10 Interesting Facts About The Making Of Game Of Thrones
2. Stephen Dillane Didn’t Understand The Plot
Game of Thrones has many plot threads and character arcs. The story takes the audience to various places, stretching from the wintery lands in the north to the warm glow of King’s Landing and the desert temperatures of the Dothraki Sea.
It’s an ambitious narrative that’s hard to follow if you’re not paying attention, and – most unfortunately – actor Stephen Dillane didn’t have a clue what was going on. Though Stannis Baratheon is a pretty integral part of the plot, Dillane said he had to ask his co-stars (particularly Liam Cunningham, who plays Davos Seaworth) what was happening during his scenes.
Indeed, Dillane has even said his performance lacked conviction, and he assumed the audience would struggle to buy into his character as a result of this.
Whilst Stannis is a hard character to like, Dillane’s analysis of his own performance is rather harsh. His portrayal of Robert Baratheon’s surly brother is perfectly fine, and there's no indication whatsoever that the actor was struggling with his role behind the scenes.