Chemistry between actors can go a long way in establishing the connection viewers will feel when they look at the screen. Not just for lovers or romantic movies, but any two central characters who are driving the narrative forward need to have that undeniable bond to truly energize every scene.
When A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms began production, the showrunners were on the lookout for their lead characters, Dunk and Egg, who had to share a special bond as the show went on. Finding two actors who fit the description perfectly well AND gelled well with each other seemed impossible. Until the casting team came across Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell.
A former rugby player with tremendous physical build and a gentle personality was perfect to play Dunk whereas an adorable child actor with unmatched grit and determination ended up getting cast as Egg.
Read More: The hilarious “side hustle” Dexter Sol Ansell started at school with his bald head
Ira Parker calls Dunk and Egg casting the least stressful decision
Credits: Steffan Hill/HBO
There is a certain personality that George R.R. Martin must have imagined when he wrote the story of Dunk and Egg. Finding that accurately in any actor seemed impossible, but the casting team did a fantastic job of finding Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell.
When Parker saw them individually, he knew they had hit the jackpot with Ansell and he was the frontrunner to play Egg. Claffey had to come in a couple of times to audition, but Parker soon noticed how he was better and more refined every time he came in for a reading. In the end, they were convinced that they found the leads for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Parker explained,
“We obviously did meet other actors and did months of these processes and chemistry reads, but we came all the way back to Dexter, and he was number one. It just felt like it had to happen… We brought Peter in multiple times, and every single time it became so clear to all of us that he was our Dunk. When we saw Peter and Dexter together for the final chemistry read, I remember sitting with our director, Owen Harris, thinking it was one of the least stressful casting decisions we’ve ever had to make.”
Both Claffey and Ansell embodied their respective characters so well that there was no debate on casting them as Dunk and Egg. Claffey has been a fan of the Game of Thrones universe, hence knew what a big deal it was to be a part of this project. Ansell, on the other hand, understood the gravity of the project, and even decided to shave off his head for real to prove his commitment to the role.
Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell hit it off immediately
The showrunners encouraged Claffey and Ansell to spend time together and build a bond that would translate well on screen. The actors told Buzzfeed that they spent a lot of time together over weekends and soon became friends. Ansell said,
“We went to the arcade like every weekend, and now we’ve got thousands and thousands of tickets. We would bond on the weekends, go out, and have a nice Five Guys.”
Claffey agreed and admitted to reading lines with Dexter’s family too, forming a strong foundation that will eventually consolidate their dynamic on screen.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is streaming on HBO Max.
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