Arya Stark

She is the last wolf of Winterfell, bearing the name Needle and a list of those who must die.

Arya Stark is the third child and youngest daughter of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn Stark of Winterfell. Introduced in 1996's A Game of Thrones, she stands as a prominent point-of-view character with the third most viewpoint chapters in George R. R. Martin's series, behind only Tyrion Lannister and Jon Snow. Uniquely, she is the only character to have a viewpoint chapter in every published book of the series. Portrayed by English actress Maisie Williams in the HBO adaptation, Arya defies traditional noblewoman pursuits. Described as tomboyish, headstrong, and feisty, she is often mistaken for a boy and nicknamed 'Arya Underfoot' by Winterfell's guards.

Quick Facts

Series

A Song of Ice and Fire character; Game of Thrones

Portrayed by

Maisie Williams

Creator

George R. R. Martin

Adapted by

D.B. Weiss & David Benioff (Game of Thrones)

First

Literature:
A Game of Thrones (1996)
Television:
"Winter Is Coming" (2011)

Last

Television:; "The Iron Throne" (2019)

Occupation

Assassin

Gender

Female

Lore & Background

Born in 289 AC, Arya possesses the Stark features of lean athletic physique, brown hair, grey eyes, and a long face, earning her the teasing nickname 'Horseface' from Sansa's companions. Unlike her sister, she favors outdoor activities over dancing or sewing and is an excellent horserider. She is left-handed and skilled in sums. Described as 'wolf-blooded,' impulsive, and difficult to tame by her mother Catelyn, Arya shares a deep bond with her half-brother Jon Snow. He gifted her the castle-forged steel smallsword 'Needle,' named after her dreaded embroidery lessons, which she wields using the Braavosi 'Water Dance' style emphasizing speed and agility. Later in the series, she demonstrates powerful skinchanging abilities, telepathically controlling her direwolf Nymeria from a different continent and forming a psychic bond with a street tomcat in Braavos.

Reader's Guide

In Braavos, Arya enters the House of Black and White, initiating her training with 'the Kindly Man.' She is ordered to discard all past possessions but secretly hides Needle in the river. Adopting the identity of 'Cat of the Canals,' she works as a street child selling seafood while continuing her nightly recitation of names for revenge. Her chapters in A Feast for Crows bear alternative titles such as 'The Blind Girl' and 'The Ugly Little Girl.' Throughout these trials, Arya displays great resourcefulness and cunning, becoming increasingly ruthless. While Maisie Williams received critical acclaim for this role—earning two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2016 and 2019—the character's evolution from a messy, prepubescent outcast to a skilled fighter remains central to her narrative arc.

Did You Know?

She is left-handed, talented in sums and housekeeping, but dislikes traditional female pursuits like dancing and sewing.
Her chapters from the fourth book onwards use alternative titles such as 'Cat of the Canals', 'The Blind Girl', and 'Mercy'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Arya Stark?

Arya Stark is the youngest daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark who rejects traditional noblewoman duties to forge a path as a lethal warrior and assassin. Driven by loss and a desire for vengeance, she survives countless dangers across continents while maintaining her loyalty to House Stark.

What are Arya Stark's abilities and role?

Arya serves as a highly trained assassin and former apprentice of the Faceless Men, relying on exceptional combat prowess, stealth, and disguise rather than supernatural powers. Her signature weapon is Needle, a smallsword her half-brother Jon Snow had made for her as a parting gift; she learned the Braavosi "water dancing" style from Syrio Forel.

Does Arya become 'No One'?

Despite rigorous training to erase her identity within the Faceless Men, Arya ultimately rejects this transformation by saving Jaqen H'ghar and reclaiming her name. She demonstrates that she can master their lethal techniques while preserving her core self as a Stark, balancing her assassin skills with her personal vendettas and family bonds.