In a recent interview at Dublin Comic Con, Peter Claffey, who plays the towering Ser Duncan the Tall in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, opened up about how height played a surprisingly positive role in casting for the series. While George R.R. Martin’s books describe Dunk as exceptionally tall (nearly seven feet), Claffey noted the show prioritised finding the right actor over exact measurements.
Quick read:
• Claffey notes tall actors being appreciated in AKOTSK
• The show focused more on Dunk’s personality rather than height
• Peter mentions his female co-star Tanzyn’s height too
Credits: HBO
A win for tall actors
When asked the question, Peter answered with,
“Yeah, I think it probably helped out with casting a lot of small people because, you know, Dunk, in fairness to the book, he’s supposed to be a little bit taller. But they were interested in finding Dunk, the person, I suppose, rather than somebody tall enough to play it.”
He then shared a memorable moment with co-star Tanzyn Crawford (Tanselle Too Tall) during a Berlin event. Her words were,
“It’s great to get cast in something like this, where I’m usually too tall to play a leading lady or a lady in any show.”
Claffey reflected warmly:
“I didn’t really think of that. So it’s cool for tall people, I suppose, to be the centre of attention. Definitely. “
The comment highlighted a rare upside in Hollywood where a fantasy epic looks at being tall not as a limitation but an asset. For Claffey and Crawford, Dunk and Tanselle’s larger-than-life presence allows them to shine in roles that might otherwise go to shorter performers.
