Game of Thrones‘ Conleth Hill has a brand new role in ITV’s Holding, and it has him looking vastly different from his days in Westeros.
The actor portrays Sgt PJ Collins in the adaptation of Graham Norton’s 2016 novel. Collins is a police officer in the sleepy town of West Cork, Ireland where the body of Tommy is unearthed 20 years after his disappearance.
Throughout the four-episode series, it is up to him and his new boss, DI Linus Dunne (Clinton Liberty), to find out who has committed the vile murder.
ITV
Related: Derry Girls‘ Siobhán McSweeney on defying romantic lead stereotypes for Holding
However, prior to this role, Hill played eunuch ‘Master of Whisperers’ Lord Varys in HBO’s Game of Thrones for eight seasons.
Back then, Hill looked very different. For one, he was bald and sporting luxurious tunics.
Now, the actor has shed the medieval attire for a more conventional police officer uniform and a pair of glasses.
Oh, and hair! For the role, Hill was finally able to let his natural hair down, embracing a full head of snow white hair for a change.
HBO
Related: First trailer for Game of Thrones creator’s new Netflix movie
The actor recently admitted to Radio Times that this is “the best role” he’s ever had.
“I just thought he was a really multifaceted character,” he said. “But [with] none of the kind of cliches that you’d expect from a leading detective”
Hill also went on to comment on the character’s difference to his famous portrayal of Varys.
He said: “As brilliant as Varys was, and as much as I enjoyed it, he wasn’t the lead. He was the supporting character.
“Whereas I’m not unaware of the parallels between PJ getting his first murder case in his mid-50s, and me getting my first number one in my mid-50s.”
His co-star, Derry Girl‘s Siobhán McSweeney, has also called her role a “gift” for its ability to question the typical romance lead hegemony.
“To play the part of Bríd… parts like that don’t come along that often for me, if not anyone,” she said. “I don’t get cast as a romantic lead, because we have a system in place which says only certain people have romantic lives on screen and on stage.
“Even though life has repeatedly told us that that is not the case, we continue to push forward this propaganda that only certain people can be romantic leads. If they have a certain body shape, if they talk a certain way, if they fit a certain aesthetic, and if they’re a certain age. I don’t fit any of those!”
Holding airs on ITV and will be available on demand on ITV Hub.
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