Thanks to House of the Dragon, Tom Glynn-Carney has become a household name. With his intense and fierce performance as Aegon II Targaryen, Carney has carved a unique niche for himself in the television industry. He has successfully emulated a wide range of emotions, showcasing his talents in the best possible manner.
Season 2 of House of the Dragon is releasing weekly episodes, making the audience familiar with a whole new side of Aegon II who is now the King of Seven Kingdoms. Consequently, many people in the show, including his own grandfather think that the Targaryen King is growing mad with power. On top of that, the recent grief of losing his son, the heir to the Iron Throne has been unparalleled. In the midst of so much going on, actor Tom Glynn-Carney spoke to the New York Post about his character and the show’s bright legacy connected to Game of Thrones.
It’s always interesting to get the new generation’s perspective on the show whose legacy they are taking forward. However popular Game of Thrones was in its time, Carney didn’t watch the show when it first aired. He claims that he binged the show when he landed the part in House of the Dragon.
Tyrion Lannister is Tom’s favorite Game of Thrones character
Credits: HBO
Even though Carney watched the entire Game of Thrones in merely three weeks, he was mesmerized by Peter Dinklage’s character. The way he portrayed the wit and cunning of Tyrion Lannister was pure genius. Moreover, Carney claims that Tyrion is his favorite Game of Thrones character.
Tom Glynn-Carney on Aegon being funny
Carney claims that making Aegon funny is not a conscious decision. Very similar to Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones, Aegon II is often found in situations where it’s difficult not to find humor.
The actor added, “He’s very loose and very free. I want to lean into that. That [comedy] happens just organically, I think. The way he’s written and the way he’s perceived by other people, I do find him quite funny. My focus is just to bring some authenticity to what could otherwise be quite a distant world that’s hard to access. I work off impulse a lot, and instinct, rather than planning things meticulously.”
Aegon looks like a Chucky doll to Tom
Credits: Max
Many actors who have to significantly change their looks to play a certain character often find their on-screen persona bizarre. The same is the case with Aegon II and Carney. In real life, the actor prefers to keep his hair dark blonde and grow a beard which makes him look dashing.
However, on-screen, Aegon II has to look the part with silver-white hair and a clean shaved face. In an even more bizarre comparison, Carney shared, “I rarely look like that — I look in the mirror and I don’t see myself anymore. I see this sort of Chucky-looking doll. The whole preproduction period was designed to make him as unattractive and as vile as possible… But, it’s great to meet people who are passionate about it.”
In the end, no matter what look he maintains, fans are in love with Carney’s ability to fully immerse himself in the scene and pull the audience in with him.
King Aegon II isn’t a villain, says Tom
A very poignant scene in House of the Dragon season 2 episode 2 was where Aegon II breaks down in tears and his mother embraces and comforts him. Naturally, that was a moment where Carney showcased how powerfully he can deliver a scene with just his emotions and expressions. Diving into more such aspects, Carney refrains from brandishing Aegon II as a villain.
The actor expressed, “He’s branded as a villain often, and I see him more as a tragedy. He’s heartbreaking. He’s broken in so many ways… I like to try and find those little cracks of vulnerability where we see the boyish-ness to him, and the fragility of him.”
Nonetheless, fans are very excited to see the upcoming narrative in the Dance of the Dragons while the two factions go toe to toe. The ultimate battle will decide who gets to sit on the Iron Throne and who gets to pick up the pieces of a deadly loss.
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