Game Of Thrones: 10 Criminally Overlooked Performances

4. Michael McElhatton As Roose Bolton

No-one really remembered this guy until he stabbed Robb Stark through the heart. His betrayal was one of the things that snuck up on the viewer, even more so than the various hints to the actual events of the Red Wedding (which the show had really been building to since "Baelor" in season one). If you need convincing as to McElhatton's brilliance, look no further than a scene he shares with David Bradley in "Mhysa" €“ he is strangely detached, even while his scene partner gleefully gloats about the success of The Red Wedding. Michael McElhatton's performance as Roose Bolton is a standout amongst the various sociopaths and outright psychopaths of Westeros simply because of his subtlety. There are subtle hints at sadism starting from his appearance in season two (his banner is a flayed man, after all), but McElhatton is mostly standoffish and chillingly silent when he doesn't need to say anything €“ and his piercing stare could get an Emmy of its own for how effective it is in conveying the disdain this arrogant yet subdued sociopath has for his fellow man. Why is this Performance Overlooked? This performance is mostly overlooked by fans and critics because it's too subtle and effective. As Roose should, he almost blends into the background with the rest of the Stark army in season two, aside from his in retrospect rather telling suggestions to torture prisoners for Robb.