A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has brought many new characters to life. One of them is Aerion Brightflame, the Targaryen prince who has quickly become one of the most hated characters in HBO’s Game of Thrones franchise. British-Irish star Finn Bennett plays Aerion down to the tee, but he does not exactly enjoy it. In a new interview, Bennett claimed that portraying Aerion was more “upsetting” than fun.
Quick read:
- Finn Bennett is not a fan of playing the antagonist Targaryen prince.
- Bennett was worried about his performance as Aerion.
- He still misses his role as Peter Prior in True Detective: Night Country.
Finn Bennett reflects on his experience of playing Aerion Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Aerion Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Image: HBO)
During his interview with Man About Town, Bennett revealed that many people have asked him if he enjoyed playing Aerion Targaryen. Explaining why he didn’t, he said, “There is a short-term catharsis to it. It’s nice to let out rage and aggression. But I think there is also something quite upsetting in that you’re constantly wondering if you’re doing a good job. Especially in Game of Thrones, because you have some really, really special villains played by some really, really fantastic actors.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Bennett admitted that early on during the filming, “There was a moment of, ‘Have I forgotten how to perform?’” He said, “I guess there is the added thing that if you’re a villain, you don’t like what you’re doing because it feels nasty.”
Taking on a lead role in the Game of Thrones prequel series wasn’t Bennett’s only major responsibility. He also had to make sure he fully embodied Aerion’s villainous energy on screen. Right from the third episode, fans witness just how cruel Aerion is when he puts the lance through a horse while jousting.
Finn Bennett won’t miss playing Aerion Targaryen
During his chat with Man About Town, Bennett also claimed that he “won’t really miss Aerion.” He said, “I’ll miss the wig. I’ll miss all of my friends on set. I’d get really distracted and take [the horse] for a walk while [the crew] were setting up shots.”
In contrast, he still misses his character as Peter Prior, a junior police officer in True Detective: Night Country. That role marked his breakthrough in Hollywood. The anthology crime drama TV series also starred Oscar-winning actress Jodie Foster as the lead character, Detectives Liz Danvers.
Read more: Finn Bennett explains why Aerion Targaryen’s defeat was about pure shame
