Game of Thrones season 6: Melanie Liburd joins cast as Red Priestess as Melisandre rumours swirl

The character of the Red Priestess is strongly linked to speculation that Jon Snow will be resurrected from the dead

• Jess Denham 
• Thursday 8 October 2015 16:39 BST

Melanie Liburd is joining Game of Thrones as a mysterious Red Priestess IMDB

Melanie Liburd is the latest newcomer to join Game of Thrones for its upcoming sixth season.

The English actress will join the cast as 'the Red Priestess' after appearing in the likes of Dracula, The Grinder and CSI, Deadlinereports.Rumours have been swirling since the season five finale that Melisandre will play a major part in bringing Jon Snow back to life. Kit Harington’s Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch was brutally stabbed by his own men and seemingly left for dead, but speculation is rife that he will return after being spotted on set in Belfast filming an epic battle scene.

Harington all but confirmed his comeback last month, when he said the HBO show would "remain part of his life for a while".

Little is known about Liburd's role but a clip discovered by fansite Watchers on the Wall in June saw herdescribed as a “beautiful, intense and magnetic” young priestess in her 20s or 30s. Shortly afterwards, an audition video leaked online reportedly showing actress Tehmina Sunny reading the part of a red priestess named Kinvara, who visits Tyrion Lannister and Varys in Meeren.

Richard E Grant, Essie Davis, Freddie Stroma, Ian McShane, Pilou Asbaek and Max von Sydow have all been confirmed for season six, which is expected to air next spring.