<P> Melisandre is portrayed by Dutch actress Carice van Houten in the HBO television adaptation . </P> <P> Also known as "The Red Woman", Melisandre is a shadowbinder and a priestess of R'hllor in service to Stannis Baratheon . Originally from Asshai, she has prophetic powers that give her partial knowledge of future events . She is also referred to as a shadowbinder, being able to cast glamours and perform certain feats of dark magic . Melisandre is introduced in A Clash of Kings and serves as the third - person narrator for one chapter of A Dance with Dragons . She is described as a beautiful voluptuous woman with red eyes and hair, and always dressing in red and rarely sleeping or eating . She possesses magical abilities, has prophetic visions from fire, and takes a militant stance against the other religions of Westeros . </P> <P> Melisandre is not a point - of - view character in the first four novels, her actions are witnessed and interpreted through the eyes of other characters such as Davos Seaworth and Jon Snow . In A Dance with Dragons, the fifth novel, she has a single point - of - view chapter . George R.R. Martin stated she will return as a viewpoint in future novels . </P> <P> Melisandre was born an unknown number of years before the start of the series, possibly with the name "Melony". As a child slave, she was sold to the Red Temple and trained for the priesthood . Believing Stannis Baratheon to be the reincarnation of Azor Ahai, a mythic messiah prophesied by her faith, she travels to his island stronghold, Dragonstone, during the events of A Game of Thrones . Tywin Lannister indirectly mentioned her as "a shadowbinder from Asshai" during a private conversation with Tyrion Lannister after the Battle in the Whispering Wood . </P>

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