content: '''Brienne of Tarth''' is a fictional character in George R. R. Martin's  ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series of fantasy novels and its television adaptation, ''Game of Thrones''. She is a prominent point of view character in the novels.
  Brienne is introduced in the second novel of the series, 1998's ''A Clash of Kings'', as a warrior fighting for the honor of serving in the Kingsguard of Renly Baratheon. She later swears her loyalty to Catelyn Stark and vows to return the captive Jaime Lannister to King's Landing in exchange for Sansa and Arya Stark, whom Catelyn believes are being held by the Lannisters. She additionally appears in ''A Feast for Crows'' (2005) and ''A Dance with Dragons'' (2011). Because she is a woman, Brienne is barred from serving as a knight, even though she is one of the most honorable and skilled warriors in all of Westeros. Her personal struggle towards honor, justice, and recognition has received significant critical attention, as has her complex relationship with Jaime, and she is one of the most popular characters in both the novels and television show.
  In the television series, Brienne is portrayed by English actress Gwendoline Christie and is introduced in Season 2. After appearing as a recurring cast member for two seasons, Christie was promoted to the main cast from Season four onwards. Christie has received significant critical praise for her portrayal. For her performance in the Season 3, she was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television and for two Screen Actors Guild Awards, alongside the rest of the cast, for the third and fourth seasons. In 2019, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in the series's final season.