Catelyn is portrayed by Northern Irish actress Michelle Fairley on the HBO series "Game of Thrones". American actress Jennifer Ehle was originally cast as Catelyn Stark and appeared in the unaired pilot, but left the series for family reasons before the first season began, and Fairley was cast as a replacement with the character's scenes in the pilot remade. Fairley's portrayal has garnered critical acclaim, with many in particular praising her performance during the episode "The Rains of Castamere". Due to this popularity, many fans were disappointed she did not appear in the series' fourth season, despite the character's resurrection in the novels.