Maisie Williams spent eight years playing one of television’s most beloved characters — Arya Stark in HBO’s Game of Thrones — and emerged from it with a $6 million net worth, two Emmy nominations, and a creative portfolio that stretches far beyond Westeros. Cast at just 12 years old and committing to the role through 2019, Williams became a global icon before she was legally old enough to drink in most countries. Since then, she has co-founded a tech startup, graced campaigns for Cartier, Dior, and Balenciaga, played punk rock royalty in Danny Boyle’s Pistol, and is now set to appear in Practical Magic 2 (September 11, 2026) alongside Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
| Full Name | Margaret Constance Williams |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 15, 1997 |
| Age | 29 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Bristol, England |
| Height | 5’1″ (155 cm) |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Actress, Entrepreneur |
| Net Worth | ~$6 million (2026) |
| Partner | Reuben Selby (fashion designer) |
| Known For | Arya Stark in Game of Thrones (HBO, 2011–2019) |
Walk Through the Article
Early Life and Education
Margaret Constance Williams was born on April 15, 1997, in Bristol, England. She was the youngest of four siblings — growing up alongside brothers James and Ted, and sister Beth — in a household that eventually settled in the small village of Clutton, Somerset. Her parents separated when she was young, and she was raised primarily by her mother and stepfather.
Williams began dancing at a young age and trained at a performing arts school in Bath, Somerset. It was through this performing arts training that she first developed the physical discipline and stage presence that would later serve her so well in the physically demanding role of Arya Stark — a character whose signature fighting style, Braavosi sword technique, required years of choreography and stunt training during filming.
She was discovered for Game of Thrones at the age of 11, during a casting call that reportedly attracted more than 300 applicants for the role of Arya. Williams had no professional screen credits at the time. Her natural grit, intelligence, and physical energy in the audition convinced the producers she was right for the part — a decision that would alter the course of both the character’s legacy and Williams’s life.
Career Timeline
Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
Williams made her professional acting debut as Arya Stark in the first episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones in 2011, aged 13. The role would occupy the next eight years of her life. Arya — the youngest daughter of House Stark, trained as a Faceless assassin — became one of the series’ most beloved characters and arguably its most satisfying arc, culminating in her killing the Night King in the final season’s landmark episode “The Long Night.”
Playing Arya required significant physical preparation: Williams trained extensively in stage combat, sword fighting, and the fictional Braavosi “water dance” style created for the show. She performed many of her own fight sequences and has spoken about the physical rigour of the role, particularly across the later seasons when action sequences became increasingly complex.
Her performance earned Williams two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, in 2016 and 2019. When Game of Thrones ended in 2019, she had appeared in 62 of the show’s 73 episodes — a commitment spanning nearly a decade of her life from age 12 to 22. Reports indicate cast members earned between $150,000 and $500,000 per episode in the show’s later seasons, though Williams’s specific fees have not been confirmed.
Post-Game of Thrones: New Mutants and Two Weeks to Live (2020)
The year after Game of Thrones ended, Williams had two prominent releases. In The New Mutants (2020), a Marvel X-Men spinoff film, she played Rahne Sinclair / Wolfsbane — a mutant with the ability to transform into a wolf. The film had a troubled production history involving reshoots and release delays, but gave Williams her first major superhero franchise credit.
She also starred in Two Weeks to Live (2020), a BBC Three/HBO Max comedy-action limited series in which she played a survivalist young woman navigating an outlandish adventure. The series showed her range beyond the serious dramatic work of Game of Thrones.
Pistol (2022) — Playing a Punk Icon
One of Williams’s most creatively interesting post-Thrones credits was Pistol (2022), the Danny Boyle-directed FX miniseries about the Sex Pistols. Williams played Jordan — real name Pamela Rooke — the legendary punk stylist and DJ who was one of the most iconic figures of the British punk movement. It was a physically and creatively demanding departure from anything she had done before, requiring her to inhabit the swagger, attitude, and aesthetics of an era 20 years before she was born. The series was critically well-received.
Practical Magic 2 (2026)
Williams’s most commercially significant project since Game of Thrones is her role in Practical Magic 2 (Warner Bros., September 11, 2026), the long-awaited sequel to the 1998 cult film. The sequel reunites Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the Owens sisters, with Williams joining fellow next-generation cast members Joey King, Solly McLeod, and Xolo Maridueña. For Williams, the project marks a transition from premium cable and streaming prestige into major studio theatrical releases.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Maisie Williams’s net worth is estimated at approximately $6 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The bulk of her wealth was accumulated during her nine-year run on Game of Thrones, supplemented by brand deals, entrepreneurial ventures, and post-Thrones film and television work.
| Income Source | Estimated Amount | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game of Thrones (62 episodes, HBO) | Estimated $3–5M cumulative | Cumulative (personal) | Reports suggest later-season cast earned $150K–$500K/ep; Williams’s specific rate not confirmed. Assumes gradual salary growth across 8 seasons |
| The New Mutants, Pistol, Two Weeks to Live | Not publicly confirmed | Cumulative (personal) | Post-GoT film and TV credits |
| Brand campaigns (Cartier, Dior, Balenciaga, H&M) | Not publicly confirmed | Annual (personal) | High-end fashion campaigns; H&M global sustainability ambassador role |
| Daisie app (co-founder) | Not publicly confirmed | Cumulative (personal) | Creative networking platform; exact valuation and Williams’s equity not disclosed |
| Practical Magic 2 (Warner Bros., 2026) | Not publicly confirmed | One-time (personal) | Major studio sequel alongside Bullock and Kidman |
| Estimated Total Net Worth | ~$6 million (2026, per Celebrity Net Worth) | ||
Net Worth Over Time
Williams’s net worth trajectory tracks closely with her Game of Thrones salary progression. In the early seasons, as a child actor in a supporting role, her earnings would have been modest by industry standards. As Game of Thrones grew into a global phenomenon and Arya Stark’s role expanded, her salary increased commensurately — likely reaching six figures per episode in the final seasons. By the time the show ended in 2019, she had accumulated the core of her current net worth. Her post-Thrones years have been more exploratory than maximally commercial, suggesting a priority on creative fulfilment over pure income maximisation — a pattern that may shift with the commercial scale of Practical Magic 2.
Personal Life and Relationships
Williams has been in a relationship with Reuben Selby, a fashion designer, since around 2019. The couple have appeared together publicly at fashion events and red carpets, with Selby’s design background aligning with Williams’s own strong interest in fashion and creative industries. They have kept their relationship relatively private beyond public appearances.
Williams has been open about the unusual experience of growing up in the public eye as a child actor. She has spoken in interviews about navigating the pressures of social media scrutiny, mental health challenges, and the identity questions that come with having one of pop culture’s most iconic characters define your public persona from childhood.
Entrepreneurial Ventures: The Daisie App
In 2018, while still in the final seasons of Game of Thrones, Williams co-founded Daisie — a social networking platform designed to help emerging artists and creatives collaborate and connect. The app was conceived as a way to give young creative talent the kind of networking access that Williams herself had benefited from through her entertainment industry connections.
The venture demonstrated Williams’s ambitions beyond acting. While Daisie’s exact financial performance has not been publicly disclosed, the project positioned her as one of the few actors of her generation to build a significant tech startup while still actively pursuing an acting career.
Awards and Recognition
Williams’s Emmy nominations in 2016 and 2019 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Game of Thrones represent the peak of her formal award recognition to date. She has also received Screen Actors Guild Award nominations as part of the Game of Thrones ensemble cast. Beyond industry awards, she was named to Time magazine’s list of the 25 Most Influential Teens multiple times during the height of Game of Thrones‘s cultural dominance.
Little-Known Facts About Maisie Williams
- She auditioned with zero professional credits: When she was cast as Arya Stark at age 11, Williams had never appeared in a professional production. She was cast purely on the strength of her audition from over 300 candidates.
- She trained in sword fighting for years: The Braavosi “water dance” sword style Arya uses throughout Game of Thrones was designed specifically for the show. Williams trained intensively in stage combat to perform many of her own fight sequences.
- She co-founded a tech startup at 21: Launching Daisie in 2018 while still filming the final season of Game of Thrones made Williams one of the younger actors to successfully pivot into the startup world during an active screen career.
- Her most famous scene required months of prep: The climactic Night King kill in “The Long Night” (Season 8) was one of the most anticipated moments in the series. The physical choreography required months of preparation and multiple takes.
- She has appeared for Cartier, Dior, and Balenciaga: Her fashion world credentials are considerably more established than most actors of her age, spanning several of the most prestigious names in luxury fashion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Maisie Williams’s net worth in 2026?
Maisie Williams’s net worth is estimated at approximately $6 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The majority of her wealth was accumulated during her nine-year run as Arya Stark on HBO’s Game of Thrones, supplemented by brand campaigns, her Daisie app co-founding, and post-Thrones film and television work.
What is Maisie Williams known for?
Maisie Williams is best known for playing Arya Stark in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2011–2019), a role she began at age 12 and continued across all eight seasons. She earned two Emmy Award nominations for the role. Post-Thrones, she has been known for Pistol (2022), The New Mutants (2020), and her co-founding of the Daisie creative networking app.
Is Maisie Williams in Practical Magic 2?
Yes. Maisie Williams is part of the ensemble cast of Practical Magic 2 (Warner Bros., September 11, 2026), the sequel to the 1998 film. She joins returning stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing, alongside fellow new cast members Joey King, Solly McLeod, and Xolo Maridueña.
How old was Maisie Williams when she was in Game of Thrones?
Maisie Williams was 12 years old when Game of Thrones premiered in April 2011, having filmed her scenes in 2010 at age 11–12. She was 21 years old when the final season aired in 2019, having spent nearly a decade with the production.
Who is Maisie Williams dating?
Maisie Williams has been in a relationship with fashion designer Reuben Selby since around 2019. The couple have appeared together at various fashion and entertainment events and share interests in the creative industries.
What did Maisie Williams do after Game of Thrones?
After Game of Thrones ended in 2019, Williams appeared in The New Mutants (Marvel, 2020), the comedy series Two Weeks to Live (BBC Three/HBO Max, 2020), and Danny Boyle’s Pistol (FX, 2022), in which she played punk icon Jordan. She has also continued her work with Daisie, the creative networking platform she co-founded, and has built a significant presence in fashion through campaigns with Cartier, Dior, Balenciaga, and H&M.
