Game Of Thrones star Gethin Anthony has admitted he’s ‘jealous’ of some of his co-stars’ death scenes, after he was killed off in season two.
The star’s character Renly Baratheon met his demise when Melisandre’s (Carice van Houten) shadow creature assassinated him to stop him getting in the way of his brother Stannis’ (Stephen Dillane) path to the Iron Throne.
However, in the grand scheme of things, a shadow monster isn’t all that exciting in the world of Westeros.
Chatting to Metro.co.uk ahead of his new movie Knuckledust, the 37-year-old explained: ‘I love the way I went. I think to be killed off by George Martin and Dan [Weiss] and David [Benioff] on the television show is kind of a badge of honour.’
He added: ‘I still am jealous of some of the other deaths that went on because there were so many amazing ones. And looking at the books, actually I think Renly got a pretty good representation in the show because basically there are so many characters and you can always want more.’
‘But I’ve always said Harry Lloyd’s death as Viserys [Targaryen], the golden crown, getting that gold poured on his head, that was such a cool death,’ he continued.
‘The Red Wedding’s amazing, obviously, there were loads of good ones. But I’m happy with the way [Renly] went. it was amazing to act with Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark) just before dying.’
Weighing in on the debate surrounding the final season, which left some fans a little disappointed, Gethin explained he would have ended it differently, but was still pleased with it.
‘I enjoyed it, I really did. I think to end a story world like that is nigh on impossible. It’s a testament to how good the show was, and how good the books are, of course, that people cared that much, that they really are invested,’ he pointed out.
‘The narrative is built up so much, you can kind of end it yourself […] if I had been in charge, I would have finished things a little bit differently but that’s because I think every one of us could come up with a different ending.’
Meanwhile, one of the main highlights he’s taken away from the show is his friendship with Gwendoline Christie, who played Brienne of Tarth, Renly’s loyal right-hand woman.
Singing praises for Gwendoline, Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) and Finn Jones (Loras Tyrell), he added: ‘It was a really lovely gang in the second year that I was really chuffed to be a part of before being dismissed by the narrative!
‘[Gwendoline] actually organised my birthday that year on the basis that her character would and she throws a great party! I felt a bit spoilt, really, getting to work with Gwen.’
Now, Gethin’s bringing his Thrones background – including the distinct lack of fighting he got to do – to his new movie Knuckledust, which he’s starring in alongside the likes of Olivier Richters, Kate Dickie, and Vikings star Moe Dunford.
‘It’s a brilliantly conceived world,’ Gethin began, before joking: ‘Again, I’m in an action movie where I don’t get to do much fighting. I have been a bit like this before with Thrones – I had a sword made and did I ever get to swing it? No!’
‘It was amazing,’ he recalled. ‘The stunts in Knuckledust punch way above their weight class and seeing the fire involved and getting to be on set while all that stuff was going on was pretty amazing.’
‘James Kermack, who is the wonderful mind behind it all is my dear friend and I’m excited to see him fully fledge into a UK talent behind the camera,’ he continued. ‘It’s his first full feature and we’ve been talking about it for years.
‘It was a different speed for me as well. He obviously pitched me the idea of playing Jeremiah who is a unique comedy individual. I couldn’t resist going for that because it’s not a genre I’ve worked in before.
‘Plus the moustache. As soon as he said I’d be able to wear a moustache, I was in.’
And who can blame him for that?
Knuckledust is set for release in the UK on December 11.
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