You might be surprised why this Game of Thrones star doesn’t call herself a feminist
Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams has surprised fans by saying she does not call herself a feminist.
The 18-year-old who plays Arya Stark on Game of Thrones, has spoken about the importance of feminism in the past, but clarified her position in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
She said when she first learned of the word ‘feminist’, she was confused why people felt the need to label themselves.
“I remember thinking, ‘Isn’t that just like everyone?,’” she said.
Going on, she says: “And then I realised everyone is not a feminist, unfortunately. But I also feel like we should stop calling feminists ‘feminists’ and just start calling people who aren’t feminist ‘sexist’ – and then everyone else is just a human. You are either a normal person or a sexist.”
The actor who also starred in Doctor Who, also said she is scared of voicing feminist opinions, in case she gets abuse online.
“I sometimes really worry about speaking up about feminist subjects out of fear of being bashed by women on social media,” she said.
“And there’s something not right there. Yeah, sometimes it’s men too. But there are women who are just nasty. I’m trying to do the best I can. I got a voice. I believe in equality and I know I have more power than the average person to reach people. And I just get petrified in case people are rude. You don’t want to put yourself through that.”
Williams in 2014 said she hoped for equal marriage “everywhere”.
Game of Thrones is filmed across Croatia, which approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in December 2013, Morocco, where same-sex sexual activity is illegal and could lead to up to 3 years’ imprisonment, and Northern Ireland, the only part of the UK that is yet to legalise same-sex marriage.
It’s not all doom and gloom however – scenes North of the Wall are filmed in Iceland, which legalised same-sex marriage in 2010, and early seasons were also shot in Malta, which passed sweeping gay rights legislation.
