8 Actors Who Turned Down Game Of Thrones

4. Jennifer Ehle (Catelyn Stark)

In a different world, there's a different actress playing a vastly different Catelyn Stark. Jennifer Ehle was cast in the role in the doomed pilot, which featured a Catelyn who wanted Sansa to become Queen, before the majority of it was scrapped and they rewrote and reshot the episode.

There were a few reports offered as to why she didn't return, from scheduling conflicts to frustrations at how long it was taking, but Ehle cleared things up with an interview in 2011. She told The Daily Beast that she'd not long given birth, and wanted to spend time with her daughter rather than make a multi-year commitment to a TV series. She said:

"It was too soon for me to be working, emotionally and bonding-wise, but I needed to do it and I was also passionate about the books. I loved the idea of telling that story... I love Game of Thrones, but it was too soon... I found out that the series was then picked up at the end of working through six months when I really just wanted to hold my baby."

It all worked out well in the end though, with Fairley coming in and giving a great turn as Catelyn Stark. She developed a great bond with Richard Madden's Robb, and it's hard to imagine the Red Wedding happening without her performance there.