MTV has one more video interview. This one with the final cast member present at TCA, namely Peter Dinklage. He describes his character Tyrion and continues to balk at the use of “fantasy” when describing this show.
As for the last of our coverage of the TCA press tour, you can expect our full panel report tomorrow!
Fire And Blood EXTRA: (Seacrest voice) … After the break!
Winter and I were actually able to finagle a short interview with Peter shortly after the TCA gathering—and right before he was whisked away to the MTV interview. And I can say just by witnessing both Sean Bean and Peter Dinklage, close up and in person, they are as different as night and day.
Sean is clearly comfortable holding court amidst a half-hundred reporters, a gazillion microphones and recorders all shoved up toward his mouth. He smiles, he banters, he answers questions, and it doesn’t seem like a put on, or forced at all. He likes the attention, likes jokes (even the not-so-funny ones), and he can give as good as he gets.
Peter is cut from a different kind of cloth, and if anyone epitomizes an “indie” vibe it’s him. While Winter was trying to elbow his way through the sea of Bean adoration, I found Peter standing quietly off to the side, head down, hands stuffed deep in a bohemian-chic gray-green jacket. He had a wool stocking cap pulled so far down it nearly hid his eyes, and he was speaking in an almost hushed tone to the other two people who seemed as surprised to find him off by himself as I was. He seems shy, perhaps slightly self-conscious. But very, very smart, and extremely serious about his chosen craft. He gets tongue-tied from time to time, his mind working faster than his mouth, and you can tell it irks him a little. I would classify him as an actor’s actor.
(This first part is a paraphrased answer, as Winter had not yet given up on trying to get through the Bean crowd. After the first question, we had our recorder on hand.)
FabiHoff: You’re normally cast in movie roles, or in guest spots on television. What made you decide to take on a role in an ongoing television series?
Peter: I saw it as a great opportunity, actually. Tyrion is a brilliant character, and I get to walk in his shoes for, hopefully, many years. It’s such a great role, they all are. And they all have different, complicated relationships. As it [the story] moves along, you can sort of see the reasons for him being the way he is, for the things he wants and does, and the things the other Lannisters do. There are reasons for the complicated relationships within the family. Good reasons.
Woman: Is this your first TV series?
Peter: No, I did uh–as a regular?
Woman: Yeah.
Peter: No, I did a show many years ago. [mutters] Many. [corrects] FIVE years ago. Threshold. Which was on was on CBS for… We lasted eleven episodes. No, twelve episodes. In that season when all the aliens were invading the world. There was three of them [shows].
Man: [laughs] Three networks, three aliens [invasions].
Peter: [laughs] And we all got knocked off [canceled] one at a time.
Woman: Do you like taking the character over a long period of time as opposed to…?
Peter: Yes. That’s a big reason why something like this is great. We basically made a 10 hour movie. and we’re going to make a 10 hour movie, or maybe a 12 hour movie, every year, in the time that it takes [to make] a 3 hour or 2 hour movie. The reason HBO attracts actors is because there’s a shorter schedule. You’re not working 10 months a year, you’re working 5 months a year, so you’re able to do movies and other things, so it’s a great gig. For all the reasons.
Woman: Do you have anything else coming up that we should be aware of?
Peter: Uh, coming out to theaters? A couple things, yeah. Small, low budget stuff. Comedies. There’s a movie called Knights of Badassdom, which is about live action roleplayers, which is a really funny horror movie, and… there’s another thing. My mind’s blank. But there’s a couple things.
Man: With TV shows, sometimes it can be a little scary for actors not knowing where it’s going–
HBO rep: Peterrrrr, when you guys are done… time to do some Tee-veeee…
Peter: [to rep] Okay.
Man: –not knowing where it’s going, but with this you had four books already to let you see, this is the path of the character. Did that give you a lot of confidence knowing what a great storyline you have ahead of you?
Peter: Yeah, of course. I’ve only read the first book. I’m going to read them, sort of as the seasons go along.
FaBihoff: [nerd] The second book is where Tyrion just shines.
Peter: Yeah, he goes to the…
FaBihoff: [helpful nerd] He’s at King’s Landing.
Peter: To become the Hand of the King.
Everyone: [happy nerd chuckles]
Peter: But yeah, there’s such a fine line with this. Like, there’s such a fan base, but there’s also people who have never read the book, so you don’t want to give anything away. You probably know everything that happens.
Man: I only know two things!
Peter: You know more than me. [to Winter and FaB] You probably know, of course… you know.
FaBihoff: Well, we’re with winter-is-coming.net. So yes, we know.
Peter: Then you know what I’m having for breakfast tomorrow.
FaBihoff: [doth protest] Uh, no!
[NOTE: eggplant, grapefruit, and granola!]
FaBihoff: What was it like working with Tom [McCarthy] again?
Peter: [grinning] Aw, it was great. Of course. He’s one of my closest friends.
FaBihoff: Okay, so you both keep in touch. [stupid fanboi smile] The Station Agent was just brilliant, man.
Peter: Yeah, thanks. And it was really–It was so serendipitous for him to shoot the pilot. Really, it was great.
FaBihoff: And you were both overseas doing it. Was that weird? It’s kind of a different setting than New Jersey.
Peter: Ahh, we had traveled so much with that movie. We had seen each other in many places… overseas… [happy smile] Man, yeah, he’s doing very well. His movie [Win Win, which just wrapped] is great. The new one.
[Peter then gets dragged off to do MTV]
But FaBihoff got… a parting fistbump. That’s right, man. A fistbump. From Tyrion freaking Lannister.
That day was a win.
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52 Comments
I love Dinklage, but the long pauses and muted tones come off as trying to seem thoughtful and profound, when it’s pretty basic stuff.
You’re an actor in a fantasy tv show dude, this isn’t brain surgery.
JoseQuote Reply
Jose,
Yep. As much as I love Dinklage, he’s not a good interview. And that’s fine. I doubt I would be either. :)
youandwhosearmyQuote Reply
The irony is that he really is a “lion talking”
durwoodQuote Reply
Funny, I was just thinking how refreshing it is to hear someone think before they speak. :-) Often it feels people are so quick to blurt out an answer, as if they are being timed. (Myself included . . . maybe even first in line!) Each interview I’ve heard of his makes me want to sit down and discuss the books with him, not just his character, but everything. People that let their thoughts simmer sometimes seem to have a different take on things.
JDQuote Reply
I put it on youtube for the ipone users:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkDzP5YWPbA
AbyssQuote Reply
“its more about humans … people … making each others lives a bit more complex.”
he may not have a gift for interview but he sure does have quite a gift for understatement! :)
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
Hey, thought of you at TCA when we were walking into the hotel and up walked Eva Green. I told FaB, “Who is Jacopo Belbo would be so jealous of us right now.” She’s a skinny little thing btw.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
JD,
Ditto!
Howland ReedQuote Reply
Abyss,
Much love for posting to YouTube as always. I think I missed the 2 from Bean and Tena though, hint hint wink wink :D
I agree with the non-fantastical assessment, but I get the feeling that he doesn’t want to be type cast in a way that suggests “of course it’s fantasy, there’s a dwarf in it”. Or worse, the dwarf must be comic relief. I may be way off, but in that regard, I feel for the guy.
FeeblegeniusQuote Reply
you know i hate you right? :)
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
both of you …. *major envy*
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
I think this will be a defining role for him.
Tyrion is my favorite character in the book and I think Dinklage was the perfect choice. I wish they woulda uglied him up a bit, but oh well.
Albert ColemanQuote Reply
Personally, I like Dinklage’s interviews.
LexQuote Reply
One funny thing for about Dinklage’s Tyrion i show good the blonde dying looks on him, even with his dark, almost swarthy complexion. No eyebrowgate here!
CaedesQuote Reply
Yeah, he’s not so articulate.
ElaineQuote Reply
Updated the article with our Dinklage interview. Scroll back up!
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
Great interview, FaB! I love Sean Bean’s style, but I also love how low-key Dinklage is. I’m surprised he’s only read the first book, since he seems to know a lot about Tyrion’s background.
LexQuote Reply
Elaine,
er he is very articulate? He is trying to describe the entire series to a reporter in one sentence. Good luck with that.
On the other side, I can’t wait… 3 months left! Damn seems like it was just awhile back they started shooting.
Damyrn of DorneQuote Reply
I love when Peter says something, then immediately corrects himself and it looks like he’s talking to himself!
“It’s more like a human drama – human drama, that sounds funny as well”…
DomQuote Reply
Really do love Peters style of thinking before blurting. I would be so happy to sit down and discuss with him about Lannisters or pretty much anything in the world. Though I have to admit that he could give bit more… refined look at least in promowork like this. That brown ball-like hat and grey hoodie give bit too “artsy indie” feeling rather than “solid HBO”. He could look cool and still spout these intelligent deep thoughs of his and it would be ok. But I guess everyone has his own style and I’m ok with that too.
rorschach-Quote Reply
I really like the way Dinklage is making efforts to try and distance this show/story from the A-typical fantasy. With a bit of luck more viewers will switch on with this in mind.
I also would much rather listen to Dinklage’s contemplative pauses and thought out answers then Tena’s somewhat (seemingly) drug addled, albeit enthusiastic, ramblings.
Oh and give me Peter’s woollen hat over that damn stork any day ;)
Ser HedgeknightQuote Reply
Nice interviews both. Correcting yourself a lot is not necessarily a bad thing.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Ser Hedgeknight,
No way, the stork hat would have improved upon any interview given this far. It would show that the actors are so confident in the show that they don’t have to care about how they come off in private. ;)
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
The fistbump did it for me, great job!
KnurkQuote Reply
I feel kinda slow right now…. it never occurred to me that people, who don’t know the books, hear fantasy and Peter Dinklage and may think that he will play a fantasy dwarf like in that Narnia movie (the movie he played a fantasy dwarf in). I guess that is what he is trying to get across: Tyrion is a human being and NOT a fantasy dwarf.
not sure if I got my point across. did I?
marzmanQuote Reply
I’m so jealous of you both! Great job, by the way :)
I totally fell in love with Dinklage when I saw him in a few episodes of Nip/Tuck a while ago, he’s going to be a perfect Tyrion.
I was watching the Golden Globes the other night, and couldn’t help thinking that next year we’ll be seeing the entire cast of GOT there!
Sandra GomesQuote Reply
Feeblegenius,
If i understand you right (sorry, englisch is´nt my anguage) and want me to up this clips, it´s allready half done.
You can find Tena here (just the stuff about GoT):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIyYFWRXW-U
Bean 2 is coming. (C;
AbyssQuote Reply
Abyss,
Mh, hit “Post Comment” instad of “Preview”…
“first language”
” already”
AbyssQuote Reply
Drinklage needs to know his audience better. When talking to MTV just play up the sex and violence.
Steven ScottQuote Reply
I really like his interviews. Dinklage seems unpretentious and not full of himself. He doesn’t have quick, glib answers.
Steve the PirateQuote Reply
Great you guys got a chance to chat with Peter. I know when I wished him good luck, he was a little terse but that was probably because he was being called to set and also the fact I (complete stranger and numpty) was wishing an actor good luck…doh! He probably thought I was crew and should know better than to pester the talent ;)
Look forward to his performance in Thrones. Although unlike the majority, Tyrion isn’t my favourite. I like him, but not my favourite ;)
Jackie MacPhersonQuote Reply
Interesting that PD mentions the possibility of 12 episode seasons, just speculation like the rest of us or has he been told something?
MormegilQuote Reply
The unofficial interview was great! Good job WiC and FaB. The MTV one didn’t go so well for him, but oh well! :D We all get tongue tied sometimes I guess.
userjQuote Reply
A bit OT guys but where is the new sansa pic from the main hbo site?Why they removed it?
dimitris7Quote Reply
Wow you really do know everything Fabio, eggplant, grapefruit, and granola huh? Interesting concoction. Nice report, again.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
You’re a great writer, FaB. I always laugh when I read your posts.
I have a supreme level of respect for Peter Dinklage, because, as several of you have already said, I feel like he’s someone who is an actor because he truly loves the craft and not for some other superficial reason – fame, fortune, whatever. He definitely doesn’t give cookie cutter interviews, and you can really see the gears turning in his mind as he tries to answer questions. He comes across almost more like one of the subject matter experts commentating on a cable news show than an actor: He knows his material and he expresses himself in a very intellectual way. I think Sean’s interviews serve as great marketing for people who haven’t read the books because he’s so easy-going, likeable and is the most well-known actor in the series (in the States anyway). Everything Emilia says functions the same way, because she’s so excited and enthusiastic and radiant. I think Peter’s contributions, however, are what dedicated fans of the series really latch onto, because you can just tell that he’s been analyzing these books just as much as we all have. Can’t you imagine sitting down with him in a coffee shop or something and just discussing the books in a really academic way?
If his performance as Tyrion is everything I’m expecting, I know we will all give him our utmost support. I just hope he gets recognized by critics and the media and gets his rightful due (Emmy? Golden Globe?), and not cast off because he’s playing in a “fantasy” series.
LinaQuote Reply
http://www.westeros.org has scooped us here on the 19th
http://www.afterelton.com Interviews GRRM & Weiss
Surprising to not see it here as there is new info from these two.
Rick in SarasotaQuote Reply
Mormegil,
didn’t Tena say something in an early interview about how she was going back soon-ish to film the second season?
pretty sure it came from this interview:
OneTooFreeQuote Reply
this link: http://winter-is-coming.net/2010/12/tena-talks-thrones
OneTooFreeQuote Reply
I really like Peter’s interviews. He may not be slick, but he’s candid. I find that to be a lot more worthy of respect.
Stella MarisQuote Reply
It’s not so much the possibility of a 2nd Season I was remarking on (which is pretty much certain I believe) but the fact that it may be 12 episodes rather than 1o.
We the fans have speculated that future seasons will need to be longer than 10 episodes but is PD just speculating as well or has he been told that they may have a 12 episode Season 2?
MormegilQuote Reply
Peter – whose interviews have been my favorite – is very careful in what he’s saying. the pauses, the asides, the corrections, they all show me that he’s very cognisant of what he’s saying and therefore is very careful about what he allows to come out of his mouth because he wants to be accurate. you can tell that he gets it.
OneTooFreeQuote Reply
Mormegil,
my point, which i didn’t state clearly or at all (lol), was that if Tena has some tentative info about when filming for season 2 starts, perhaps the cast & crew also have some info on the number of episodes in the season as well?
just a guess
OneTooFreeQuote Reply
I laughed really hard about the bit where you guys introduce yourselves as representatives of WiC and Peter says that you know what he’s having for breakfast. Totally jealous of the fist bump.
digtastikQuote Reply
It’s awesome that we’re getting more interviews from major characters!
Also, Dinklage is rocking the hat. :D
PeltastQuote Reply
I agree with most of the posts here.
I love that Dinklage says he isn’t quite sure how other’s feel about it, or about him saying this, but he doesn’t think this is really ‘fantasy’ in the way the Narnia or Middle-Earth is fantasy.
I appreciate that he has actually read the books to some degree, because damn does he ever have a grip on the character that is Tyrion. Because the world that Tyrion lives in is ANYTHING but fantasy.
RomulocksQuote Reply
Tywin’s Bastard,
Yes, the stork hat is pretty much like Jayne’s earflap hat in Firefly: “A man walks down the street in that hat, people know he’s not afraid of anything.”
mummerQuote Reply
Feeblegenius,
Bean 2 is up now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkTdAu9R9qk
AbyssQuote Reply
Jose,
haha hell yes.. My thoughts exactly!!
shagnastyQuote Reply
Great interview FaB.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Agreed. The dude actually thinks about what he says. I consider that a good thing.
GaRQuote Reply
I’m with those who appreciate his considered responses to [often] stock questions.
And here’s a thing: I’m in his camp on the “fantasy” label. IMHO, we’re reading in Martin’s work (and Jordan’s and others’) an emergent form of the genre, one which I have had enormous difficulty labeling myself, and I almost always jabber away like a flipping know-it-all on almost any subject at all.
For fun (and a point of departure), let’s set Tolkien’s “big” pieces as the standard: it is FANTASY. Martin’s stuff (as so many point out here and elsewhere) verges away from the magic (extant in the standard more forcefully) and toward the socio-political (extant in the standard more subtly). “Fantasy” as an appellation just does not comfortably characterize this stuff.
(Oh, and like JD and rorschach above, PD is someone I’d really love to sit and talk with, discuss books with. Maybe in front of a fireplace with a toddy and someone to bring us nibbles every couple of hours. It would be grand, I think. And he could come either as himself or Tyrion. Oh, wait! Here’s an idea: we could do successive evenings; he could discuss as Peter on the first round, then we’d go to the same texts the second night, but he’d assume Tyrion’s POV. Yeah, that would be a good time.)
Mrs. CQuote Reply