Mind-blowing facts about Game of Thrones (TV series)

1. The Mountain is actually a gentle soul IRL and he has a tiny Pomeranian called Ástríkur.

2. Sophie Turner adopted Lady the direwolf IRL.

3. Alfie Allen’s sister is singer Lily Allen.

4. Maester Aemon was blind on and off screen.

5. Tyrion has appeared in more episodes than any other character.

6. To date, 14 actors from the Harry Potter movies have appeared on Game of Thrones.

7. The most expensive death scene ever filmed (so far) did not involve dragons.

During the GoT panel at South by Southwest 2017, Benioff and Weiss confirmed that Arya’s first killing from her list — where she gouges Ser Meryn Trant’s eyes out in “Mother’s Mercy” (season five episode 10) — cost the show a lot of money. “She couldn’t really poke out his eyes,” Benioff explained.

8. HODOR

Everyone’s favorite giant, Hodor is the closest thing there is to pure goodness in Game of Thrones.

9. Born for their roles.

Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister) and Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) are the only two cast members who didn’t have audition for their roles.

10. King Joffrey may never act again.

Last year, Jack Gleeson, who plays King Joffrey, announced that he plans to give up acting after Game of Thrones wraps up because he doesn’t enjoy it as much as he used to. He also wants to make way for other pursuits, including humanitarianism -- last year he traveled to Haiti to help the poor.

11. The horse heart Khaleesi ate is actually seven pounds of a gummy bear-like mass.

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