On the pages of George R.R. Martin’s “Song of Ice and Fire” books, Samwell Tarly is on a journey.
That’s not a spoiler, because Sam is also on a journey on HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” but actor John Bradley only knows how far his character has made it in each TV script, rather than his eventual [in-progress] literary destination. Or at least that’s what Bradley says.
On the red carpet for HBO’s recent Hollywood “Game of Thrones” premiere, Bradley told me that while he’s ready Martin’s books, he’s skipped any future chapter either from Sam’s POV or potentially featuring Sam. I’m not sure how realistic that sounds, but I like Bradley’s explanation for the actorly reasons behind it.
For now, Samwell finds himself Beyond the Wall with many members of the Night’s Watch, albeit separated from his buddy Jon Snow. Initially a bumbling object of ridicule, Sam is becoming a tiny bit more capable, but don’t expect him to become too capable too quickly.
“I think when playing Sam, it’s always good to have a little bit discomfort in the back of your mind,” Bradley says. “He doesn’t fit into his skin very well, despite the fact that there’s a lot of skin to fit into.”
Check out the full interview above. And you should also check out my red carpet interviews with Martin, Rose Leslie, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Oona Chaplin.and Natalia Tena. And stay tuned for a couple more interviews in the days to come.
“Game of Thrones” returns to HBO on Sunday, March 31.