5 Game Of Thrones Actors You Might Have Missed In Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Following its $2+ billion run in cinemas, Star Wars: The Force Awakens has just been released on DVD and Blu-Ray this week, where it will inevitably earn Disney another significant financial haul over time. 

Though it feels like an ostensibly American project, considerable amounts of filming took place in the UK, meaning that many British and Irish actors were given the opportunity to appear in supporting and walk-on roles throughout the film's duration.

Another production that has been kind to such performers over the last few years has been HBO's Game of Thrones, which adheres to the fantasy cliché of requiring almost every character to have a British accent. Returning to television for its sixth season next week, its ensemble cast has been further bolstered by renowned thespians and unknowns alike.

Eagle-eyed fans of the series may have spotted quite a few familiar faces in the background of The Force Awakens, who are now presumably set for life even if the acting gig doesn't work out given the convention opportunities that appearing in two of the biggest franchises (which share a casting director - Nina Gold) of all time will surely bring.

Five of these, not including Gwendoline Christie or Max von Sydow (who have notable roles in both as Brienne Of Tarth/Captain Phasma and the Three-Eyed Raven/Lor San Tekka respectively) are profiled over the coming pages.

Game Of Thrones Role - Grenn

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Role - Knight Of Ren

Jon Snow's supporting players at The Wall took a considerable hit during the events of season four's penultimate episode, which saw The Night's Watch take on Mance Rayder's wildling armies in a truly epic battle sequence. 

Among the casualties were Mark Stanley's Grenn and Josef Altin's Pyp, who were deemed expendable despite remaining alive in George R.R. Martin's source novels. Their passing did add considerable emotional impact to the episode, particularly given Grenn's heroic last stand to defend a tunnel against a giant.

In The Force Awakens, Stanley remained in black, only this time as a member of the Knights Of Ren, the evil force under the command of Andy Serkis' mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke, who we will presumably see much more of in future instalments.

Though not recognisable under the helmet worn throughout his scenes, Stanley was the only actor to be credited for his performance as a member of Kylo Ren's occasional entourage. Whether this is a sign that he will reprise the role in Episode VIII and beyond is anyone's guess, but every villain does need some expendable henchmen, after all.