Gemma Whelan joins 'Game of Thrones'

"Bet on Thrones" fans, rejoice: you've got a new cast member to stalk. Gemma Whelan continues to be cast in HBO's hit fantasy series as Yara Greyjoy.Visitors from the books will recognize the smoothness of Asha Greyjoy, intact save the name: daughter of Balon Greyjoy (not introduced), older sister of Theon (Alfie Allen), Yara is fierce and proud, and defies traditional Ironborn (think Viking/sailing) anticipation by commanding her very own ship and leading males into fight (the title switch to Yara prevents confusion with another character, Osha).Whelan has been around "The Wolfman" and "Gulliver's Travels" the role is an extremely large one out of the George R. R. Martin's complex books, which the series relies, and will get progressively bigger because the series goes forward. Like most of the "Thrones" thesps, Whelan is rather youthful and it has lately graduated from drama school within the U.K. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com