Aisling Franciosi (born 6th June 1993 in Dublin) is an Irish actress. She is also of Italian descent on her father's side. She is best known for her roles as Lyanna Stark in Seasons 6 and 7 of Game of Thrones, Katie in The Fall (2013), and Clare in The Nightingale. Her performance in The Nightingale was especially praised and earned her an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Award for Best Actress.
Filmography includes:
- The Fall (2013) (2013 – 2016) as Katie Benedetto (won an Irish Film & Television Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Drama)
- Vera (2015) as Sigourney O'Brien (episode: "Muddy Waters")
- Legends (2015) as Kate Crawford
- Game of Thrones (2016 – 2017) as Lyanna Stark
- Clique (2017) as Georgia Cunningham
- Genius (2017) as Fernande Olivier
- The Nightingale (2018)note as Clare Carroll (won an AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role)
- Black Narcissus (2020) as Sister Ruth
- The Unforgivable (2021) as Katherine Malcolm
- God's Creatures (2022) as Sarah Murphy
- The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023) as Anna
- The Legend of Vox Machina (2023) as Kaylie
- StopMotion (2024) as Ella Blake
- Speak No Evil (2024) as Ciara
Tropes associated with her works include:
- Dawson Casting:
- She was in her early twenties playing high schooler Katie Benedetto in The Fall. Considering her creepy relationship with Serial Killer Paul Spector (portrayed by Jamie Dornan), it's not surprising they went with an older actor.
- Although her age isn't specified, Lyanna is indicated to be in her late teens when she disappeared with Rhaegar Targaryen and later died (the books state she was sixteen), while Franciosi was in her twenties.
- Separated-at-Birth Casting: She and Maisie Williams bear a strong resemblance to each other and are very convincing as aunt and niece in Game of Thrones, especially as Arya is said to take after Lyanna in both looks and personality. She also has a resemblance to Kit Harington, who plays Lyanna's nephew Jon Snow or as it turns out, Lyanna's son.
