“I got home and curled up in the fetal position”: Peter Claffey recalls getting cast as Ser Duncan

Imagine you dream of a big break all your life, and when the time comes, you not only get a big break, but also quite possibly the biggest role of your life. That’s what happened with Irish actor Peter Claffey, a former rugby player, who is playing Ser Duncan the Tall in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He always aspired to make it big in the film business, but bagging a lead role in a series by George R.R. Martin is in another league altogether.

Being a fan of the Game of Thrones universe, Claffey knew what it meant to get this role and kickstart his acting career on a high note.

Peter Claffey was anxious to get Dunk’s role

Actor Peter Claffey auditioned for the role of Dunk in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but did not have particularly high hopes, even though he has been a big fan of this universe. So, when he heard that the showrunners wanted to meet with him and see another audition tape, he was ecstatic.

In a conversation with the hosts of the official Game of Thrones podcast, Claffey explained how anxious and terrified he was when he first heard the news. He expressed,

“And I think when I got it, I was like, “Oh, wow, amazing.” And I just got home, I was in the gym, got home, uh, walked into the house, and I was sitting down, and I just, like, sat down on the couch, and then I slowly just slid onto the carpet and curled up in the fetal position. And my girlfriend, Ellie, was, like, coming back to the house from something, and she just came in the door, and there’s me, like, shaking, hyperventilating. And she’s like, “What the hell happened?” And I was like, “I got the role. I got the role.” So it was bizarre, but yeah, it’s been crazy but really, really enjoyable.”

Claffey was aware of the impact of the role on his career, but also knew how high the stakes were for the same. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has already been renewed for season 2, and will most likely span more seasons to tell the tales of Dunk and Egg. The actor is certainly a great fit for the role, and he is proving his mettle more and more with each subsequent episode.

Read More: Who is Ser Duncan the Tall?

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is about the underdog

Credits: HBO

Unlike Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon that featured bickering royal houses and an overarching quest for the Iron Throne, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms features the story of an underdog, a hedge knight who wishes to make a difference in that world. With the help of an unlikely youngling, Egg, the aspiring knight can actually achieve his dream.

Throughout their journey, Dunk and Egg meet various lords and smallfolk alike to show what actually went on at the grassroots level, the experiences and tragedies of the commoners of Westeros.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on HBO.

Read More: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Episode 2 synopsis and release date