10 Best Performances In Game Of Thrones
4. Alfie Allen - Theon Greyjoy
A seemingly thankless role for eight seasons, the dramatic work that Alfie Allen is put through is more intense and challenging than anyone else on the show. Theon goes through many transformations from insecure Stark Loyalist to snivelling turncoat to tortured prisoner to broken mangled slave to redemptive hero. Throughout, Alfie Allen doesn't miss a single beat.
Allen's range is extraordinary and he juggles complex emotions with great skill. Whether you love Theon or hate him, the character is compelling and that comes down to Allen's determination to humanise someone so vile and then put then on a believable path to make things right. Theon has one of the best constructed and most complete arcs on the show and that is certainly a praise of the writing but it never would have been nearly as interesting if Allen wasn't giving this character his all.
He thankfully got a well deserved Emmy nomination for the final season which was long overdue. It felt like they weren't just celebrating his work in Season Eight but his incredible versatility across the entire show.