills wights" discovery? Priceless.
• Conleth Hill as Varys: Less screen time than before, but his quiet tension with Daenerys hinted at future conflicts.

I'd argue Joe Dempsie's Gendry return deserved more attention. After vanishing since season 3, he reappears rowing (finally!) and immediately becomes Jon's dragonglass supplier. Classic Thrones efficiency.

Where Did Everybody Go? Missing Faces Explained

Notice someone missing from the cast of season 7 Game of Thrones? You're not crazy. Here's why some fan favorites disappeared:

Honestly, I missed Natalie Dormer's Margaery the most. Her absence created a power vacuum in King's Landing that made Cersei's rise almost too easy. The Tyrell eradication still feels jarring on rewatch.

Wait, Is That Character Still Alive?

Confusion about who survived past season 6 is common. Let's clarify:

• The Mountain: Still grotesquely "alive" as Cersei's bodyguard (played by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson)
• Meera Reed: Disappeared after delivering Bran home - no closure (Ellie Kendrick)
• Robin Arryn: Still ruling the Vale offscreen (Lino Facioli)

Benjen Stark's (Joseph Mawle) surprise return and immediate heroic death felt... rushed? Wish they'd given Coldhands more to do.

Season 7's Newcomers You Need to Know

Though less crowded than previous seasons, the Game of Thrones season 7 cast introduced crucial new players:

• Jim Broadbent as Archmaester Ebrose: The skeptical maester examining Sam's White Walker research
• Tom Hopper as Dickon Tarly: Sam's brother who chooses execution over bending the knee
• Mark Gatiss as Tycho Nestoris: The Iron Bank envoy playing both sides

Broadbent brought wonderful academic snark to Sam's Citadel scenes. But Dickon? His refusal to yield felt forced purely to make Dany look ruthless. Not Hopper's fault - just weak writing.

Behind the Scenes: What the Actors Revealed

Having followed interviews religiously, here's what the cast shared about filming:

Sophie Turner admitted struggling with Sansa's distrust of Arya: "She wants to trust family but can't shake Littlefinger's whispers." Adds layers to their conflict.

Most surprisingly? Lena Headey and Jerome Flynn (Bronn) still refused to film together post-breakup. Explains why Bronn mysteriously disappears during key King's Landing scenes.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Cast

Who were the highest-paid actors?

Reports confirmed Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau earned $1.1 million per episode. Secondary cast earned $200k-$300k.

Did any actors almost quit?

Conleth Hill (Varys) expressed frustration about reduced screen time. Maisie Williams considered leaving acting post-Thrones but changed her mind.

Why did some characters get less screen time?

With only 7 episodes, subplots like Bran's training got trimmed. Isaac Hempstead-Wright filmed just 4 days for the entire season!

Who was the most difficult character to cast?

Casting director Nina Gold revealed young actors for flashbacks were toughest. The actor playing young Ned Stark took 5 months to find.

Why This Casting Worked (And What Didn't)

The returning cast of season 7 Game of Thrones clicked because these actors understood their characters intimately. Peter Dinklage's Tyrion showed visible conflict advising Dany against his family. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau conveyed Jaime's crumbling loyalty through glances alone.

But the truncated season hurt some narratives. Gendry's sudden reappearance needed more breathing room. Ellaria Sand's (Indira Varma) mute imprisonment felt like wasting a fantastic actress.

My biggest gripe? The reduced role for Varys. Conleth Hill could convey volumes with a raised eyebrow, yet his spider got sidelined during critical political maneuvers.

Unpopular Opinion Time

While everyone raved about Lena Headey's Cersei, I found her too one-note this season. Where was the cunning manipulator from earlier seasons? Mostly replaced by smug wine-sipping. The writing failed her complexity.

Where Are They Now? Post-Thrones Careers

Curious what the Game of Thrones season 7 cast did next?

• Kit Harington: Marvel's Eternals, West End plays
• Sophie Turner: X-Men films, psychological thriller Heavy
• Maisie Williams: Sex Pistols biopic Pistol, cyberpunk game Cyberpunk 2077
• Liam Cunningham (Davos): Indie films, praised performance in The Last Voyage of the Demeter

Oddly, Emilia Clarke's post-Dany choices seem deliberately low-key - rom-coms like Last Christmas. Can't blame her after that finale backlash.

Final Thoughts on Season 7's Ensemble

Despite later controversies, the cast of season 7 of Game of Thrones delivered powerhouse performances under extreme conditions. From Iceland's freezing lakes to Spain's dragonpit, they sold the escalating stakes. Even when logic faltered (ahem, wight hunt mission), their commitment didn't.

What stays with me? Alfie Allen's Theon finally finding courage during that beach rescue. Rory McCann's Hound facing his fire fear. These actors elevated material that sometimes rushed toward the finish line. For that alone, they deserve recognition beyond just being part of the Game of Thrones season 7 cast.

Still have questions about who appeared or vanished? Check HBO's official archives or my episode breakdowns. Trust me, I've spent way too many nights cross-referencing this stuff.