4. Joel Fry Hizdahr Zo Loraq
It's a strange one, this. Joel Fry isn't the most famous actor in the world, yet he's landed a role as one of the top movers-and-shakers on the other side of the Narrow Sea, Hizdahr zo Loraq. Loraq is a Ghiscari noble of the city of Meereen, the largest and yet unconquered city in Slavers Bay, where Danerys' emancipation tour will end up next. Now, without giving away any spoilers, Meereen's status as the biggest city the young Targaryen queen has set her sights upon means it's harder to subdue than Astapor and Yunkai, so she needs the support of the nobles to keep otherwise unruly populace in check. With that in mind, enter Hizdahr zo Loraq. Loraq is considered to be a formidable political animal with plenty of influence in the city. As such, he can be of multiple impressions all at the same time to some he's considered too meek by half, but he's also got an astute head for business and is well-versed in behind-the-scenes skullduggery. Therefore, to Fry falls the not-inconsiderable task of embodying multiple personas all at once. Yet though Fry is relatively unknown his most prominent recent role was in Sky One's supermarket-set comedy Trollied, and he had a supporting role in Roland Emmerich's 10,000 BC misfire he's certainly not un-capable. He's RADA-trained (basically the stamp of British acting quality), and as appears to be the custom for anyone who wants a Thrones political part, has serious stage experience. So really, he should be comfortable playing all the naunces of this deceptive character. Plus, Thrones has a history of casting relatively unknown actors to great effect, and in there lies a strength Fry doesn't have the cachet of a Charles Dance, Lena Headey or Peter Dinklage, so he can't just stroll into a part. This means the showrunners saw something in Fry which encouraged them to take a gamble, and it's for that reason you can colour me excited.