How puberty, torture and witnessing violent deaths has dramatically transformed Game of Thrones stars from baby-faced battlers to hardened survivors in the eight years since the show began
- Season eight of HBO series based on George R.R. Martin's books A Song of Ice and Fire premieres this Sunday
- The characters who have made it this far have changed significantly since the series began back in April 2011
- Survivors have seen their parents murdered, lost essential body parts and baked their family enemies in a pie
- From Arya Stark to Jon Snow, we take a look at staggering metamorphosis of Game of Thrones' key players
It's a tough old life living in Westeros, and it can seriously take its toll on its residents - as these Game of Thrones characters can attest.
Since the beginning of the series back in April 2011, the 'lucky' characters who have made it this far have had more than their fair share of trauma.
Some have been forced to watch their parents and children sickeningly tortured, brutally disemboweled and even beheaded, as was the case for once baby-faced princess Arya Stark, played by Maisie Williams, whose father, mother and brother were all slaughtered right before her eyes.
Cersei Lannister (played by Lena Headey), the widow of King Robert Baratheon and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, has lost three children, while Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) was reduced to a shadow of a man after sadist Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) cut off his private parts, peeled off his fingernails and knocked out his teeth.
Others have been subjected to sadistic abuse - Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) was raped on her wedding night - and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) famously made it back from the dead.
Here FEMAIL takes a look at the staggering metamorphosis of Game of Thrones' key players.
Arya Stark
Arya Stark, played by Maisie Williams, started out as a girl of 11 who dreamed of adventure. Over the years, after witnessing the violent death of various family members, she's become a bloodthirsty warrior out for revenge
Jon Snow
Game of Thones fans were devastated at the end of season five when Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) was killed in a mutiny. But he was later brought back to life by a priestess and declared the King in the North
Bran Stark
Baby-faced Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) began the show (left) as a young lad barely big enough to use a bow and arrow. Fast-forward eight series and a significant pubescent growth spurt (Hempstead Wright, right, is now 19) and he's transformed into the Three-eyed Raven with the wisdom of millennia
Cersei Lannister
Cersei Lannister (played by Lena Headey) provided the show with one of its most infamous moments, thanks to her naked walk of shame through the streets. Since series one she's chopped her long blonde locks into a short pixie crop, giving her an altogether different image
Sansa Stark
Sansa Stark, played by Sophie Turner, began the show as a young teen seeking the life of a pampered princess. But heartbreak, two marriages that were doomed from the start and a horrific rape have seen her develop a hardened edge
Daenerys Targaryen
This character, played by Emilia Clarke, has gone from a princess in exile to a revered ruler, having freed thousands of slaves, conquered kingdoms and brought back dragons from the dead. Actress Clarke has faced her own battles throughout the series, suffering two aneurysms and undergoing two brain surgeries
Jaime Lannister
Having started out as a legendary fighter known as the Kingslayer, Queen Cersei's twin bother Jaime (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) was rendered unable to use a sword after having his hand cut off while a prisoner. He's slowly become a more sympathetic character, having seemingly ditched his villainous ways
Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion Lannister, played by Peter Dinklage, began as a wisecracking alcoholic who regularly frequented brothels. These days he's risen up the ranks (and grown a beard) as an advisor to Daenerys - though not without bumping off his father along the way
Theon Greyjoy
Played by Alfie Allen, Theon also began the show as a lovable rogue but has since been reduced to a shadow of his former self. After a murderous failed attempt to conquer Winterfel, he was imprisoned and tortured by Ramsay Bolton - but has since regained his desire to fight
Samwell Tarly
Having first appeared on our screens as an overweight family outcast, not a great deal has changed for Samwell Tarly, played by John Bradley, other than him sharpening up his haircut. He's put his studious mind to work and is now an essential adviser who helped Jon Snow's rise to power
Shock news... children found all grown up.
by Lottie 82