Game Of Thrones Season 4: 10 Actors Who Knocked It Out The Park

7. Sophie Turner €“ Sansa Stark

Sansa Stark is usually the most frustrating character on the show. That's not really Sophie Turner's fault, but it's the truth. For the past three seasons Turner has had the mostly thankless task of looking aghast and traumatised as King Joffrey and myriad court machinations saw fit to kick her up and down the streets of King's Landing. She'd always have her moments, but then she'd settle back into the pattern of weeping, shaking and looking overwhelmed. Fortunately for Turner then, this season took her character away from the setting that had stifled her for so long and threw her into the downright-crazypants Eyrie. What followed was a twisted family drama that played out like Dallas at a Renaissance fair, and it gave Sansa plenty to do. Lusted after by her 'father' €“ whose accent now sounds Irish-Chinese by way of gargling rocks €“ regarded with jealousy by her insane aunt and always irked by her frail, sheltered cousin, Turner gave a magnificent performance as a young woman finally learning to grow the hell up and get a backbone. Of course, the cherry on the thespian cake didn't appear until the The Mountain And The Viper, when Sansa took charge of the political game in the aftermath of Lysa's murder. The scenes with the Vale's nobles were excellent, letting the character spin her own version of the truth in a long, extended shot that not only showcased Sansa's ability to improvise, but Turner's formidable emoting abilities. It was perfectly pitched, and when her grief-stricken mask contorted into a sly smile in Littlefinger's direction, you got goosebumps. With the following scene further hammering home the changed power dynamic in the Sansa-Petyr relationship and the newly power-dressed Stark daughter's descent down the Great Hall's staircase, you got the big things are afoot in The Vale. And after this season's performance, you can't help but feel Sansa's suddenly-interesting arc is safe in the young actress's hands.