Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams passes her driving test with RED

Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams, 17, passed her driving test first time round this morning with RED Driving School.

Maisie, who plays Arya Stark in the leading HBO drama series, has been learning to drive with RED Driving School, since her 17th birthday in April. Maisie admits that she was very nervous prior to her test but used the same techniques she uses on the set of Game of Thrones to calm her nerves.

She comments, “I didn’t tell anyone my test date so no one knows I had my test this morning! I was really scared leading up to it as it’s not something you can go out and practice on your own and due to my schedule I haven’t been able to get out driving much recently.”

Maisie, who is currently back in the country in-between shooting, has been fitting her lessons around her busy filming schedule. She continues, “My colleague Sophie Turner passed her driving test last year in-between filming and I wanted to do the same. I’ve had 20 hours of lessons over the last two days in preparation. I just really wanted to pass today as I’m going back to filming for Game of Thrones next week and wanted to get it out of the way before then, so I had to make the most of this block of time.”

Maisie, who is watched by 6.6 million fans worldwide each week when Game of Thrones is airing, reveals “I thought I’d failed about 10 minutes in as I was on a road and didn’t know the speed limit, so I took a gamble at 40mph and hoped for the best! Luckily it was a national speed limit road.

“When the examiner told me I had passed I said no way and then jumped out the car, hugged Dave my RED Driving School instructor and nearly cried. I then told the examiner that I was going to buy a car. I am so relieved my test is over but very scared to go out driving by myself for the first time now.”

The star goes on to explain that the first place she is going to drive when she has her car is to her mum’s house for a quick cuppa and a catch up.

She also states that she will now be able to audition for roles that have previously been unsuitable for her due to her inability to drive. She says “I have been sent through so many scripts where my character drives and it’s been such a heart-breaking moment when I realise I can’t go for it. So many more doors will be opened for me now.” Maisie also says that this has been especially frustrating up until now since you can drive at 16 in the States and friends of her age can therefore audition for roles that she can’t.

Maisie’s dream car is a dark green original Mini with a white roof and green stripes and if she could drive in any film it would be the original Italian Job. She knows she is going to buy herself a green car but hasn’t decided on the brand.

The star further comments, “I think Arya would love to drive a car. Maybe that way she would have been home in time to save her family in the last series!”