"Arya Stark" is a fictional character in George R. R. Martin's fantasy novel series "A Song of Ice and Fire" and its TV adaptation "Game of Thrones," played by Maisie Williams. A prominent character, Arya has the third most viewpoint chapters in the novels, appearing in every published book. Her chapter titles change throughout the series, reflecting her evolving identity and experiences.
1996: Introduction of Arya Stark
Arya Stark was introduced in George R. R. Martin's "A Game of Thrones" in 1996. She is the tomboyish and headstrong youngest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully.
2011: Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination
In 2011, Maisie Williams and the rest of the cast were nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for their work on Game of Thrones.
2011: Portal Award Nomination
Maisie Williams received a nomination for the Portal Award for Best Young Actor for her role as Arya Stark in 2011.
2012: "Arya" Name Popularity Surge
Following the premiere of Game of Thrones and the popularity of Maisie Williams's character, the name "Arya" rose significantly in popularity for baby girls in the U.S. in 2012, jumping from 711th to 413th place.
2012: SFX Award Nomination and Gold Derby TV Award Nomination
In 2012, Maisie Williams was nominated for two awards for her performance as Arya Stark: Best Actress at the SFX Awards and Breakthrough Performer of the Year at the Gold Derby TV Awards.
2012: Portal Awards Win
Maisie Williams won two Portal Awards in 2012 for her performance as Arya Stark: Best Supporting Actress and Best Young Actor.
2013: Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination
Maisie Williams and the Game of Thrones cast received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2013.
2013: Young Artist Award Nomination
Maisie Williams was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series by a Supporting Young Actress for her role as Arya Stark in 2013.
March 27, 2014: "Mercy" Chapter Release
On March 27, 2014, George R. R. Martin released an excerpt chapter titled "Mercy" from the then-unpublished sixth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. The chapter features Arya Stark assuming the identity of Mercedene, an apprentice stage actress in Braavos.
2014: EWwy Award Win
In 2014, Maisie Williams won the EWwy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Game of Thrones.
2014: Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination
The cast of Game of Thrones, including Maisie Williams, was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2014.
2015: Saturn Award Win
Maisie Williams's performance as Arya Stark earned her a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Television Series in 2015.
2015: SFX Award Nomination and EWwy Award Nomination
In 2015, Maisie Williams received nominations for her portrayal of Arya Stark at both the SFX Awards (Best Actress) and the EWwy Awards (Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series).
2015: Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination
In 2015, Maisie Williams and the Game of Thrones cast were nominated once again for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
2016: Emmy Award Nomination and Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination
Maisie Williams received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Arya Stark in 2016. In the same year, she and the cast were also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
2016: Saturn Award Nomination
Maisie Williams was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Television Series for her role as Arya Stark in 2016.
2017: Taylor Swift's Song Inspiration
Taylor Swift's 2017 hit song "Look What You Made Me Do" was partially inspired by Arya Stark and her iconic kill list.
2017: Screen Actors Guild Award Nomination
The cast of Game of Thrones, including Maisie Williams, received their sixth Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2017.
2017: "Arya" Name Popularity in England and Wales
The name "Arya" gained popularity in England and Wales, entering the top 200 most commonly used names for baby girls in 2017.
January 2018: Royal Mail Postage Stamps
In January 2018, the Royal Mail released a collection of first-class postage stamps featuring ten Game of Thrones actors in character, including Maisie Williams as Arya Stark.
2019: Drake's Billboard Music Awards Speech
During his acceptance speech at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, Canadian rapper Drake gave a shout-out to Arya Stark for killing the Night King in Game of Thrones.
2019: Emmy Award Nomination
Maisie Williams received her second Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Arya Stark in 2019.
2019: Continued Popularity of "Arya"
The name "Arya" remained a popular choice for baby girls in the U.S. in 2019, ranking at 92nd.
2020: BAFTA TV Award Nomination for Arya Killing the Night King
The iconic moment of Arya Stark killing the Night King in the final season of Game of Thrones was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award in the "Must-See Moment" category in 2020.
2022: Arya Stark in MultiVersus
Arya Stark became a playable character in the 2022 platform fighting game MultiVersus, with Maisie Williams reprising her role by providing voice acting.