Game of Thrones is almost over. Ahead of the final season premiere, 12 of the leading cast members reflect on their long journeys. Let’s start with Kit Harington, for whom the show defined his 20s:
Harington’s first day in Iceland in season 2 was his favorite day on Thrones, perhaps because it’s when he first worked with his future wife Rose Leslie (Ygritte). His advice to a young Jon Snow? Don’t join the Night’s Watch. “You’re going to the fucked up place, don’t do it.” Good call.
Like Harington, Emilia Clarke had been with the show since the beginning, and the show has dominated her adult life. That might sound serious, but the stories are hilarious, starting with her first day when she fell off a horse:
I don’t know why this video this to be watched on YouTube, but here’s a GIF preview:
Iain Glen talks about working with Emilia Clarke, the time his daughter came to set, and much more.
Of course Glen loves Jorah’s old yellow shirt. “I like my yellow goldie…I had to contract greyscale to get rid of it.”
Over in Lannister Land, Lena Headey remembers playing Cersei Lannister, First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, and “Protector” of the Realm:
It’s awesome that she remembers Cersei’s heart-to-heart with Robert Baratheon so well. The show is justly famous for its scale and scope, but at the end of the day, it’s these kinds of scenes — where two characters just sit in a room and talk — that’s given it longevity.
Moving on, how Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) feel about playing Cersei’s little brother these past eight years?
“[Game of Thrones] is the most realistic show that I’ve ever done that also happens to have dragons and dead people walking around in it.” Well said.
Rounding out the Lannister siblings, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) talks about playing the Kingslayer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vymHe0KSsC8
This is another one where you have to watch it on YouTube. It’s worth clicking over there to hear about the many different versions they shot of the Jaime-Cersei sex scene from the pilot, each with “various levels of nakedness.”
Let’s pivot to Team Stark, starting with Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark).
Aw, I love the old interview footage of Turner from seasons 1 and 2. And naturally, Turner’s favorite episode to watch is the Battle of the Bastards.
Next, Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark) takes us inside the weird wild world of the Three-Eyed Raven:
Geez, these videos of them as little kids are killing me.
One more, this time of Maisie Williams (Arya Stark):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8mgTJMqhHY
She talks about not being able to act when she was younger if she didn’t convince herself she was actually there. Watching her early performances, that makes complete sense. Oh, and this is another one you have to go to YouTube to watch. But here’s the important GIF:
“I’m lucky that I play Arya and no scene is ever boring.” Amen.
Finally, let’s give props to some of the show’s best supporting players, from John Bradley (Samwell Tarly)…
…to Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth)…
…to Rory McCann (the Hound):
What, no Brienne video? How about Varys? Where’s Melisandre? Okay, these are great so I should probably stop complaining.
There’s also one long video cutting together some of the highlights from the previous 12:
The eighth and final season of Game of Thrones kicks off this Sunday at 8:00 p.m. CST on HBO. Here we go.
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