Iconic actor Jonathan Pryce, who played the High Sparrow in Game Of Thrones, has revealed he spent a week in hospital after contracting coronavirus.
The 73-year-old actor said he also developed pneumonia as a result of battling Covid-19.
Speaking about his health, the Two Popes star said that while he was left feeling ‘tired and anxious’ for several weeks, he’s ‘secretly rather pleased’ he’s developed some immunity, having come out the other side.
He told The Guardian: ‘I had coronavirus in late March. I was hospitalised for eight days with Covid pneumonia. It left me tired and anxious for a long time, but I’m over that.
‘I’ve now got high levels of antibodies so I’m secretly rather pleased with myself.’
Amid the pandemic, the country has been plunged into lockdown, however Jonathan has seemingly enjoyed the measures that were imposed to slow the spread of the disease – which has so far killed more than 732,000 worldwide – because he believed they helped foster a sense of community.
Still, the thespian didn’t resist a dig at Dominic Cummings in the process, after the senior government aide caused controversy when he travelled from London to Durham, and then to Barnard Castle, despite travel restrictions.
He continued: ‘The one comfort of being in lockdown was that everyone else was, too. Well, apart from Dominic Cummings.
‘I live in an area of east London with a lovely community feel. We all looked out for each other, dropping off home-made bread and cakes. I’ve secretly enjoyed being cocooned at home.’
Speaking about his role on HBO’s Game Of Thrones, Jonathan also revealed his portrayal of the High Sparrow – the leader of the religious sect known as the Sparrows and the newly appointed High Septon – was compared to another political figure.
He said: ‘The High Sparrow in Game Of Thrones got compared to Jeremy Corbyn, but I actually based him on Pope Francis.
‘Three years later, I ended up playing him, too. I’m a lifelong Labour supporter and a lot of his instincts were right, but he shouldn’t have been leader. I protested side by side with Corbyn twice during the 70s. He hasn’t moved on since.’
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