Yara/Asha Greyjoy

Yara Greyjoy is the more competent one of the Greyjoy siblings, the other one is Theon. She is headstrong, bravely built woman who is even her father’s choice as the heir to the throne of Iron islands. With her command over a complete army and her frank liking of women, she defies traditional gender roles.

Asha Greyjoy’s name is quite close to that of the Wildling Osha, so to avoid potential confusion she was renamed on the show as Yara who is played by Gemma Whelan, but that is not the only thing about her that was changed. In the books, she is defined as “lean and longlegged, with black hair cut short, wind-chafed skin, strong sure hands, a dirk at her belt. Her nose was too big and too sharp for her thin face, but her smile made up for it.” In the show, however, it is not her smile but her badassery that impresses everyone.