When Finn Bennett stepped into the role of Aerion Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, he carried with him admiration for some of the most iconic figures in Westeros. In a recent interview, Bennett revealed that the Lannister siblings — Jaime, Cersei, and Tyrion — are his favorite characters from the original series and the books. He explained that each sibling undergoes a huge reckoning, giving them clean, satisfying arcs.
Quick Read
- Bennett names the Lannister siblings as his favorites.
- He admires their individual reckonings and arcs.
- He studied other actors’ performances for inspiration.
Why the Lannisters stand out
Bennett explained that the Lannister siblings’ journeys are compelling because each one faces a personal reckoning. He admired how their arcs unfold with clarity and consequence, making them some of the richest characters in Martin’s world. Before elaborating, Bennett highlighted why their stories resonated with him (Vulture):
“The Lannister siblings are my favorite characters from the original series and the books, because they all, individually, have huge reckonings, which is such a nice clean arc.”
This shows how Bennett values narrative depth and transformation, qualities he sought to channel into his own portrayal of Aerion.
Credits: Steffan Hill / HBO
Finding Aerion’s spiky edge
Bennett also discussed how he drew inspiration from actors like Emilia Clarke, Matt Smith, and Emma D’Arcy, noting their stoic stillness. However, he realized that style didn’t suit him. Instead, he experimented with a more spiky, volatile energy for Aerion, portraying him as angry, grumpy, and perpetually dissatisfied. Before clarifying, Bennett described his creative process:
“Considering I’m a fan of both of the shows, with that level of talent, there’s no way that you can’t draw on other actors and what they’ve done with those parts. But I think there is a responsibility to try and do something original. What I found that those actors do so beautifully is they’re very stoic and still. Like, Emilia Clarke is so fucking stoic, and Matt Smith and Emma D’Arcy really have this stillness.
I’m quite jerky, and I was trying that out in the mirror, and I’m going, This isn’t really working for me, so how can I do something a bit different? And I landed on something a bit more spiky with Aerion. I wanted him to feel angry, pissed off, and grumpy, almost like a teenager who’s had his allowance docked.”
This reflection highlights Bennett’s commitment to originality, ensuring Aerion feels distinct within the Targaryen legacy.
