On Thursday it was announced that HBO's hit TV series Game of Thrones attached actress Indira Varma to don the role of Ellaria Sand.

In the A Song of Ice and Fire books, Ellaria Sand is the lover of Oberyn Martell, better known as The Red Viper. The former stands by the latter's side upon his arrival to represent Dorne on the small council.

Ellaria is said to have "a darker, more exotic look than other Westrosi," according to Wet Paint.

She is "the bastard daughter of Dornish nobleman Lord Harmen Uller, and her last name, 'Sand,' comes from the Westerosi tradition of bastard children sporting the surname of the kingdom they're from, rather than a family name," stated the site.

Interesting enough, the novels have Ellaria with four bastard offspring of her own, which encompasses half of Oberyn's clan. As a whole, Oberyn's eight girls are referred to as the "Sand Snakes."

More on Game of Thrones' upcoming storylines

Although no official launch date has been revealed, HBO's Game of Thrones is set to kick off its fourth season at some point in late March or in early April of 2014. Be sure to keep checking back for more of the latest details on the highly anticipated premiere of the TV series. A season 4 preview of the upcoming installment can be watched below.

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