Entertainment
Seeing 'Game Of Thrones' Men Without Beards Will Change Everything
I never really realized how big a role facial hair played in Westeros until I saw how different Game of Thrones men look without their beards. This all started when I was talking Game of Thrones with my mother the other day, and she asked me who Renly Baratheon was. After telling her that he was Robert and Stannis Baratheon's brother didn't jog her memory, I very eloquently said, "You know, he was that guy with the beard" — and she promptly laughed in my face.
I took the moral high ground for actually knowing who Renly was, but she had a definite point: After all, Game of Thrones might be the hairiest show on television, because just about every single cast member of the fantasy epic is sporting a beard. Now, said facial hair runs the gamut from sparse scruff, a la Theon Greyjoy/Reek, to straight-up bearded madness, a la Tormund Giantsbane — hitting every level of beardiness in between.
But take those beards away and some of these characters are unrecognizable. Remember how shocking it was when Jaime Lannister went from bearded-prisoner to clean-shaven knight? Yeah, it's like that. Read on and prepare to be surprised by these fresh-faced fellows.
Peter Dinklage
Dinklage tends to favor a goatee on the red carpet, but if you look back (way back) to The Station Agent, he rocked a very dashing clean-shaven look.
Image: The Station Agent/Miramax
Jon Snow
Luxurious mane? Check. Well-groomed mustache and beard? Check. Sad eyes? Check.
Image: Helen Sloan/HBO
Kit Harington
I searched through 15 pages of Kit Harington in formal wear to find this. (Oh, the sacrifices I make in the name of journalism.)
Stannis Baratheon
Stannis’ stock has really been rising lately — how great was that adorable scene with Shireen?
Stephen Dillane
Dillane looked just as serious as Thomas Jefferson in John Adams as he does as the rightful Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.
Image: John Adams/HBO
Oberyn Martell
The roguish mustache was a big part of the Red Viper’s charm…
Image: Macall B. Polay/HBO
Pedro Pascal
… but Pascal manages just fine without it (especially with his bestie Sarah Paulson by his side).
Jorah Mormont
I don’t know about you, but I’m still holding out a lot of hope that Ser Jorah will pull through this whole greyscale death sentence thing.
Image: Helen Sloan/HBO
Iain Glen
Oh, and assuming he does make it back to Meereen, Ser Jorah should totally take a leaf out of Glen’s clean-shaven book when he finally makes his bid to win Daenerys back, eh?
Daario Naharis
In the books, Daario has a blue braided beard — and I think this is one book/TV show divergence that we can all get behind.
Image: Macall B. Polay/HBO
Michiel Huisman
I had to dig deep into Huisman’s filmography to find a beardless image of him, but this one was worth the extra searching: Yes, he’s shirtless, but that isn’t even the best part — take a closer look at his leading lady, and you might just recognize her as Carice van Houten (aka Melisandre). The two of them starred in Black Book, a Dutch film from back in 2006.
Image: Black Book/AVRO Television
Samwell Tarly
Adorable.
Image: Helen Sloan/HBO
John Bradley-West
Also adorable. (Please don’t die).
Ned Stark
It’s tough to imagine Ned without his trademark long hair, scruff, and grimace…
Image: Game of Thrones/HBO
Sean Bean
… But Sean Bean pulls off the look quite dashingly.
Tywin Lannister
That’s some trademark evil mastermind facial hair going on there.
Image: Helen Sloan/HBO
Charles Dance
Dance is considerably less villainous sans his goatee/quilted black doublet, but the floral scarf is a bold fashion move that Tywin would surely respect.
The Hound
Best production still ever, or best production still ever?
Image: Helen Sloan/HBO
Rory McCann
OK, I think McCann wins for most drastic makeover.
Khal Drogo
Drogo was all about the facial hair.
Image: Game of Thrones/HBO
Jason Momoa
Momoa looks just as charming (though considerably less menacing) without his braided beard and all that black eye makeup.
Littlefinger
Can you get more creepy than Littlefinger, all decked out with his distinctive gray streaks, devilish beard, and black cloak?
Image: Helen Sloan/HBO
Aiden Gillen
Seriously, Gillen looks about 1000% less pedophile-y without his pointy goatee.
Davos
I don’t know about you, but the idea of a beardless Onion Knight is kind of mind-boggling to me.
Image: Helen Sloan/HBO
Liam Cunningham
Ser Davos! Is that you?
Theon Greyjoy
How strange was it to see Theon dressed up as Theon after two seasons of Reek?
Image: Helen Sloan/HBO
Alfie Allen
Who even notices whether or not he’s sporting scruff, when he’s wearing an honest-to-god hot pink jacket??
Robb Stark
The King in the North…
Image: Game of Thrones/HBO
Richard Madden
… and Prince Charming! (Swoon.)
Image: Cinderella/Disney
Lord Varys
Just for the sake of opposite day, I give you the completely bald Varys.
Drumroll, please…
Image: Macall B. Polay
Conleth Hill
Ta da! Hill is almost unrecognizable as Lord Varys with his full head of gray hair and a mustache.
Image: Whatever Works/Gravier Productions