George why kill so many favourite characters? George Martin: "I've many characters so killing
a few leads to create more characters, offers job opportunities to actors and actresses. In my defense Dan and David have killed many
characters who are still alive in the books. I only take some of the blame"
The Red Wedding episode saying goodbye to Richard and Michelle David Benioff: "When we wrapped The Red Wedding
I remember hugging Michelle and Richard, they're playing fictional characters but it's the
last time we'll work with them. We work in Belfast we have a tough crew, and
they were crying! Their performances they gave -- we knew it
was all coming -- and they had them in tears. So thank you! Richard, I understand you were crying on the
flight home? Richard Madden: "Yeah I cried quite a lot
actually. All these people were looking at me, ordering
multiple drinks on the plane. But it was worth a cry. So many years since we started the pilot and
so many amazing friendships -- I've many great friends who I'll now won't be seeing , it's
July and I know I should be doing something -- oh yeah Game of Thrones! I'm missing that a lot"
Michelle did you read the books, read ahead to get in that place with the character? Michelle Fairley : "I knew for how many years
I signed up for so knew what was coming! And the writers don't always stick to the
books so you read the book -- which is a great sort of reference to have but your script
is your bible and that's what you work with. Do you encourage them to read the books? David: "It depends, some of the actors want
to read ahead and some prefer to be surprised and not know where they're going. There's a fear that knowing where your characters
goes -- four scenes from that you're going to play that ahead of time. So we completely leave that to them. Peter does it work for you to get ahead or
stick? Peter Dinklage: "In 4 or 5 years when all
of this is over, I think I'm gonna go back and read all the books and have a fresh perspective
on it. But no I don't want to know what's coming,
I want to know what has happened -- so I stay away from reading too far into the future. It helps me to not know"
- You're becoming a dragon! "Then I will breathe fire in every scene,
I can do that!" Rose, you give Kit a fond goodbye in the last
scenes of the episode. How did you play those emotions? Rose Leslie: "YES and he deserved it! He ran away. Kit Harington: "It's one of those scenes that
you read through and immediately rang Rose. I read that scene and it's beautifully written. Dan and David are really good at writing dialogue
and it's very easy for me to deliver those lines. I had a lot of fun filming -- some of the
most brutal scenes are often the most fun to film." Rose: "It was fun! Was just wrapped up with the fact that she's
devastated that Jon left her -- had several conversations with Kit about these two characters
who are madly in love with each other. Ygritte was convinced Jon would become part
of the tribe and form a team together. "It's that devastation that he has betrayed
her -- it's horrible in episode 9 when he leaves on a horse, and it hits her there and
then -- He's not gonna get away with this! I'm going to hunt him down and hurt him ! "
Emilia congrats on the Emmy nomination! Emilia Clarke: "I was hoping the night before,
the show would get some sort of recognition, but never in a million years did I think I'd
be nominated. My alarm went of really early at 6.00 am , while
wanted to throw something at it saw got a message from HBO telling the news. It took three phone calls to realize I was
nominated as well, it didn't register." You really own the last scene of the Season. Emilia: "It's been a phenomenal season to
film, to get on the journey -- you think she's peaking at episode 5 getting her army. The final episode was absolutely exhilarating
to film" Congrats on being nominated for the Red Wedding
episode. Dan Weiss: "I remember back in 2006 -- if
we could get to that place, that scene and do it justice and then throw the book across
that moment -- if people were going to throw their remote controls like I did my book -- then
we would have done something right. It was exciting and terrifying, it's such
a difficult scene to pull off. The director of the episode is such a genius
and so much of the success of the ep is down to him and of course to the people sitting
on my left on this panel." David: "Four years ago if we could get to
the Red Wedding, I'll die happy. The look of Michelle's face just before and
that howl of rage and grief -- she had to do the howl 20 times, just such a terrific
performance. They were both phenomenal. We had been waiting for that scene for so
long and then having it turn out better than imagined -- because of these actors -- was
just very emotional! Michelle how did you find the emotion to play
this? Michelle: "It's a very gradual, you have to
work your way through it -- you want to discover as you go along. Because I had Richard, by my side constantly
who I adore and trust , I had a great script and someone played the music -- it immediately
gave you a chill -- you realize something is very wrong. Sam is becoming more heroic? John Bradley: "Yes he is , though Sam has
always been a hero. One branch is bravery -- stick up for yourself
but it's braver sometimes to be the underdog. Sam is like an academic, he absorbs information
and has a great curiosity in how things work. The moment where he became a hero -- was a
moment of pure gut instinct. He just happens to find this weapon -- the
answer to what people were searching for years and years. When Sam is placed under enormous pressure
-- feels weight of responsibility -- he's a bit of a dude!" "Talked about this with Kit, Sam had been
saved by Jon Snow - his spirit has been saved. Sam wants to be a saviour as well, he knows
that it can inspire people." Kit: "Jon is always in search of strong paternal
figures -- and they want to nurture him and form him -- in the upcoming season he'll get
sick of that and becomes a bit of a bastard! Rose, the most fragile moment for your character
is when you stick up for Jon Rose: "The love she has for him dominates
everything. He changes her values. David and Dan write so beautifully and intelligently
that it is an utter privilege and joy to be an actor on this show. Charles Dance, talk about father figures? Peter: "Every time we have one of those scenes,
Charles comes to me and gives me a nice shoulder rub after each take- to make sure we still
love one another as fellow thespians. They're beautifully written scenes, I find
these scenes so fascinating because he gets so frustrated with Thyrion, because his three
children they are three different parts of a whole and are not the right person -- they
each lack what the other have. "
"Tyrion is self destructing and he gets away with it too , he has this freedom in terms
of threatening Joffrey a bit because he knows his father -- is the true ruler -- feels the
same way about Joffrey as I do". I'm lucky to be working with some very good
actors." How do the characters deal with situations
(fear)? Emilia: "Coming from Season 2 her confidence
in herself and others was rock bottom. In Season 3 coming up the scene, she took
a plunge -- didn't discuss anything -- it was a risk she was taking. All the trust she put into her dragons. She's testing herself, if that doesn't work
-- than that's game over! And if it does work then it's -- Game On! She does builds from that and listens to herself
more, takes less advice. To think where she comes from, from the beginning
in Season 1 to that moment." Richard: "It's just about playing the character
as realistic and honest as we can. We commit to the decisions by the writers,
your character goes completely in a different way, changes path and that's exciting -- you
never know what's coming next. As an actor you commit to a decision and throughout
the show you get slammed into a curveball and
that what keeps us honest. Rob Stark is doing the same thing, he's committing
to the moment and there's nothing which suggests
that it wouldn't work out. He's done everything that he possibly can
- thinking going to battle, invade King's landing, chop off Joffrey's head...it's going
to be a big party at end of Season 3. But that's not what happens... Fan Questions
What's it like working on those beautiful sets and with the writing team? Peter: "It's amazing , I get to be on T-shirts!" We get the chance to travel to all those beautiful
places like Dubrovnik , we work our asses off when we're there but my job allows be
to go to the most beautiful places in the world so it's incredible." Any plans for a prequel series? George: "I might write more stories of Westeros,
but don't think a prequel -- that material is being revealed by flashbacks ... So by
the end of the series you'll know every twist , the mysteries will be solved. No offense to Sean bean , he's
a wonderful actor but he dies so well. "
On many shows the female characters are portrayed as weak -- what's it like to play such a powerful character? Emilia: "One of the
most glorious experiences as an actor is to play Dani, would never have dreamed to
ever play such a strong woman. Reading the scripts and
follow her journey is a
phenomenal experience. And as a young girl -- it sort of empowers me as a woman. So getting to play that is incredible. So the possibility that I've helped other women
feel empowered is just the most wonderful feeling I could possibly
imagine. I'm incredibly grateful really!
