Catelyn Stark (née Tully), later known as Lady Stoneheart, is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin and its television adaptation Game of Thrones.

[4][5] Author George R. R. Martin confirmed he argued against the decision, which he called "the first major diversion of the show from the books", and the character being cut was ultimately made by the television showrunners David Benioff and D. B.

When Brandon was sadistically executed by King Aerys II, Lord Jon Arryn, the guardian of Eddard and Robert Baratheon, rebelled against House Targaryen.

Soon after the rebels won the Battle of the Bells, Catelyn married Eddard, having never met the new groom before the wedding day, to consolidate the alliance between the Riverlands and the North.

Upon hearing of her younger sons' supposed murder at the hands of Theon Greyjoy, Catelyn goes to confront the captive Jaime Lannister.

However, Walder Frey and his men take revenge on Robb for his slight on their house by slaughtering the northern host, an act of treachery that became known as the "Red Wedding".

Three days later, Catelyn's body is washed ashore downstream along with hundreds of other corpses, and a wolf pack led by Arya Stark's stray direwolf Nymeria is drawn to scavenge upon the dead.

However, the period of time she spent deceased has caused Catelyn's body to partly decay, disfiguring her looks; furthermore, upon her reanimation she loses most of her previous kind personality, except for her hatred of the Lannisters and the Freys.

Brienne is named a traitor by Stoneheart because she carries Oathkeeper, a Lannister sword that was forged from Ned Stark's Valyrian steel blade, Ice.

Just before Brienne is to be hanged, she sees the young squire child Podrick Payne choking, along with Hyle Hill, and "shout[s] out a word" to intervene.

Brienne locates Jaime at a camp in Pennytree during the siege of Raventree, claiming she has found Sansa with Sandor Clegane, who are both a day's ride away.

This suggests Lady Stoneheart killed Ryman herself, and now sources differ (as The World of Ice and Fire is also written from an in-world maester).

In a 2018 interview with the Chinese Esquire, author George R. R. Martin confirmed that Lady Stoneheart will reappear and have a prominent role in the forthcoming novel.

[7][8] Jennifer Ehle was originally cast as Catelyn Stark and filmed her scenes in the unaired pilot until she eventually left for family reasons.

Australian actress Essie Davis, who later went on to portray Lady Crane in the sixth season, also auditioned for the role when the series was being developed.

She also does not seem as encouraged to promote Sansa as a suitable match to be Robert's son and heir, Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson)'s future queen consort.

Catelyn's realization of Stannis' part in killing Renly is given to Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), who is also aged up for the television series.

She is at Riverrun to receive Ned's bones by silent sisters, whereas Petyr Baelish (Aidan Gillen) delivers them in the Stormlands shortly after her envoy mission to negotiate with the feuding Baratheon king-brothers, Renly and Stannis (Stephen Dillane).

In the third novel A Storm of Swords, Catelyn objects to her son King Robb's intention to legitimize Jon and name him heir.

The television series reduces Catelyn's fears of Jon as pure jealousy for his mother, rather than the other more complex reasoning in the novels, an attempt to maintain future dynastic peace.

During the television adaptation of the Red Wedding, Catelyn kills Walder (David Bradley)'s wife, Joyeuse Erenford (Kelly Long).

After Robb dies in the television series, Catelyn goes catatonic, and the Freys seemingly had no intention to keep her alive, with one slashing her throat.

Following the fourth season finale episode, "The Children", many fans expressed disappointment that Catelyn's resurrection as Lady Stoneheart was not included.

It is later revealed the Brotherhood without Banners found her corpse, and Beric Dondarrion, a six-times resurrected man, gives her the kiss of life, passing on his power to her.

[13]Showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss claimed they'd purposely left her out to avoid spoiling The Winds of Winter and to minimize character resurrections in the series, despite arguments to keep her from author George R. R.

[14][15] In the episode "Hardhome", the television adapted version of Arya does not choose the name Cat of the Canals, a secret tribute to her mother, when she poses as an orphan selling oysters.

Being evidently still alive, Beric's appearance negated much of the remaining fan speculation of a potential, delayed entrance for Lady Stoneheart.

Following demand from fans of the novels, the actor agreed to videotape the monologue from the epilogue of A Storm of Swords where he delivers the speech of Merett Frey's execution by the command of his leader, Lady Stoneheart.

The closing scene of "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things" was praised by HitFix's Alan Sepinwall, highlighting Michelle Fairley's acting as Catelyn gathers allies to arrest Tyrion.