George confirms Tena as Osha

I think she gives out the right kind of energy, same type of woman, just younger. She is lean, the right body … hotness was not discussed in the book :) A good choice.

Signing off, good night, people.

Off topic, but intriguing reports that Sylvester McCoy (Dr. Who) MAY play Bilbo Baggins? http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/07/16/37538-…

Funny, because for the longest time people thought the current Dr. Who (David Tennant) might be picked.

Spoilers

If Osha and Meera were combined they would have to kill off Rickon or have him travel with Bran and Co.

Either that or have Old Nan be the one who travels with Rickon ;)

How old is Osha in the books, anyway?

Works fine in IE now.

No age given.

At a guess she's meant to be around 30 (plus or minus a few years).

I didn't think it until you brought it up, but yeah, that would have worked so well!

This makes me all that much more excited for the scene where Bran encounters her in the Godswood pool. Does that make me a pig?

I always imagined she was in her 30's but looked like a very hard worn mid to late 40's, just cause her life was so rough.

So… in the books she's a MILF or a GILF?
In the show, she's a WILF (Wilding I'd Like to…. )

Asha is a hatchet face who grew into a severe kind of beauty. I like Tena but she ain’t Asha.

Why are my comments suddenly being moderated? They used to just go on through.

Well put.

Looks like I’m with a lot of you on this. I always thought that she was older, but the fact that she’s been cast younger doesn’t bug me one bit. Natalia Tena looks like she’ll be great.

I think a lot of the negativity over the casting of Jerome Flynn stems from his time as one part of the horror that was Robson and Jerome. Now don't get me wrong, those were dark, dark times, but take heart; at least they didn't cast the other half (Robson Green)- now there's a plonker.
But back to the point, i think Flynn will do just fine, he's got the look down, maybe not so wiry as i would have imagined but anyhoo.

As an aside, i think some of Amok's portraits are pretty good (Asha's sticks in the mind), but some are distinctly average (indistinct faces and poor proportion in particular).

Another reason I think a lot of people are unhappy with Flynn for Bronn is because there were some very heavy fan favorites for that role, such as Dominic West. I'm guessing a lot of people already had a vision of Bronn in their mind based on their favorites and were dissapointed that Flynn isn't very close to that vision. To my knowledge there were no big fan favorites for the role of Osha so Tena doesnt have to overcome a preconceived image. Besides she's hot, so who's gonna complain. :)

Not how I pictured Osha AT ALL, but I'm intrigued at the direction the creators went. I love seeing different views to characters and such. I'm open to this.

So now I have to look at some young hot woman? I think I can live with it.

As for me, I always imagined her young – in her early 20s. Not sure why though, maybe because she hangs around with the younger Starks. Natalia fits quite nicely with my mental picture of Osha. ;)

I wonder if Osha/Asha will warrant a rename for the screen. Not as easy to keep track of without the printed letters. Especially if they may have similar actresses.

Alright, this calls for my own reason for disliking jerome for the part. He's got a face like Hugh Laurie or Jon Lithgow: sort of an elongated forehead Scandinavian look. He looks like a comedian rather than a warrior. If they can get him roughed up to look Rutger Hauerish, he may work as a warrior type, but Viking wasn't what I was expecting for Bronn.

What I WAS looking for wasn't Dominic West either, but was in the Ray Stevenson or someone with his look (Vinnie Jones?) camp. Someone who might be cast as a mob guy.

An underdog making his place in the world using only his sword and his wits coming from a nothing background to make his own play for a lordship? A Magnificent Bastard who gets some of the best quips short of Tyrion himself? Nah, I can't see why anyone would like him either.

Wasn't one of the things about the Bron/Ser Vardis Eagen fight that Bronn was significantly younger and in better shape than Eagen? There was also the difference in the armor they chose, but that was a factor only compounded by Eagen's already diminished physical abilities.

I always imagined Bronn to be in his early to mid-30's, but still very much in his prime. Probably at his peak strength and not yet diminished in reflexes, but also old enough to have earned considerable base wisdom and hone his survival instincts to a fine edge.

That's a little harsh. He just didn't register that greatly with me. In a book featuring characters like Tyrion, Littlefinger, Varys, Sandor, Jaime, Jaqen H'Ghar, etc., each varying in their level and type of badassery and wit, a background character like Bronn nearly escaped my notice. To me he was an incidental character; a guy who served Tyrion until something better came along.

The men in the cast outnumber the women by a lot, so reducing the number of female characters doesn't seem likely.

Strange, that. I wonder why the difference. I suppose we all fill in details GRRM leaves out differently.

Anyway, it's good for me to get in the practice of shaking off affronts to my personal interpretations. I'm sure this won't be the last time.

I agree with you. He is a fan favorite, but I think people were a little unrealistic with the actors they wanted considering Bronn is a relatively minor role. There's arguably 15 more important roles and I just don't see someone like Dominic West signing up for that.

Yup, the whole thing with Bronn and the Stokeworth family is hilarious (even if it's off-screen)!

I think, depending on how well Bronn is liked at that point, we may get to see a bit of it in the series.

I think most of those trolls have settled down. But, yes, I also get amusement out of how particular some people can be. Did they not understand that NONE of the Lannisters cast were blond? Do they truly believe that make-up and wigs are incapable of changing a brunette to blond?

I won't be surprised at all if Brienne ends up "Hollywood ugly", largely because I think that big, strapping, "man-like", young female actresses are thin on the ground. I could be wrong, though…

I'm not hugely bothered about the look of the actor, and more interested in how they fit the character. There's a lot of folk complaining Kate Dickie doesn't have Lyssa Arryn's "bulk", but if you picture her as "Michelle Fairley's slightly mad sister", then it kinda works. With Bronn, you're looking at a lot of witty back-and-forth with Tyrion, so you need someone with a lighter touch, rather than dark and brooding.

Ditto on the 'shame she isn't playing Asha' thought, but I have no problems with her at all playing Osha. I agree completely with those worrying about the Brienne casting (if we get season 2!). She really has to be a bit of a he-she and not the kind of 'Ugly Betty' type Hollywood unattractive.

Agreed about Brienne casting. A number of female body builders have the perfect physique, but are unlikely to have even a tenth of the acting ability required for such an important character. I suspect that they may end up having to compromise quite a bit to find a competent Brienne who can deal with the part.

As for Osha, I think Natalia Tena looks perfect for the part. She is another character who becomes much more important in the later books and thus needed a good actress first and foremost. Meera will have essentially the same requirement, and Asha as well.

I think many people need to get over wanting the "perfect" physical resemblance to a character. Much more important will be the acting abilities of the person who can suspend disbelief for each of the pivotal characters. GRRM populated his books with a host of important characters who are far from the usual acting stock of pretty people. We should consider ourselves very lucky indeed that they've been able to fill some of those difficult-to-cast roles with actors deemed good enough for the role itself. After all, where are they going to find a capable actor who also just happens to be missing the last joint from all of the fingers on one hand, hmm? Acting first, resemblance to the character a close second, but it doesn't have to be a perfect physical match. In many cases, it simply is impossible.

Same here, though I'm sure there's a lot of ways various people say them, like most other names in the books.

OT – sorry can't find anywhere to put comments like this – maybe someone could tell me?
Anyway i just drove past the Paint Hall where it's all going to be happening, and it already is! There was a group of people (extras?) being taken inside by a staff member; there were numerous people outside the Hall along with lots of vehicles and huge trailers; there were a few security men standing at the gates, as one of the numerous Belfast Tour buses had just stopped – the Paint Hall was always a stop on their route. And best of all – there were a few marquees set up outside which I could see contained horses and ponies! The security guy told me that the filming was starting on Monday – which I took to mean NEXT Monday, but having seen the horses there already, maybe a few scenes are being started THIS Monday? All the "no Photography" signs are up although lots of people on the buses were taking pix.

Look, I can understand the idea that they may have to find a different Brienne than is described in the books. It's a balancing act sometimes. Brienne in the books is mistaken for a man with her armor on, fights better than some of the best male fighters on Westeros, and goes through a range of complex emotions. I can completely see how a "one-and-a-half outta three ain't bad" sentiment can happen there.

That said the idea that Natalia Tena *had* to be cast because they couldn't find an older woman who wasn't "too young and too hot" for the role who still has the requisite acting ability seems a little absurd to me.

This strikes me a bit more of a case where Natalia Tena brings talent, a great resume, and skill to the table and they were willing to sacrifice some parts of the character to get her into the production. Basically, "none of the other Oshas had a chance" because GRRM and D&D would rather watch Natalia Tena act than any of the other actresses, regardless of whether or not they matched the book description of Osha better.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is a bad thing for the show. I don't think it's going to suffer for it. I just think that trying to rationalize this particular casting past, "HBO decided to go with a younger, hotter Osha," is a little disingenuous.

Still, hats off to Natalia Tena. She obviously blew them away and I'm sure she'll be amazing.

Oh, and Natalia Tens brings a bit of star power as well. I’m not trying to sell her short. I’m just saying that for the character as-is in the book, finding an actress to pull of that character wouldn’t have been hard. I imagine, however, that show Osha is going to be given a bit more to do.

Natalia Tena is an incredible choice. She'll bring depth and empathy to the role – she has a very 'real' way about her that you can connect to. She also plays 'spirited' well. As for the age, perfect change. Something that will fit easily and credibly into the story.

Congratulations Natalia. Thrilled to have you on board.

GRRM, OMG I wish I could have seen her audition. That sounds like a million-dollar moment. :)

Franny Bee, sorry I can’t reply directly (on my phone.)

I just can’t see them casting her and *not* making Osha a more important character. I think that’s another reason the departure doesn’t bug me that much. There’s a lot if room for expansion. If they end up putting AFfC and ADwD events in parallel, we wouldn’t lose her for a season, either.

A guy who just served Tyrion until something better came along — and named his firstborn son after him too. Bronn grew on GRRM and while I always thought of Bronn as a secondary character, I wouldn't be all that surprised if someday he becomes a POV character; there aren't all that many good candidates for that in King's Landing, and Bronn could make a good one.

This girl would have made a great Ygritte.

To be honest, i'd agree with William. With a good convincing dye, she'd make an excellent Ygritte… A lot like how i imagined her in the books.

SOMEONE ON THE INTERNET IS WRONG!

I refute your claim good sir… http://www.mtv.com/movies/photos/h/harry_potter_p…

It'll be interesting to see how they play it for the show.

*SPOILERS*
*SPOILERS*
*SPOILERS*

I think they'll keep the basics. There will seem to be an imbalance in Vardis Eagen's favor, but Bronn turns out to be making the right decisions to win.

*SPOILERS*
*SPOILERS*
*SPOILERS*

Looks fine to me as well. Although that's one hell of a hair /style/…

My only concern with him is he's an obvious choice. I've seen him in Queer as Folk (UK). He was good in that but manipulative. My understanding is he had a manipulative part in the Wire but don't know as I've never seen it. I don't think it will be a surprise for the viewer to discover he's not all that he seems. However the Wire wasn't a seen by that many here nor was QaF so Aiden might yet be a surprise for the viewer ;) That's the excitement of the wait and see factor. I'll probably end up being his biggest fan and deny ever having doubts ;)

I don't see the contradiction. Of course, since I wrote it, that's going to be a particular blind spot for me.

Basically, I was drawing the distinction between:

"This young, hot, up-and-coming actress read for the role of Osha and they decided to go with her even though she didn't exactly fit the character in the books."

And:

"They couldn't find any 35 to 40-year-olds with the acting ability to play Osha, so they had to go with a younger, hotter actress."

The headshot above doesn't really convey much. In motion, she's got an edge to her. Here's a clip from 'About a Boy' that better demonstrates it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOCd1HQ8vr0

If I remember correctly, Theon didn't have much interest in Osha, but I'm sure he would be much more interested in this Osha. I wonder if that could be a problem. Shame there is no Asha or Igritte in season 1.

Guys, guys … I think you actually agree. No need for hot(ter) blood :)

Definitely, I cannot see Theon recommending they kill this Osha, I can see him though requesting the honor of interrogating her.

In my case – it was a partial surprise.

!!!SPOILER!!!
I was still schocked about the way he orchestred all the things (Jon Arryn s dead, and the events that follows).
I noticed his art to manipulate way to early in the books, but the whole result of his manipulations (and genious) was a kind of schock to me.

The vast majority of red hair that one sees in film and TV are all die jobs anyway, I don't think it would be so shocking and different to cause a great disturbance in The Force. In honesty though, I've seen some natural auburns with her darker features.

I'll say this:

I think Natalia Tena is going to be great as Osha.

And Mogons, I apologize. I did use strong language like "absurd" and "disingenuous" in my reply to you. To be clear, the "disingenuous" was in reference the implied story that Natalia Tena showed up out of the blue among some older actresses. In general, casting doesn't work that way. Now that Natalia has been cast, I'd be surprised if TIA hadn't been going for the role of Osha as well.

Still, you made a good point that I used your post about valuing acting ability over physical appearance to further my own personal "there are plenty of talented older female actresses" agenda. I apologize.

SPOILER!!

Agreed. He's smarmy from the off. You know he's taking pleasure in seeing Ned struggle in court and having to help Cat etc. My impression at the time was that he was still a weakling enjoying his good fortune. I didn't expect him to be pulling most of the strings! ;)

I think Osha in the books was pretty hot because she slept with the kitchen help guys to keep them warm!