‘Game Of Thrones’ Littlefinger Actor Finally Confirms That Arya Theory From Season 2

One of the biggest reunions fans are expecting to see in Game of Thrones Season 7 is all the living Stark children arriving back home in Winterfell for the first time since Season 1.

But so many of the Starks have changed over the years, specifically Bran, who got hit with the puberty stick pretty hard, and Arya, who has been to Essos and back.

Will anyone even know it's them?

Well, one person in Winterfell might know Arya, as he's seen her more recently than her brothers and sisters. Littlefinger, who you might remember, stopped by Harrenhal in Season 2 for some wheeling and dealing with Tywin Lannister.

At the time Arya was working as Tywin's cupbearer. Tywin knew she was a northerner and high-born to boot. But he didn't know she was that northerner or that highborn, or he would never have let her escape. But then again, he hadn't been in King's Landing the season prior to actually know her as Ned Stark's daughter.

Littlefinger, on the other hand, had not only just been in King's Landing and seen her regularly, he also knew Arya had gone missing the day Ned was killed. Arya certainly recognized the man who got her father arrested. But did he recognize her?

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Aidan Gillen (who plays Littlefinger) says at the time they filmed that scene, he was acting as though Littlefinger knew exactly who she was.... and said nothing because he realized Tywin did not. And there's nothing Littlefinger loves more than knowing something his opponents do not.

He revealed,

It was unclear if he recognized her or not, but I have my own thoughts on that. Yes, I did recognize her — I just didn't say anything or do anything about it.

How will that affect things in Season 7? Gillen isn't saying.

I finished last season on a promising note by laying my cards on the table — at least to Sansa. I was [sowing seeds of doubt about Jon Snow] throughout my appearances in Season 6, and, yeah, that will continue. It's pretty obvious what my game is there. We're playing out that final exchange in the Great Hall in Winterfell. But the same time my character is becoming quite aware that Sansa is becoming as bright as me and just as wary of my manipulations of her. They're onto each other. They use each other. They enjoy each other. And they keep a lot from each other. There are all kinds of mixed things going on with Littlefinger and his relationship with Sansa, so watching her grow in stature is quite enjoyable.

Will Littlefinger draw Arya into his game? Will he try and turn the sisters against each other? Will have to wait to find out on July 16, when Game of Thrones returns to HBO.