Brian Cox has admitted he decided against starring in the fantasy epic Game of Thrones because âthe money was not all that greatâ.
In his new memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, Cox wrote about being offered the role of a king called Robert Baratheon.
In an excerpt published in GQ, the actor details how he was presented with the opportunity along with âevery other buggerâ.
Cox, 75, said he doesnât know a huge amount about the show and hasnât researched how big the part was since he turned it down.
âGame of Thrones went on to be a huge success and everybody involved earned an absolute fortune, of course. But when it was originally offered the money was not all that great, shall we say,â said the Succession star.
âPlus I was going to be killed off fairly early on, so I wouldnât have had any of the benefits of the long-term effects of a successful series where your wages go up with each passing season.
âSo I passed on it, and Mark Addy was gored by the boar instead. (I lied. I did google it.)â
Brian Cox speaking onstage at the Criticsâ Choice Awards in January 2020
(Getty Images for Critics Choice )
Addy (previously A Knightâs Tale and The Full Monty) played the role of Robert Baratheon in season one of the hit HBO fantasy drama.
Cox also said he turned down the opportunity to star in Pirates of the Caribbean because he thinks Johnny Depp is âso overratedâ.
