Melisandre is one of the main characters in season one, two, three, four and five. The character is played by the cast member Carice van Houten who debuts in ‘The North Remembers’. In most cases in the series, Melisandre is referred to as ‘The Red Woman’. Furthermore, Melisandre is a priestess of the Lord of Light and a close advisor to Stannis Baratheon.
Melisandre was originally born a slave in Essos, and is the current Red priestess serving the Lord of Light, a deity not so popular in Westeros. She originates from a country situated in the far east of the continent, known as Essos. According to Melisandre, she wields strong magical abilities most so the power to prophesize. To lend credibility to her claims, she wears a large ruby necklace which appears to glow each time she performs magic. At one point long ago, she traversed the Narrow Sea and came to the court of Lord Stannis Baratheon situated on the island stronghold of Dragonstone, to proclaim her faith. As a result, she has managed to convert Stannis and many in his household to her faith; consequently, she has been made the close advisor of the Lord.
She makes several appearances in various seasons of the series. In season two, for instance, she is first seen at the Dragonstone beach carrying out a ceremony to glorify her god, Lord of Light. On the rear of her, Statues of the Seven, popularly worshipped in Westeros, are burning as offerings. She leads a crowd who repeats the exact words she articulates. It is here that she predicts the fall of a heavy darkness on the world at the onset of summer, during which stars will bleed as the cold breath of winter freezes the seas, and those who died will rise in the North.
In season three again, we meet Melisandre after the defeat at the Battle of the Blackwater when the King becomes distressed and do not allow anyone to see him except Melisandre. Melisandre is charged with making offerings in the form of human sacrifices and warns any follower of Stannis, who spoke against her that they would be offered as a sacrifice to the Lord of Light.
She goes to the Riverlands from Dragonstone despite Stannis insisting that she stays with him. She claims that there is something she must find out. At her arrival, she comes across Thoros of Myr of the Brotherhood Without Banners whom she interacts with in several ways after which she leaves. Later Melisandre prevents the Killing of Davos since R’hllor has decreed the Onion Knight’s importance to the forces of light in the coming conflict.