Game Of Thrones Season 6: 14 New Cast Members You Need To Know About

5. Samantha Spiro

Game Of Thrones Ian Mcshane
Robbie Jack/Corbis

The Actor: Barbara Windsor may seem like an odd choice for Game of Thrones ('get out of my brothel!') but that's who Samantha Spiro is best known for playing. She played the Carry On and Eastenders stalwart both on stage and screen, in play Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick, and TV film Cor, Blimey! Her stage work has also seen her win two Olivier Awards, both for Best Actress in a Musical, for her performances in Merrily We Roll Along and Hello, Dolly!  

The Role: Spiro will be playing Lady Melessa Florent, wife of Randyll Tarly and mother to Samwell, Dickon, and Talla. She is the daughter of Lord Alester Florent, and cousin of Stannis Baratheon's wife Selyse. 

The casting call describes her as  "a sweet, plump, and adoring mother, and has a soft spot for one of her children who benefits from her decency." That fits with the way Sam speaks about her, as he's convinced she will take good care of Gilly's child, and believes she'd be proud of how he has turned out since taking the black. 

Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.