Exclusive: Peter Claffey Discusses His New Series, ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
HBO is set to release their latest Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in the next few days. Based off the novella, The Hedge Knight, BeautifulBallad had the opportunity to sit down with star of the series, Peter Claffey.
On what he thought Dunk had to eat during the opening scene: “We filmed a bit of the knight there, but it just didn’t really make the cut. I do know for a fact he was drinking a lot of wine in a wine flask and probably had a mixture of hard salt beef, and then a lot of berries and stuff. We went off meat and fiber with the wine. I already feel like I’m going to shit my pants talking about it.”
On how he feels Dunk compares to the other great knights and warriors from House of the Dragon: “He doesn’t at all. If you would tell Dunk at that time that he will potentially be the head of the King’s Guard and the security guard of the King, he wouldn’t believe what you’re saying. All he wants to do is try and potentially earn some work like Ser Arlan did and live by a decent code. He doesn’t see himself ever coming to that greatness. I think it’s just his moral compass and his goodness and his heart that gets him into these situations. And of course, meeting Egen, shaping him into who he is, elevates him too. But he does become one of the great knights. But I think he touches the top 10. I don’t know how he’d get on against that old Stark. I can’t remember what the Stark’s name from House of the Dragon, but he’s a bit of a badass man. Or even Jaime Lannister. Actually, no, he’d kicked his shit out of Jaime Lannister.”
On leaning into the comedic side of things, specifically between Dunk and Egg: “It was great. I think that could have been one of the strings to my bow for getting cast. I started to sort of generate a small following on social media, writing comedy sketches and stuff. And I got to sort of practice that muscle and I really loved trying to make dark humored comedy and awkward style comedy and stuff like that. I got to really try and invest in trying to become really decent and equipped at that. It probably stood out to me a little bit when coming into this because it’s not a in your face slapstick style comedy. It’s very sort of interwoven and earned. It doesn’t come across as a comedy. It is still a Game of Thrones show. We just lean into those little bit of realistic, humorous situations that can occur in everyday life, hitting your head off a wall, walking down the wrong way, and just trying to make those real. It was really enjoyable to get back into that style of comedy acting while still playing the protagonist of one of my favorite series of all time.”
On the kind of conversations he had with creator and author, George R. R. Martin before production began: “I’m not totally informed book wise, but I do enjoy studying the lore and I was a massive fan of the original series. But George really left us to our own devices. The first time I ever met him was a set visit when we were two or three weeks into shooting. He came on and he just seemed super happy. I didn’t really want to be that person that’s like, ‘And what do we do here? How does he feel here and how does this stuff here?’ I’ve found recently he was quite involved in the casting process. He cares a lot about the story of the hedge knight and I’m sure he wanted to find the right Dunk and the right Egg, as well as everybody else. I’m pretty sure through that taping process, which he must have observed, he was quite happy with how I was approaching things. He was obviously very full of trust in Ira [Parker] and Owen [Harris] and let them make the decisions around the characters that he’s created. I trusted Ira and Owen and then our second block director, Sarah [Adina Smith], so well. We were all quite a tight-knit unit. And the main thing is that for the four of us and for Dexter [Sol Ansell] as well, it’s all about sticking true to the novellas.”
On staying true to the novellas: “I really dislike when novels and literature get corrupted by television and changed in all different shapes and forms. I think when somebody has created something, you have to stay true and respectful to that. I think we’ve done that with this and hopefully if I have any say in it, we’ll do that for sure with the sworn sword. And if we get to do the mystery night, I want them to be the direct representations of the novellas. And I think George is incredibly happy and appreciative of that for sure.
On how his rugby days prepared him for his role: “I suppose there was a little bit of physicality, like tackling and stuff, a small bit. There’s a lot of wrestling style things that occur in rugby in different shapes and forms. They definitely helped with things towards the fight scenes. What I was saying is the fact that the rugby background probably helped with and supported being able to take a hit, fall on the ground. And I’ve also loved fantasies and Lord of the Rings and The Witcher and all these things for so long. I’ve always been in my mind with the sword anyway. It felt like being a kid again with my cousins and just sword fighting and stuff. It helped with the physicality on all aspects.”
On what makes Dunk and Egg such a distinct, unforgettable, double act: “I think the contrasting backgrounds, it’s the building of a relationship without the honesty of where Egg comes from. I think you see the squire that he wants to be and the family that he wants to leave behind, get to live fully, and he’s starting to really enjoy his time with Dunk. And Dunk’s starting to really care for the little kid and enjoy himself. It just shows you that the hierarchies that are in this world and the places that people live, small folk and highborn, it doesn’t allow for these beautiful camaraderie and relationships to occur. I think there’s something really sweet about that in those first three episodes and at the start of the book.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on HBO on January 18.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity
Photo Credit: Steffan Hill/HBO