Shooting a show set in the rugged world of Westeros is not easy. Long hours and excruciating stunt scenes are just a few aspects that pose a problem for actors. Especially for a young actor like Dexter Sol Ansell, the production schedule for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms got a bit tiring.
They had scheduled scenes for evening and late night where inevitably, Ansell kept yawning and longing for sleep. In a conversation with the hosts of the official Game of Thrones podcast, Ansell shared how gummy worms kept him awake and sugared up. The director on the set always kept gummy worms in her bag, with Ansell asking her for one every time he felt sleepy.
Dexter Sol Ansell used gummy worms to stay awake
Steffan Hill/HBO
Just like any other kid, Ansell is also a fan of sugary treats like gummy worms. So, it seemed like a smart idea to eat gummy worms while shooting episodes late into the night. However, there was a time when the shot was about to begin and Ansell still had a gummy worm in his mouth.
The director yelled, “Action!” but Ansell was not ready to shoot the scene yet. This led to a hilarious situation that could have ended badly if the showrunners got angry at Ansell, who shared,
“This one time, it was like– This was, like, the most important bit of the whole thing. And hundreds of S.A.s, all there. And then I have the gummy worm in my mouth, and they’re like, ‘Action!’ And then I go, ‘I’ve still got the gummy worm in my mouth!’”
Though everyone ended up laughing on set, the take could have been ruined with this one oversight. Nevertheless, the entire production process proved to be a fun and learning experience for Ansell who will definitely receive a jumpstart to his career after this role.
Read More: Dexter Sol Ansell planned to shave his head during his audition—with a real razor
Peter Claffey was anxious to play Dunk
Image: HBO
When Peter Claffey learnt that he will be playing Dunk on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, he was overjoyed but super anxious at the same time. Claffey has been a huge fan of the Game of Thrones universe, and knows how big of a deal it is to get a role in this universe. He felt very anxious after the audition process but calmed down once he met with the showrunners.
Claffey is perfect for the role given his physical attributes as well as gentle demeanor. The personality of Dunk comes naturally to him and he shines on screen as the hedge knight who wishes to make a difference in the world.
Read More: The hilarious “side hustle” Dexter Sol Ansell started at school with his bald head
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