Princewill Pius
Look, we’re not blaming anyone for losing it when they come face to face with Arya Stark or Jaime Lannister. But when we asked Game of Thrones stars for their funniest, weirdest fan encounters, we were very impressed. Asking for an autograph in the shower—while buck naked? Naming a baby after one of the Seven Kingdoms’ fictional fighters? That takes courage worthy of the Unsullied. But take note—GoT actors won’t always grant the more bizarre or awkward requests (fair enough).
We asked them to share their most unusual fan encounters, and offer a little advice on how best to make your approach.
“I went to a dermatologist not so long ago, because my wife wanted me to have someone look at something on my back. It turned out to be fine, by the way. It’s just always good to have those things checked out. But afterwards, my doctor asked me if he could take a picture, and it was just so awkward. The worst thing is, instead of saying, “That’s really awkward, can we not do that?” I just… [sighs] I just said, “Oh sure, fine.” Yeah. Usually, I’m better. Usually I’d say, “Thank you, but next time?” I am thankful for them watching, and being appreciative. I don’t want to say no. But sometimes, I’m thinking, “We were cool just now. Why do you need to take a picture?” When you catch me alone, I’m all yours. If I can. But if I’m busy, I’m sorry.”
“I met somebody who was dressed up as Meera Reed. And I once met someone who named their baby after me. That was a few years ago. She gave it at a double name, like Ellie-May, or something like that. That was quite a big moment when she told me that. It was very sweet.”
“Most fans are really, really nice, and most of them just want a picture of you stabbing them or something, but I met a guy last year in my gym who said he was getting married, and could I do a tape for him, wishing him and his bride well? And then, when I was filming, could I get all the rest of the cast to wish him and his bride-to-be well? And I said, ‘Do you know what that entails? I’d have to run around to all of the sets, to all of the hotels, to get all the cast members?’ I mostly only see them at premieres!”
“Apart from asking for an autograph in the shower? The amount of people that follow us when we’re shooting is mind-boggling. I was in Denmark, a few years ago—I was in the gym, I was in the showers—and at first, I was so shocked: ‘What are you doing here?’ And they were like, ‘What are you doing here?’ And this guy was as naked as I was, and he asked, ‘Can I have a picture?’ Ummm…no! No! Don’t go up to strangers when you’re naked. Just let them be. Just wait a few minutes so the underwear at least can go back on, before you ask.”
“In America, in an airport, a woman came up and asked me to call her Khaleesi. That was a quirky one. They don’t usually ask me to say Khaleesi, they usually want selfies, but she was very sweet, she was very charming, and she asked, and she seemed very happy afterward.”
“I’ve had about four people come up to me with the Seven-Pointed Star on their forehead, like Lancel Lannister. I know! It’s very funny. One of them, who was with a makeup artist at a Comic-Con in Blackpool, in the north of England, said, “Listen, we want to paint the Seven-Pointed Star on your forehead.” At the time, there was a line of people waiting, but I said, ‘All right! Why not?’ So they painted the star on my forehead with fake blood, really effective fake blood, whilst I shook hands with other people as they came up to me, and that just carried on for 20 minutes.”
