<P> The characters from the American medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones are based on their respective counterparts from author George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels . Set in a fictional universe that has been referred to so far as "The Known World," the series follows a civil war for the Iron Throne of the continent of Westeros, fought between the rival royal and noble families and their respective supporters . </P> <P> The following cast members have been credited as main cast in the opening credits: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Actor / Actress </Th> <Th> Character </Th> <Th_colspan="8"> Appearances </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> </Th> <Th> 5 </Th> <Th> 6 </Th> <Th> 7 </Th> <Th> 8 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sean Bean </Td> <Td> Eddard "Ned" Stark </Td> <Td> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td> Guest </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mark Addy </Td> <Td> Robert Baratheon </Td> <Td> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nikolaj Coster - Waldau </Td> <Td> Jaime Lannister </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michelle Fairley </Td> <Td> Catelyn Stark </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lena Headey </Td> <Td> Cersei Lannister </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Emilia Clarke </Td> <Td> Daenerys Targaryen </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iain Glen </Td> <Td> Jorah Mormont </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Aidan Gillen </Td> <Td> Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Main </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Harry Lloyd </Td> <Td> Viserys Targaryen </Td> <Td> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kit Harington </Td> <Td> Jon Snow </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sophie Turner </Td> <Td> Sansa Stark </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maisie Williams </Td> <Td> Arya Stark </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Richard Madden </Td> <Td> Robb Stark </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alfie Allen </Td> <Td> Theon Greyjoy </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Isaac Hempstead Wright </Td> <Td> Bran Stark </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> Main </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jack Gleeson </Td> <Td> Joffrey Baratheon </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rory McCann </Td> <Td> Sandor "The Hound" Clegane </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> Main </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Peter Dinklage </Td> <Td> Tyrion Lannister </Td> <Td_colspan="8"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jason Momoa </Td> <Td> Khal Drogo </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="6"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Charles Dance </Td> <Td> Tywin Lannister </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Liam Cunningham </Td> <Td> Davos Seaworth </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> John Bradley </Td> <Td> Samwell Tarly </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Natalie Dormer </Td> <Td> Margaery Tyrell </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stephen Dillane </Td> <Td> Stannis Baratheon </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Carice van Houten </Td> <Td> Melisandre </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> James Cosmo </Td> <Td> Jeor Mormont </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jerome Flynn </Td> <Td> Bronn </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Conleth Hill </Td> <Td> Varys </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="7"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sibel Kekilli </Td> <Td> Shae </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rose Leslie </Td> <Td> Ygritte </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oona Chaplin </Td> <Td> Talisa Maegyr </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Joe Dempsie </Td> <Td> Gendry </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Recurring </Td> <Td> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kristofer Hivju </Td> <Td> Tormund Giantsbane </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> Main </Td> <Td> TBA </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hannah Murray </Td> <Td> Gilly </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> Main </Td> <Td> TBA </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Gwendoline Christie </Td> <Td> Brienne of Tarth </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="5"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iwan Rheon </Td> <Td> Ramsay Bolton </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Indira Varma </Td> <Td> Ellaria Sand </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> Main </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michiel Huisman </Td> <Td> Daario Naharis </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td> TBA </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nathalie Emmanuel </Td> <Td> Missandei </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> Main </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tom Wlaschiha </Td> <Td> Jaqen H'ghar </Td> <Td> Guest </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="1"> </Td> <Td> TBA </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dean - Charles Chapman </Td> <Td> Tommen Baratheon </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Recurring </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michael McElhatton </Td> <Td> Roose Bolton </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td_colspan="3"> Recurring </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jonathan Pryce </Td> <Td> The High Sparrow </Td> <Td_colspan="4"> </Td> <Td> Recurring </Td> <Td> Main </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Actor / Actress </Th> <Th> Character </Th> <Th_colspan="8"> Appearances </Th> </Tr>

Who are the main characters of game of thrones
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