A star from the HBO smash hit Game of Thrones has shared he felt compelled to “apologise after every scene” to his fellow actors.
Charles Dance, who is cherished by fans for his portrayal in the fantasy series, revealed that while filming alongside Kit Harrington and Peter Dinklage, he found himself constantly saying sorry to his co-stars.
The veteran actor, known for roles in movies such as Me Before You, Last Action Hero, and Scoop, expressed that he needed to reassure his fellow actors that he did not share his character’s mean sentiments.
Dance took on the role of Tywin Lannister across 27 episodes, spanning the first five seasons of Game of Thrones. His portrayal made him a favourite among viewers, despite his character’s nefarious actions being a stark contrast to Dance’s real-life demeanour.
He specifically mentioned how he would “apologize” to co-star Dinklage, who played Tyrion Lannister throughout all eight seasons.
Dance commented: “I spend a lot of time with Peter Dinklage and he’s the most adorable man. After all those scenes, I apologise to him every time. I have to treat him like s***. You’ve only seen a little snippet of the awfulness in episode one.”
Fans were touched by Dance’s thoughtful remarks – and admired his ability to switch so effortlessly between his on-screen villainy and his genuine nature.
A post on the r/todayilearned subreddit saw users commending Dance for his commitment to his on-screen persona, while also appreciating his kindness off-camera.
One fan wrote: “Typical that an actor famous for always playing bad guys is actually really nice.” Another enthusiast remarked: “Dance is one of the few actors that would make me consider watching something just by being in it.”
The thread was filled with admiration for Charles Dance and Peter Dinklage, noting their memorable shared screen time during the series.
Meanwhile, theatre buffs pointed out that saying sorry on set for a character’s deeds maintains professionalism and helps to prevent emotions from spilling over.
One drama graduate mentioned: “This is something we learned in theatre college, and it’s a part of running a healthy set. Not even that we need to ‘apologize’ but it can be easy to be overwhelmed by intense emotions especially if you are performing them convincingly.
“It can wear you down. Checking in and reaffirming reality strengthens actor bonds and helps maintain good vibes when abusing each other.”
Fans also sung praises for Dance’s portrayal of Tywin Lannister, with one saying: “Dance as Tywin Lannister was probably the best casting in the entire show. As a person who read the books first: he fit perfectly the picture I had of him in my head.”
Drawing comparisons, Dance’s on-screen villainy was likened to that of Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter.
A comment read: “Same with Jason Isaacs. He always apologized to Daniel Radcliffe because of how terribly his character treated him during scenes during the Harry Potter movies.”
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