King Robert Baratheon persuades Eddard to take his place. She was initially disappointed as Eddard was shorter and perceived to be less handsome than his brother Brandon, but later fell in love with him after seeing the 'good sweet heart beneath his solemn face'.Ĭoat of arms of House Tully and House Stark Book series A Game of Thrones Īfter the royal party arrives at Winterfell, Catelyn receives a letter from her sister Lysa Arryn stating that the Lannisters had killed her husband Jon Arryn, the king's 'Hand' (second-in-command). Soon after the rebels won the Battle of the Bells, Catelyn was married to Eddard, having never met the new groom before the wedding day, to consolidate the alliance between the Riverlands and the North. When Brandon was sadistically executed by King Aerys II, Lord Jon Arryn, who was the guardian of Eddard and Robert Baratheon, rebelled against House Targaryen. Catelyn is usually in accord with her husband Eddard Stark, but resents his admission of his extramarital son Jon Snow into their household.Ĭatelyn was originally betrothed to Eddard's older brother Brandon Stark, the heir to Winterfell at the time. She is proud, strong, kind and generous, has a strong grasp of politics, and is often governed by the desire to protect her children. Ĭatelyn Stark is described as beautiful, with fair skin, long auburn hair, blue eyes, long fingers, high cheekbones and full breasts, and dressed simply in the grey color of House Stark or the blue and red of her father’s House Tully. Due to this popularity, many fans were disappointed she did not appear again in the series, despite the character's resurrection in the novels. Fairley's portrayal has garnered critical acclaim, with many in particular praising her performance during the episode ' The Rains of Castamere'. American actress Jennifer Ehle was originally cast as Catelyn Stark and appeared in the unaired pilot, but left the series for family reasons before the first season began, and Fairley was cast as a replacement with the character's scenes in the pilot remade. She is a prominent point of view character in the first three novels.Ĭatelyn is portrayed by Northern Irish actress Michelle Fairley on the HBO series Game of Thrones. Martin, and its television adaptation Game of Thrones. Catelyn Stark (née Tully), or Cat to family and close friends, is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R.

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