From Daenerys Targaryen, a ruler of growing importance who tries to end societal injustices, to Brienne of Tarth, who ignores gender norms to fight as a knight, the HBO show has plenty of female role models.

The “GoT” actresses have plenty to say on why their roles are actually pro-feminist:

Emilia Clark (Daenerys Targaryen): “ [GoT] shows the range that happens to women, and ultimately shows women are not only equal, but have a lot of strength… there are women who are literally unstoppable and as powerful as you can possibly imagine." (NyMag)

Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark): “Obviously, we have to cater to the times that [the female characters] were in, and so there are those social boundaries put upon them, but they break out of them in the show, and that's why I think it's quite feminist." (HNGN)

Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth): “[GoT] is the one action drama that is led by women. I thought [the books] were fabulous because there were so many women in leading roles." (Mashable)

Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister): “I think there’s a sort of renaissance for women [on television] right now. It’s like women are now being allowed to be written as interesting characters.” (The Mary Sue)

Even George R.R. Martin, the creator of “GoT,” acknowledges that he created female characters that are “real”: “To me being a feminist is about treating men and women the same… Some women hate the female characters [in GoT]. But, importantly, they hate them as people, because of things that they've done, not because the character is underdeveloped.”

“GoT” returns with its season six premiere on Sunday (April 24) at 9 p.m. EST.