HBONo disrespect to Jon Snow, but we're ready for a Queen in the North after Game of Thrones' sixth season.
And apologies to another member of House Stark, Sansa Stark, because we're not talking about her either. No, we're talking about Lyanna Mormont, the young but fierce leader of the Bear Islands, who became a fan-favorite and Internet sensation from her very first on-screen scowl. And don't even get us started on her epic speech in the finale, calling out three male leaders for their lack of action. "House Mormont remembers! The North remembers!" Chills!)
Now, it's time to meet the equally-as-badass actor behind Lady Lyanna Mormont: Bella Ramsey, who sounded off on her breakout role in an interview with HBO's Making Game of Thrones blog, and of course, she was just as obsessed with her character as we were after reading the script.
"I thought, 'This is a character to really get my teeth into,'" the 12-year-old said. "Lyanna is strong about what she believes, and wants to keep her family and island protected; she wants to be treated like an adult. She's strong, and firm when she needs to be, and wants the best for her house and the North."
Ramsey went on to highlight Lyanna's standout moment in the finale, in which she shamed several lords for refusing the call from House Stark, as just one example of how "fierce" the character really is. "It all kind of comes naturally when I become Lyanna because it's in her nature; it's just who she is. I loved the script for episode 10 ["The Winds of Winter"] – how she doesn't care that she is the youngest person in the room, and proceeds to shame the three leaders."
Still, because the room they filmed that scene in felt like "an overheated sauna," Ramsey chose a different episode as her favorite to film thus far. "Probably episode seven ["The Broken Man"]. Although, I also loved riding Iggy the horse, too." (She also named the bear Lyanna wore on her neck "Boris.")
While Ramsey realized she was going to be an "integral" part in the storyline in the North, she was still surprised by the fan response to Lyanna.
"It's crazy really. I didn't expect anything like it. I am very, very happy that people like Lyanna Mormont," she said. "We had to keep it quiet that I had a part in GoT so now it's out, my family have had lots of people they know contacting them, really excited they have seen me."
Ramsey also answered some fun questions, like what animal would be on her personal house banner ("A tiger, or an elephant, or a monkey. Actually, a lion! I hate decisions!"), and if she'd choose to have a dragon or a direwolf. "Dragon, by a mile."
Sorry, Starks!