Irish actress Denise Gough lands top secret role in Game of Thrones prequel

AWARD-winning actress Denise Gough has been signed up for one of the lead roles in the Game of Thrones prequel.

HBO announced the Clare woman among the cast of actors who will take the world’s biggest TV show back in time.

The new generation of talent is expected to be catapulted to superstardom when the series arrives on the small screen.

Gough (39) famously beat off competition from Nicole Kidman to win an Olivier Award for her starring role as an addict in People, Places and Things in 2015.

In addition to starring in critically acclaimed stage productions, she recently appeared alongside Keira Knightley in Colette.

Gough will join a cast of mainly English talent, including Sweeney Todd actor Jamie Campbell Bower, Lady Macbeth star Naomi Ackie and stage actress Sheila Atim.

The new cast join the previously announced leads, Mulholland Drive actress Naomi Watts and Josh Whitehouse.

HBO said the pilot would be set long before the original show.

“Taking place thous-ands of years before the events of Games of Thrones, the series chronicles the world’s descent from the golden Age of

Heroes into its darkest hour,” a spokesman for the American network said.

“From the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the White Walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, only one thing is for sure: it’s not the story we think we know.”

Jane Goldman and Game of Thrones author George RR Martin are the creators of the pilot.

SJ Clarkson, the director of the upcoming next Star Trek instalment, will helm the episode which still lacks a title.

The prequel has not been ordered to series yet, but if it does get the green light it is thought it will be 2020 before it will be shown to audiences.

Other new cast members include Humans actor Ivanno Jeremiah, Chronicles of Narnia star Georgie Henley and Alex Sharp and Toby Regbo. The exact nature of each of their roles is being kept under wraps.

Gough has hit her acting stride in recent years after notching up a string of television roles.

Over the years she has been seen on everything from Casualty to The Bill, as well as Holby City and Silent Witness.

However, her stage role as addict Emma in People, Places and Things at the National Theatre in London three years ago gave her career a huge boost when she won the Olivier Award.

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