The popular series Game of Thrones has had a lasting impact on one of its actors. Faye Marsay, who played the character of The Waif, recently spoke to The Independent and shared her experience of receiving backlash from fans.
According to the 36-year-old actor, following the release of Game of Thrones, she faced severe criticism due to her character’s portrayal. She said, “After Thrones came out, there was quite intense backlash at one point. Just because of the character I played.”
She further added that fans hated her character because her character hit Maisie’s character with a stick. The negativity became too much for Faye to handle, and she had to quit social media to avoid encountering it.
Discussing the impact of social media, the actor commented on how it can be a brutal tool and the mental health issues that arise due to it. She starred in an episode of Black Mirror that focused on the extremes of social media, highlighting how it can affect young people’s mental health.
In contrast, Jack Gleeson, who played Joffery Baratheon, the show’s antagonist, had a different experience altogether. He revealed at a Game of Thrones fan convention that he never had any negative experiences with fans despite rumors to the contrary. People tend to be extra nice to him as they think he gets attacked on the street.
Faye’s experience is a reminder of the harsh criticism that actors can face due to the intense fandom surrounding a show.