It feels like just yesterday we were watching a scrappy, dirt-smudged kid chase cats through the Red Keep. Most of us basically watched Maisie Williams grow up through a TV screen. It’s that weird "Harry Potter effect" where you feel like you know them, but you also lose track of time. Because she started so young, there’s always this lingering confusion about her actual age. People still talk about her like she’s a teenager finding her way, but the calendar tells a very different story.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a trip.
The Simple Answer
Let’s get the math out of the way first. Maisie Williams was born on April 15, 1997. As we sit here in January 2026, that makes her 28 years old.
She’ll be hitting the big 2-9 this spring. It’s wild to think she’s nearly 30, right? For those who remember her debut in 2011, she was just 12 years old when she landed the role of Arya Stark. She spent the better part of a decade—essentially her entire adolescence—playing a character who was constantly running for her life or training to be an assassin.
Why We Get Confused About Her Age
There is a psychological reason why people constantly search for how old is Maisie Williams.
She has what you’d call "perpetual youth" energy. Part of it is her height—she’s about 5'1"—and part of it is the roles she’s gravitated toward. Even after Game of Thrones wrapped in 2019, she took on projects like The New Mutants and Two Weeks to Live, where she still played characters with a certain youthful, rebellious edge.
Then you have her fashion. Maisie is a chameleon. One day she’s rocking bleached brows and a punk-rock mullet at a Dior show, and the next she’s looking like a classic Hollywood starlet. This constant shifting makes it hard for the general public to pin her down to a specific "adult" age. We still see the little girl with Needle, even though she’s a seasoned industry veteran and an entrepreneur.
Growing Up on Camera
Think about your own life at 14. Now imagine every awkward phase, every growth spurt, and every bad hair day being broadcast to millions of people globally.
Maisie has been pretty vocal about the toll that took. It wasn't just about the physical aging; it was the mental pressure of being a "child star" who didn't actually feel like a star. She was just a kid from Bristol who liked to dance and suddenly became one of the most recognizable faces on the planet.
- Age 12: Cast as Arya Stark.
- Age 18: Making her mark in Doctor Who as Ashildr.
- Age 22: The finale of Game of Thrones airs.
- Age 26-27: Portraying Catherine Dior in The New Look.
That jump from Arya to Catherine Dior (the sister of Christian Dior) was a massive turning point. It was the first time many viewers looked at her and went, "Oh, she’s a grown woman now." Catherine Dior was a French Resistance fighter, a role that required a level of grit and maturity that finally matched Maisie’s actual age.
What Is She Doing Now in 2026?
She isn't just waiting for the phone to ring. Maisie has become quite the business mogul. She co-founded the Daisie app years ago to help creatives connect, and she’s been heavily involved in environmental activism.
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On the acting front, 2026 is looking like a massive year for her. She’s currently tied to several high-profile projects that lean into her love for the "weird and wonderful." She's starring in Practical Magic 2 alongside Joey King, which is scheduled for release in September 2026. Seeing her join a cult-classic franchise like that shows she’s moved way past the "child actor" labels. She’s also been linked to the road movie 500 Miles and the quiz-show drama The Luckiest Man in America.
There’s also that persistent rumor. George R.R. Martin recently hinted at a potential project that could involve her again. Whether that’s a voice role or something else entirely remains to be seen, but the "Arya" shadow is one she carries with pride rather than resentment.
The "A-List" Reality
Being 28 in Hollywood is a weird spot. You’re too old for the teen dramas but sometimes "too young" for the heavy-hitting matriarch roles. But Maisie seems to have skipped the typical Hollywood trap. She didn't have a public meltdown; she didn't disappear into obscurity.
She’s basically built a career that prioritizes art over fame. You’re just as likely to see her in a small-scale indie film as you are on a massive Apple TV+ production.
Things to Keep in Mind
If you’re following her career, keep an eye on her production company, Daisy Chain Productions. She’s leaning more into the "boss" role these days, developing projects that focus on UK-based talent. She’s not just an actress for hire anymore; she’s the one making the hiring decisions.
Next Steps for Fans:
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If you want to see how much she's actually "grown up," skip the Thrones rewatch for a second. Go find The New Look on Apple TV+. It’s the best evidence of her range as a nearly 30-year-old actress. You can also follow her social media for her latest fashion collaborations, though she tends to go dark on the internet every now and then to keep her sanity—which, honestly, is the most "adult" move anyone can make.
The reality is Maisie Williams is a 28-year-old woman with the resume of someone twice her age. She’s navigating her late twenties with a level of self-awareness that most people don't find until their fifties.