Maisie Williams, 22, spoke out about the pressure she has faced in the spotlight following her breakout role in Game of Thrones as Arya Stark. The actress addressed the issue during an appearance on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast in London, for the DICE Podcast Live event. Getting candid with an audience of 200 fans, she divulged: “I’ve definitely said things I regret and have done things I regret, and I haven’t been the best role model at certain times.” Maisie then explained how her opinions on her own celebrity role models changed when she began spotting them at awards shows.
She continued: “When I started going to award shows where you see stars wall to wall, it’s a surreal experience.
“But when you see them having a cigarette or b****ing about someone you’re like, ‘oh you’re not how I thought you were.’”
However, in spite of this revelation, the star was adamant that role models should stay true to themselves, adding: “There’s no worse role model than not being genuine. Just do you and that’s what girls should look up to.
“It takes the pressure off I think. That makes it sound like there wasn’t a whole journey to get there - but for a long time I did play a character.”
Maisie explained she initially tried to maintain a “squeaky clean” act in order to be viewed as a role model for her fans.
She recalled: “I was so set on trying to look grown up and how ‘I
