At this point we are drowning in promotional interviews and other pieces for Game of Thrones season seven, but here at Watchers on the Wall we aim to find the proverbial message in a bottle adrift in this ocean of noise. Today, Gemma Whelan discusses how it feels to become a main character, revealing that was always the plan; and Aidan Gillen offers his controversial opinion on who should sit on the Iron Throne.
Back when Whelan was cast in Game of Thrones, she mostly acted as a comedian, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing the role of Yara Greyjoy, which was reportedly sought after by 70 other actresses. Now, six years later, Independent reports on Whelan’s thoughts on becoming a larger part of the show:
“I don’t mind playing a little part in a big series,” Whelan humbly confessed to the Independent, “but to become a main character is great.”
Indeed, Yara began this rise to prominence last season, when her father was killed and she made her bid for the Salt Throne. Though the ironborn chose her mad uncle Euron instead, Yara wasn’t dejected: with Theon at her side, the should-have-been-queen stole most of the Iron Fleet and made an alliance with Daenerys Targaryen halfway around the world. That is quite a robust season arc for a character who previously had only played a supporting role in Theon’s story. Nevertheless, this didn’t come as a total surprise to the actress, as it appeared to have been the plan all along:
“When the casting breakdown was given out, before I even auditioned, it said I have a much greater role in later seasons,” Whelan revealed, before qualifying: “Of course, you never believe what you read, and things change, but everything I was told would happen has happened.” Not that any of it goes to her head: “To even be thought capable to be holding such a storyline was a real honour.”
If you wish to read about her other jobs, involvement in politics, and the transgressions Game of Thrones led her to as a vegetarian, read the entire interview here.
Aidan Gillen, meanwhile, was interviewed by the Serbian newspaper Blic, where the Irish actor discussed the role Littlefinger will play this season. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t involve engaging in peace and building bridges of trust between different peoples.
“My character continues to build his relationship with Sansa Stark,” Gillen began telling Blic, before teasing: “This relationship evolves after this season into something new and something that the viewers have not seen before.”
Whatever new form the relationship between Sansa and Littlefinger takes in season seven, it’s probably nohing good, as the Machiavellian Lord Baelish is always up to something reprehensible. However, Gillen can’t help but to love his character:
“I look at [liking him] as a part of my work, that the audience will love the character I play no matter how good or bad he is,” the actor explained. “I recently made a list of all the wrongdoings he did in the series to see if he’s good or bad, because he is perceived as a bad guy by the audience. It’s fun to lead the audience into liking Littlefinger in spite of all the bad things he did. Then they feel confused. Frankly, I love him.”
I can believe that, especially as he appears to share in Littlefinger’s love for chaos, if his first choice for ruler of the Seven Kingdoms is anything to go by:
“I’ve always been a fan of Cersei, and she’s already there because of her determination,” Aidan admitted, though then he offered a perhaps more sensible (if also more selfish) alternative: “If I can, I would also add Arya, Sansa and myself.”
If that’s not enough for you, don’t worry, because later today we’ll bring you the highlights of Maisie Williams’ latest interview in Time and more!
Thank you to Filip for bringing the Blic piece to our attention and translating it.
I can’t help but laugh, Luka… I just can’t seem to escape these Sansa images!! 😛
Looking forward to Maisie’s Time interview. Will WOTW post the new article where Maisie is interviewing Lena?
I read Aidan’s interview in Littlefinger’s many accents lol
Clob,
At this point he is trolling you 😛
Go Yara!!!!! 😊
I love Aidan. Interesting about ‘after’ this season.
Flayed Potatoes,
They have to include the Maisie/Lena article. That was brilliant!
I thought Aidan would name Sansa for the Iron Throne lol.
It’s great to hear that Gemma Whelan will continue to be a main character in season 7. She was one of the biggest badasses of season 6.
Pigeon,
Maybe he meant after season 6?
A chicken-eating vegetarian! I recall this darling pic of Gemma in her garden in overalls and a hat, I think, so she must be one of those rare vegetarians who loves vegetables.
This IS a curious statement. He says that he continues to “build” the relationship which to me implies that they get closer. That would be nothing but bad news for Sansa. Something that we haven’t seen before could be Sansa treating herself as his equal, or justifiably, his better. In her position and situation she should feel a bit more safe to continue to tell him her mind. On the other hand, he may have to take whatever she says while thinking to himself that he’s still manipulating her. I just hope that most of Sansa’s scenes don’t include Littlefinger.
Yara is quite different to how I imagined Asha but Gemma’s work deserves more screentime, love her interactions with Theon.
By far the worst promotional campaign I’ve ever seen and i work in television.
Jack Bauer 24,
I didn’t know you worked in television. What kind of function do you have?
Jack Bauer 24,
I agree… let’s write letters to HBO asking them to cancel the show! This is unforgivable!
I do television reviews.
Seven Hells! MORE Aidan Gillen coverage? I can’t take any more.
Can’t someone interview Quigley? Or Ben Hawkey?
Jack Bauer 24,
Are you saying Maisie has disappeared along with the red carpet and the episode titles?
Clob,
“Something new and something the viewers haven’t seen before.”
WightLittlefinger confirmed!
We will finally see Littlefinger get duped by someone else. That someone will be Sansa leading him on to think she believes all of his shit stirrings, when in reality she is playing him, getting him to reveal just how garbage he is. The player is about to get played.
Maise is filming the X-Men spinoff “The New Mutants” in Boston so you won’t see her doing much publicity for this season.
Half of the cast has disappeared it seems. Emilia has not been present as much as she has in past off seasons either
A.G.: “It’s fun to lead the audience into liking Littlefinger in spite of all the bad things he did. Then they feel confused.”
Huh???
One of my friends favorite character is Baelish. Don’t act like nobody likes him.
Ten Bears,
These people have lives, summer vacations, and other jobs. Emilia is filming Han Solo movie which is very secretive.
Holy #$%^&* man. Their lives don’t revolve around GOT! LOL
MY BOO <3
http://ew.com/tv/2017/07/06/game-of-thrones-kit-harington-sansa/
Clob, start running
Oh no please tell me its not what I think it is!
Loving him? He’s obviously not been around these parts…..(tho do love how Aiden plays him Chaos just follows him like a puppy dog)
Greywind,
Yup. There’s an Instagram photo of Maisie in Boston on July 3 with one of her New Mutants castmates. That is where she is. And after filming in Boston, they’ll head to Montreal.
A Girl cannot be in two places at the same time.
Better that she’s busy filming movies than sitting around idly, answering the same inane question every day: “Who do you think should sit/sit on the Iron Throne?”
Dee Stark,
Dee: I was being facetious!
Dee Stark,
Oh Dee, you’ve just stirred up a hornet’s nest! 😀
Ten Bears,
I know you were, I was adding to your response to others LOL
A Dornish Tyrell,
HAHAHA I KNOW!!!!!
I love it… same comments, same people, hahaha
Kit is the one stirring the pot here… come on dude…don’t say that shit.. some people may have a heart attack.
Oh look… another photo of Sansa sitting at the table. I can’t help but think that she’s only going to be in three locations this season; table, courtyard upper/lower and the godswood.
I’m sure I’m going to be frustrated with Sansa’s struggle for power. I say that because I figure Jon will be focused on the most important matter at hand while she’ll be worried more about whom is sitting in what chair, their own House and the Houses they rule/govern.
Dee Stark,
Ok I’ll bite 🙂 . The difference between Kit’s interview and the others that shall not be named is that he acknowledges that there are problems on both sides. It isn’t all about how great Jon is and how Sansa falls short.
Clob can take over now..
Clob,
hahaha <3
Its very obvious that that's the struggle between them. Im intrigued that he says you feel the tension from the very first scene. I also wonder how much of this is a "Jon is dead" type of promo.
ghost of winterfell,
Hahaha I know, but she who must not be named is biased towards her character. Who cares lol
90% of the fans don’t even read these interviews
To Sansa: Jon is my Jon and I love him. Nobody touch him!!!!!!! Hahaha
Dee Stark,
“I’ve gotten to enjoy not just grunting”
Lol!
Dee Stark,
I love how meta it gets: the same people repeating the same complaints over and over about how repetitive actors are in their interviews.
ghost of winterfell,
hahaha amazing.
ghost of winterfell,
No, no, I’m controlling myself for the most part… other than commenting on the overabundance of very similar Sansa photos in lieu of some that are new and exciting. 🙂 Remember, I don’t necessarily hate/dislike the character…. and I’ve written enough about the other. The character did piss me off a few times last season though……..
Juri,
I know. Curious to see how that discussion goes. Hahaha
I just got excited cause its Kit!! Interesting to see it from his perspective also.
Clob,
“Struggle for power”? Last I saw, everybody had their swords raised for Jon Snow, the White Wolf, the King in the North. All I heard was “He’s my king, from this day, until his last day”, and “I will stand behind Jon Snow, the King in the North.”
There was no power-sharing debate.
Did I miss a scene? Did the Northern Lords think they were going to be an autonomous collective? I didn’t hear anyone propose that the North become
an anarcho-syndacalist commune, with lords and ladies like Sansa taking turns to act as sort of an executive officer of the week, but all of the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting, by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs, but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more…
King Jon: “Be quiet!”
LOL A carnivore myself, I count myself extremely lucky that all of my vegetarian friends are excellent cooks and don’t do the boring macrobiotic plain brown rice thing. Their dishes are always varied and yummy, and usually spicy. I love spicy food! 😉
ghost of winterfell,
Did you read Kit’s EW interview? I hope he’s right about about Jon talking more and being more assertive/sure of what he’s saying and doing
leaks
Maisie actually disappeared in a puff of smoke before they managed to film all of her scenes for S7 which explains why there hasn’t been much info about her arc during the season. Because of this the season as a whole will be delayed because they are trying to CGI her into scenes. They still try to make it in time, thus they are not talking about it, but the lack of titles and red carpet are clear indicators of the upcoming announcement of delay.
Ten Bears,
That’s what will make it frustrating. If Sophie’s words have any truth then it will be a thing…
Ancient astronaut theorists say yes!
Ten Bears,
There’s some lovely filth over here!!!
These Sophie interviews are mesmerizing. Hope we get another tomorrow
Jack Bauer 24,
Good to know you can be funny, besides being obsessive!
A lovely interview with Gemma. Congratulations to her on her upcoming projects – and her baby!!
Clob,
Oh god I still remember Carl Sagan’s awesome take down of Von Daniken. Good times
Juri:
I love the perfection of this comment.
Masspsychosis:
Dude, you’re misinformed. Maisie is filming Bancroft right now. She’s incognita, though, because she’s wearing Faye Marsay’s face.
Maisie and Sophie started their promo campaign last year. I remember them being the only one of main cast we were hearing from. Maisie is busy now but not completely off grid- see interview with Lena, who is also beginning to do promo.
I really don’t get the complaints about who is doing interviews.
On another note, Gemma is a absolute sunshine.
Liam with the HYPE
https://twitter.com/liamcunningham1/status/883033471391850497
I always liked Yara and Gemma’s portrayal of her in earlier seasons, but I LOVED her in Season 6. The character really did take a major step forward in terms of prominence, and Gemma handled that elevation beautifully. Her scenes with Theon in the Volantene brothel, where she shows him her love and finally helps helps lift him at least part of the way out of the darkness was a particular highlight, and her meeting with Daenerys was wickedly fun as well. I definitely remember nominating her for Best Supporting Actress at the WOTW Awards for Season 6 – I may have even voted for her in the final round. I’m happy that she’ll continue to be a larger player in the show going forward.
When Gemma says that she’s become a main character, it does prompt me to wonder if she’s joined the roster of the “main cast” that gets their names in the opening credits. To be fair, having one’s name in the opening credits is not a binding indicator for increased screentime or the character’s significance to the story, but it’s a nice feather in the cap for the actors involved. Last year, there was only one new actor added to the opening credits (Jonathan Pryce), but the cast was culled a bit last year (Michael McElhatton, Iwan Rheon, Dean-Charles Chapman, Nathalie Dormer, and Pryce departed, with Michiel Huisman and Tom Wlaschiha questionable to return). So there’s room for a few more.
I can imagine actors such as Pilou Asbaek, Jacob Anderson, Anton Lesser, Daniel Portman, and of course, Gemma Whelan as candidates to have their names added to the opening credits for Season 7. Not all of them will, of course, but a few of them might. There could be a surprise or two as well.
Flayed Potatoes,
Yeah I did read the interview. I think it was evident from the trailers as well that Jon will be more talkative/assertive in the coming season
.
I also remember him saying that there will be this seismic shift in Jon, in an earlier interview.
Leaks:
Yara has been strong and so consistent since her first episode… Seeing Yara and Balon Greyjoy at the Iron Islands and how how they talked and acted was done 100 times better than Dorne.
I hope season 7 has a lot more scenes with Littlefinger compared to season 6. Littlefinger was barely in season 6. The chemistry and dialog between Littlefinger and Sansa Stark is great . Sansa has better chemistry with Littlefinger compared to Jon Snow.
I hope Sansa can figure Littlefinger out and then use Littlefinger as she wishes… Which is what I wish Sansa would have done with Ramsey. Myranda (the castle kennelmaster’s daughter) knew what to say and how to act around Ramsey but Myranda didn’t have the name.
Who the heck likes Littlefinger? I want to know so I can avoid these people.
VoldeMord,
I could actually see Arya, using Faceless Men skills, figuring something major out and either taking action to save her sister from some scheming by LF. I do not think Sansa is going to out-finger the Littlefinger.. if anything his affection for her is being played up i think. He wants only one thing; the throne!
Are you sure? I’ve heard that speculation before but I’m not sure if there’s enough evidence to support that. I’ve also heard some rumors that Maisie and Faye are actually the same person. Kind of like that Fight Club situation or whatever…
VoldeMord,
I could actually see Arya, using Faceless Men skills, figuring something major out and either taking action to save her sister from some scheming by LF. I do not think Sansa is going to out-finger the Littlefinger.. if anything his affection for her is being played up i think. He wants only one thing; the throne!
Clob,
“I figure Jon will be focused on the most important matter at hand while she’ll be worried more about whom is sitting in what chair”
I think that is pretty much Jons story in a nutshell, he is trying to do the right thing and focus on the threat while everyone else is too worried about power. Its definitely an allegory for mankind
Emilia is filming a Star Wars movie, every intewrview she went to thats what she would get asked about and Lucasfilm will murder her if she says anything, best to hide away
I have to wonder if part of it wasn’t because the actors didn’t really know how they were suppose to talk. The Iron Islanders don’t need to speak any differently, but those in Dorne with Rhoynish heritage… Well, were they directed to try a specific accent? I recall Pedro talking about his accent in an interview and I believe he said he came up with it on his own.
I’m starting to think Sansa will (willingly) have sex with Littlefinger this season.
It’ll be one of the “big shockers”.
(I pray that I’m wrong).
Vincent Stark,
What makes you think that?
I’d like to see Arya and Sansa teaming up to take out LF ( Sansa using subterfuge and Arya’s more “direct” method), a nice way for the sisters to reconcile over his corpse 🙂
I love Gemma but neither she or the other names you list will have their names in the opening credits nor should they. Look at the official promo trailers, posters, and videos.
When I mentioned that it sounds like they could get ‘closer’ during this season, for a while at least, that isn’t quite what I had in mind. I can’t see Sansa having those sort of feelings or urges for him in truth nor do I think she’d take it quite that far in some kind of a manipulation tactic. I could see her using sexuality to get something she wants though, just not the full act…
Ser Not Appearing in this Series,
LF said early on (during one of his “sexposition” speeches) that his objective is to f*ck the Starks. He didn’t “love” Cat, as evidenced by his lies to induce the sham hostage exchange and conspiring with Tywin to wipe out the Starks. He doesn’t “love” Sansa either: he framed her for a murder he committed, and sold her off like one of his whores, and uses her like a pawn.
If he can use Sansa to accumulate more power, thaf’s icing on the cake for him. She’s no different from Lysa or Robyn though: if she outlives her usefulness, he won’t hesitate to drop-kick her through the Moon Door or betray her somehow.
At least Joffrey and Ramsay didn’t pretend they weren’t evil…
Singedbylife,
I think you’re probably right – the question just rose to my mind because of the wording that Gemma used. But as I said, it has little bearing on the character’s relative importance – it’s purely a contractual thing for the actors to secure their availability (or if their agent has the necessary clout). Narratively, the main focus will be on the major players that the trailers have focused on, as it should be at this stage of the story.
Clob,
I still go back to her secret Raven-Gram asking for his help after initially refusing it. Someone enlarged a screencap, and her note said something like “You will be rewarded.” I wonder what he’d expect, beyond a pat on the back and a lemon cake.
That’s a good point but I was referring to more of the iron Island point of view/culture … examples… the way they baptize in water and literally kill the person and they hopefully come back to life… their slogan “What is dead may never die”. Yara pointed out that they scourge and pillage the coast and don’t go inland and they should stay that way. It would great to see Yara Greyjoy be the first of her name of the Iron Islands!
Jack Bauer 24,
Absolutely love Liam’s enthusiasm, he loves GOT so much
Jared,
Agreed. But I’m more inclined to believe your reasoning that Whelan and Anderson might well have joined the starring cast this season. Portman and Lesser less so. Asbaek is the most likely to join the main cast, though, given the fact that he’ll likely appear in at least five episodes and might be a major player in S8 as well. Let’s wait and see!
I’m so very excited about that spinoff!
Gemma always came across as a ‘brain’ on the show and someone with a natural acting craft.
Now I wonder if she will do the Red Carpet this year, as far as I know , she never has.
Was hoping for SDCC , maybe next year?
I say next year because Gemma seemed to let slip , when she was on the Graham Norton Show that she was in season 8.
Me, too! I’ve been doing lots of meatless chilis this year in the Instant Pot, and Whole Foods had the cutest tiny habaneros. I may have added a wee too much, but it was still delicious. Spices make everything better. #breathinglikeadragon
Boojam,
The article mentions that’s she’s very pregnant, so depending on when it was done she might not be able to fly or isn’t interested in SDCC or a red carpet because she’s got a newborn at home. 🙂
Masspsychosis,
LMAO!!!
S7 can’t begin soon enough. 😉
Love Gemma Whalen! At first, I really hated her casting–Asha with BLONDE HAIR??–but she’s done a fantastic job in the role. One of my favorite scenes of the entire series is the one in the brothel with Theon. Spectacular! I hope that she has some equally meaty (no pun intended) stuff in the coming season.
Ten Bears,
Hmm is he insinuating that Littlefinger might become a sympathetic figure this season?
Dee Stark,
so much denial in the fandom over this lol, starting right after E10 with “the look” and then the show runners promising tension, and people are still doubting. Sansa will most likely be one of the selfish individuals referred to previously in an interview. Why would the writers and actors hype up tension only to have it fizzle out and be all family bonding at the fireside? I don’t see what would be the payoff behind that.
Ashara D,
I just re-watched the entire show with Saner Half (his very first viewing), and he loved that scene. It has both pathos and comedy, seamlessly blended: He was deeply touched by Yara’s exhortations to Theon, and 30 seconds later he was laughing heartily when she declared, “And now I’m going to go f**k the tits off of that one.”
Gemma’s a gem. 🙂
Why do lemon cakes keep being referenced? I’m thinking it must have someting to do with Hot pie but it seems mostly in relation to Sansa.
Ten Bears,
Ashara D,
I wish they didn’t have to make that scene so bloomin’ awkward because I didn’t get the full conversation there what with having to fast forward due to other people in the room.
Ashara D,
Yeah D&D re-imagined Asha as a character more resembling a tough sea salt sailor like her father and I think they changed the name to placate GRRM, as in the story that George objected (not strongly) to the change from Jeyne Westerling to Talisa Maegyr. Supposedly GRRM was ok with that. You can find it on the WEB , GRRM relates a long story about changing Westerling’s thread from the book to TV. There is no story anywhere , that I can find, of why Asha was changed to Yara. Benioff hinted that is because of Osha/Asha confusion, but never really DEFINITIVELY said. Always thought the idea of a confusion of names like that was silly.
GRRM may have commented on the Yara name, but I have not found it.
My perfect scenario would be (at the end of S6/beginning of S7) Sansa agrees to marry Littlefinger to gain power and become the ruler of the North because she feels like the throne should belong to a trueborn child of Ned, not to a bastard. Thus Sansa becomes a villain. Eventually she finds out that LF did some bad things to Ned and Bran (if we say that he sent the killer in S1, which I am sure he did) and gets rid of him and reunites with Jon and become a heroine again. Thus Sansa would actually do something while in reality it seems that she will forever be a pawn while all the moves are made by people around her. Sadly it seems that the show wouldn’t let Sansa do anything like that, especially after S6 where she had tons of chances to assume power and she didn’t. 🙁
Lemon cakes are present especially in the books, it is Sansa’s favorite sweets and in a Sansa chapter from the upcoming book LF even buys a lot of lemons just to make a big lemon cake for her because he knows that she loves it.
A Dornish Tyrell,
Could be her way of making him think that shes with him 100%
Also, happy to see you around, A Dornish Tyrell 🙂
Zantira,
Well that’s nice of LF 🙂 How well does this TV character match the book? Any differences of note?
Ginevra,
MEE TOOOOO
Not just for what it is, also so excited to see Emilia in it!
ygritte,
Agreeee!
Calling it now Yara is going to die in S7 – not a spoiler just a hunch.