Game of Thrones season 6: Yara Greyjoy returns as actress Gemma Whelan spotted in Belfast

Yara was absent from season five and last seen trying to rescue brother Theon

Gemma Whelan as Yara Greyjoy in Game of Thrones (YouTube)

Yara Greyjoy will be back in Westeros for Game of Thrones season six after her recent absence.

*This article contains spoilers*

Gemma Whelan, who plays the strong Iron Islander, was spotted on set in Belfast where production is underway for the next run of the hit fantasy series.

Fan Zoe Habrich shared an Instagram photo of herself with a group of cast members including Whelan, Tom Wlaschiha (Jaquen H’Ghar), John Bradley (Sam Tarly) and Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm).

Yara was last seen in season four after abandoning her brother Theon when she tried to free him from the evil Ramsay Bolton, only to discover he was going mad and psychologically trapped in his prison.

Her upcoming storyline remains a mystery as with showrunners Dan Benioff and DB Weiss overtaking George RR Martin’s books for the first time, anything could happen.

Readers of the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series know that Yara is captured by Stannis Baratheon and reunited with Theon after running away from her cunning uncle, but Stannis was assumed dead in the season five finale, so everything is up in the air.

Other returning cast members include Isaac Hempstead Wright, who will be back in the role as Ned Stark's crippled Warg son Bran for season six, after also missing season five.

"I can't say a lot, but I am back this sesaon and it's going to get particularly interesting with Bran," the English actor said. "He has some interesting visions."

Debates are still raging over the fate of Jon Snow, played by Kit Harington, who was stabbed seemingly to death by his own Night's Watch comrades. Some fans still believe the much-loved character will be resurrected, despite cast and crew insisting he is "deader than dead".

One thing's for sure, season six is going to be "mental and epic". You have the Mother of Dragons' word.