Why Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams Are a Power Duo Worthy of the Throne

If you look back on Game of Thrones‘ epic, eight season run, it’s hard to chose just one jaw-dropping, series defining scene. After all, there are gruesome deaths, heartwarming reunions and, of course, dragons. 

But, for Maisie Williams, it’s easy to pinpoint the most life-changing moment: Meeting Sophie Turner, she admitted to the crowd at 2018’s Comic Con, and “having a decade long friendship with her.”

Indeed, for the dynamic duo, their sisterly bond—they played Sansa and Arya Stark—has transcended the screen and become a real-life bond worthy of the throne. Their connection was undeniable from the get go, with Sophie calling them “pretty much best friends” from the moment they wrapped their chemistry read. 

That gut instinct was mutual. “I thought Sophie was the coolest thing I’d ever seen,” Maisie recalled to Rolling Stone. “I get why they do chemistry reads, because when it’s right, it’s so right. Like, we’re best friends. And they could see that all those years ago, and it must have been real magic watching these two girls have the best time together.”

Of course, sometimes their “best time” came at the expense of others. Or, at least, Thrones‘ crew, who they often pulled pranks on because, well, how else are they going to pass the time on set?

Though they played siblings, “we tried to sneak a kiss into every scene we did together to freak everyone out a bit,” Sophie revealed to Glamour UK. “It kept them on their toes, making sure they were following the script.”

But with the highs came the inevitable lows. Sophie, 23, and Maisie, 22, have been open about their mental health and the pitfalls of growing up in the spotlight.

After a day of filming, “if I felt really fat that day or if I felt like my face looked weird or I had huge zits, to be able to go home to the hotel room and sit there and cry with Maisie—it was the best thing for us,” the Brit confessed to The New York Times. “I’m glad I wasn’t crying on my own.”

No, in a friendship like this, you’re never alone. They are, after all, each other’s rocks through and through. “Maisie is definitely my protector and I’m hers, too,” Sophie has said. “I know if anything happened…she’d go crazy and protect me.”

And Sophie has done the same for her. “Whenever I’m like, ‘I need help! This is bigger than anything I can sort out on my own,’ Sophie is my point of call,” Maisie added. “She really helped me through some messy break-ups and some friend break-ups.”

Today, their friendship is forever inked on their hearts—and arms. The power duo got tattoos to symbolize their GoT casting and the roles that changed their lives.

“She’s one of my best friends in the whole world,” Sophie, who had Maisie serve as maid of honor at her wedding, previously told E! News. “With Thrones, we were always planning, from season one, like if we make it all the way through, hopefully we could all get a matching thing.”

Now, with less than two weeks to go until the 2019 Emmys(they both nabbed supporting actress nominations), look back on the friendship that has survived Westeros and beyond. And bow down to Maisie and Sophie, who we’d certainly let rule our lives.