This interview contains spoilers for the series premiere of House of the Dragons.
Prince Daemon Targaryen is a man of action, and that’s a perfect fit for the man who portrayed him in “House of the Dragons.”
“On an acting level, I’m always glad I didn’t do a lot of big table scenes,” said Matt Smith. “They’re usually the hardest ones to shoot, the ones that can drive you crazy. I liked riding horses with a sword in my hand.”
Of course, he’ll be starring in House of the Dragons, a series of prequels to the HBO blockbuster Game of Thrones, based on author George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novel Fire and Blood. To do means riding a vehicle far more exotic than just a horse. As potential heirs to the Targaryen dynasty and their throne, the Iron Throne, Daemons are dragonriders and dangerous in that respect.
Created by Martin and Ryan Condal, who serves as showrunner alongside director Miguel Sapochnik, “Dragon” chronicles a tumultuous time in the history of the Targaryens and their fiery horses. away from the realms they control. As the younger brother of the ruling King Viserys (played by Paddy Considine), Damon is at the center of the conflict, appearing at Sunday night’s series premiere as one of the show’s most charismatic characters.
And if you find him attractive, you’re not alone. was pensive and openly wrestled with the duality of his demons — agents of chaos one moment, fiercely loyal and affectionate the next.
“There’s a kind of lore between ‘Fire and Blood’ fans and ‘Game of Thrones’ fans about flipping a coin when a Targaryen is born,” he said. I don’t know which side to land on. ”
“With Damon, the coin is still in the air,” he continued.
These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
You’ve stepped into some pretty big shows before. Isn’t it an exaggeration to say that this is an order of magnitude larger?
It’s a big show, with a decidedly global appeal. There’s a huge legacy that’s gone before it, and we’re standing on the shoulders of giants. Whether or not they can replicate the levels they did successfully in “Game of Thrones”… I think it’s nearly impossible.
But with all the work, really, you can’t overthink the part.
But when we first meet your character, he sits on the Iron Throne and speaks in an invented language called High Valyrian. They threw you into the depths.
Deep down, yeahWhen I first got the script, I saw all of Hyva Lyria [gasping], “Oh, I have to learn a new language.” But I actually found it really rewarding. When you speak another language, it accesses another part of you.
“Game of Thrones” is famous or infamous for its sex and violence.
Well, to some extent, when you accept a job like this, you know what you’re doing. There you will find the document. We know that in the world George created, these elements and these scenes will probably be part of it at some point.
does anyone like to do that [sex] scene? Probably not. they are quite revealing. 100 people are watching you around you.But I had a great relationship with Sonoya. [Mizuno]who played Mysalia [Daemon’s sex-worker lover]She’s great there.
The bond between Daemon and Mysaria is unusual as people from each social class rarely interact on equal terms.
One of the things I find very appealing about Daemon is that he lives in both worlds. He lives in the belly of the beast, in red forts, palaces, and so on. He has great respect for Mysalia. I’m curious as to where that relationship will go.
The most prominent relationship Daemon has in the premiere is with his brother, King Viserys, and the contrast is striking. I don’t care.
that is true. But what I did reveal, perhaps not in black and white, is that Daemon actually has a deep vulnerability – especially when it comes to his brother. The rest of the empire can stick with it. He doesn’t really give a toss.
Viserys banishes him from King’s Landing by the end of the episode, but there’s an obvious love between the two.
Yeah me and Paddy really found it. There’s a deep, deep love between the two, and I hope it’s alive and well throughout all 10 episodes.
Damon’s hallmark is pushing boundaries, pushing boundaries, and continuing to push the rules that have been around him. But it’s weird. The more time I spend on palace intrigues…he has his own weird moral compass. I think there are
It unfolded in a visceral way with a storyline that included his command of the Goldcloaks, the city’s rudimentary police force.
exactly.He thinks he’s out and about clearing the streets of crime [laughs], albeit in a very cumbersome way. But in his head, it makes some sense. I think Or not? Do not know. This is the beauty of Daemon. Is he doing it in pursuit of goodness? Is he doing it to cause confusion? It’s probably a bit of both. That’s always been the case, and it’s so interesting about him.
Have you been thinking about real examples of police brutality and militarization along the way?
no no It was purely invested in the story.
You mentioned palace intrigues, but the King’s Small Council is a battlefield in itself. What was it like playing the dynamics of so many different characters at once?
First of all, it was a great pleasure working with Rhys Ifans. [who portrays Daemon’s political rival, Otto Hightower]He is a brilliant and beautiful actor, and an even more brilliant and beautiful man in fact.Paddy, like Steve [Toussaint, who plays the naval commander Lord Corlys Velaryon] — there are some real heavyweight guys. It was fun because it was like Daemon’s petulance, deliberately dropping small bombs in a chaotic manner. Many people ask this question. Are you the throne? ” it’s not.I think it’s essentially Obstacle of power. It was good energy to have.
Among the members of the royal family, Daemon’s closest ties, other than his younger brother, is to his niece Laenira.
They’re really the only two in the entire kingdom that Daemon makes concessions to. When it comes to those two, I think he really swings his sword for them. and he likes her
But the interests of the two potential heirs to the throne are at odds. What is her charm that resonates with his heart?
There are family ties in which he is very invested. It’s really, really important to him. And maybe he feels some kind of kinship with her, maybe he’s estranged from her brother, is there an element of rebellion or… I don’t know. Good question. That’s not what I really thought. It always feels like a very instinctive trust and bond between the two.
Talking about Daemon’s relationship with Viserys and Rhaenyra reminded me that this might be a show about dragons and the Iron Throne, but it’s also about family.
Exactly so. At its core, like so many other great series that came before it, it’s a family drama. If you can capture that aspect well, I think you have a chance.