Games of Thrones Cast Additions: Who's New?

About a year ago at this time, no one had heard of Emilia Clarke or Jack Gleeson. Peter Dinklage was best known as that short children's author who attacked Will Ferrell in Elf.

Fast forward to 2012, following a wildly-acclaimed opening season of Game of Thrones, and most of these actors/actresses are household names. In the case of Dinklage, they're even Emmy Award winners.

With season two kicking off on April 1, who will be joining these GoT stars on the small screen every Sunday night? Who might even take the Emmy stage in September? Below, we profile a handful of new Game of Thrones cast members. You'll be getting to know their characters very well over the coming weeks...

Tom Wlaschiha (Jaqen H'Ghar) - German actor, has worked on stage in his native country and also as a voice actor for numerous film dubs and audio books. Appeared in: Valkyrie, Brideshead Revisited and Anonymous.

Carice van Houten (Melisandre) - A native of Netherlands, has sung in the rock band Kane. Has appeared in: Valkyrie, Repo Man and Black Death.

Rose Leslie (Ygritte) - Born in Scotland, graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Appeared as Gwen, a housemaid, in seven episodes of the first season of ITV's Downton Abbey.

Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) - English born, played Pvt. Lorraine in Captain America: The First Avenger. Starred as Anne Boleyn in The Tudors and is a member of the London Fencing Academy.

Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth) - Irish actor who went from being an electrician in the 1980s to roles on the small screen. Has appeared in: Outcasts, Safe House and will portray Jim Larkin in Titanic: Blood and Steel.

Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon) - Born in London, earned 2000 Tony Award for Lead Actor in a Play for "The Real Thing." Has appeared in: John Adams, King Arthur and The Hours.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.