Interview, Podcast
Maisie Williams: The Painful Past Of A Game Of Thrones Star | E181
- Maisie Williams identifies as a 25-year-old actress who became "set for life" financially from the age of 12 following her role in Game of Thrones, creating a sense of alienation from peers regarding her life trajectory.
- She describes a traumatic childhood relationship with her father that began before age eight, characterized by fear, dread, and a lack of joy, which she only recognized as abusive when a teacher intervened at school at age eight.
- Williams states her mother left her biological father when she was four months old, a fact she had not previously disclosed publicly and which she now links to early feelings of instability and being an outlier compared to other children.
- She connects her childhood trauma to a pervasive anxiety disorder, noting that her anxiety often stemmed from living behind a "facade" and not being authentic, which made her fear how others perceived her.
- Williams reveals she struggled with self-harm and self-hatred into her early 20s, frequently telling herself she was "awful," "disgusting," and "unlikable," a mindset she now recognizes as a survival mechanism rather than truth.
- The turning point for her healing occurred around 2021 through the adoption of Transcendental Meditation and spiritual experiences, which helped her feel less alone and more supported than she had previously.
- She openly discusses past struggles with substance abuse as a teenager, including the use of party drugs and alcohol, which she stopped using because they were an unsustainable method for seeking happiness.
- Williams identifies as having ADHD, a diagnosis confirmed by a psychiatrist about a year and a prior, which she notes runs in her family alongside her mother's own struggles.
- She credits her current emotional stability and ability to process pain to acting, describing the profession as a form of "antidepressant" that allows her to disassociate from her identity and safely access deep emotions.
- Her mission has evolved from personal survival to building companies and supporting creative people to sustain a lifestyle of making art, driven by the belief that enabling others to do what they love would improve the world.
- Williams advocates against the concept of "wasted time," arguing that activities like leisure or unstructured time are essential for the human creative state and should not be judged solely by quantitative ROI.
- She has re-evaluated her relationship with her mother, moving from a codependent dynamic where they traveled the world together as a child to a more independent adult relationship with healthy boundaries.
- She defines success not as a destination but as the continuous practice of making conscious, present-moment decisions that align with her values rather than reacting on impulse.
- Williams describes a recent "failure" in logistics where she ran out of ADHD medication while working in Paris, correcting her reaction by choosing to stop self-blaming and simply ride out the difficulty.
- She expresses a desire for her vulnerability to help others, hoping her disclosure of trauma and healing will inspire listeners to "peel back the layers" of their own lives.
- Williams warns against the "mindset privilege" of assuming one can easily erase trauma, noting that while new evidence can counteract old beliefs, traumatic experiences remain a "vital part of who you are" and cannot be erased.
- She rejects the idea of using an "eraser" to remove her past, stating that the complex spectrum of emotions she possesses—both pain and joy—is something she feels fortunate for as it fuels her artistry.
- Williams notes that she often sabotages relationships due to a fear of conflict, but a four-year relationship with her partner, Ruben, has taught her that peace and coexistence with another person are possible.
- She suggests that her ability to access deep pain as an actor was initially a result of her traumatic childhood, but she now views it as a "superpower" rather than a deficit.
- Williams advocates for the idea that "everyone is an artist," defining art broadly as the human capacity to create and build, regardless of one's profession or socioeconomic status.
- She advises her 13-year-old self to "troll" more and be less serious about defining who she is, emphasizing that identity is fluid and one should not feel beholden to past statements or choices.