Maisie Williams delivers a brilliant speech on gender equality: 'Girls are unstoppable'

She spoke as the new face of Always #likeagirl campaign.

Maisie Williams (Getty)

On Game Of Thrones she’s won legions of fans as the assassin-in-training Arya Stark who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. But off-screen, Maisie Williams is just as brilliant.

The 18-year-old actress delivered a rousing feminist speech in New York at the launch of Always’s new ad campaign #likeagirl, having been made brand ambassador for the company.

She spoke at length about not holding yourself back, sharing your gifts with the world and being proud of who you are.

“It's time for girls to be free; free to nurture and celebrate whatever qualities and talents make them different,” she said. “It's the most liberating time moving into adulthood. But that transition should not happen with labels and expectations, but with an open heart and mind.”

Always’s first #likeagirl campaign began at the start of year and has already been seen by 90 million people and generated 12 billion impressions worldwide (thanks in part to a slot at the Superbowl).

It aims to translate Always’ focus on female confidence and amplify the message into a worldwide call-to-arms.

“Confidence gives us what we need in life. So build yours, protect yours, fight for yours, grab it with both hands and hold it like the course of your future depends on it. Because it does,” Williams continued.

“The world is desperate for leaders, male and female. It's not about gender, it's about purpose. You have a responsibility, an opportunity to share your gifts with the world.

“People want what you've got. Believe it. The Like a Girl movement has done so much to elevate the conversation. Girls, we have to stick together, please support each other … You're allowed to be the most important person in your story.”

The campaign tackles this head on, in a video encouraging girls to smash up the limitations that could hold them back.

Research conducted by Always found that many girls feel boxed into expected roles, with 72% of those admitted saying they feel society limits them in some way.