The kids over at TeenFi.com got a TeenFirst interview with Thrones‘ very own Jaqen H’ghar, Tom Wlaschiha. In an exclusive interview with Helen Earnshaw, Wlaschiha talked about his role in the 2011 movie Resistance, but Earnshaw, (clearly ‘Thronescentric’) pressed him about his involvement in Game of Thrones.
You are also set to appear in the second season of Game of Thrones so how did that role come around? And how did you find working on such an epic project?
Well I just auditioned for it; I have a really great agent here in London. It was a totally different type of production but it was good fun because you had two hundred extras on horses every day on location it is a huge enterprise.
It was so different compared to a project like Resistance, which was quite intimate. Both projects were really fun to do.
Tom also talks about what fans can expect from his role as Jaqen, but beware of spoilers if you haven’t yet read A Clash of Kings! Read the entire article here!
Fire And Blood: Looks like we get to see some [spoiler redacted]. Color me pleased. Pixomondo is going to have their work cut out for them this year; Blue Bolt set a pretty high standard last year. Tom seems the consummate professional. Can’t wait to see some H’ghar!
(Special thanks to Lisa and to Aaron Cathers for pointing me toward this article!)
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69 Comments
I still want a picture of him as Jaqen :(
John-Michael LelievreQuote Reply
Nice find!
Why is he teaching Arya? Maybe they make his role a little bit more important than in the books and they let him teach her some faceless man stuff already!
By the way, I would put that part of the interview in spoiler tags in case some new viewers happen to read it. The face-shifting is pretty spoilerish
G_LeeQuote Reply
Big spoilers, Fabio!
Better hide them :)
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Nice find!
But yes, another vote to put it under the black spoiler tags, because many people’s eyes will be drawn to the quote without noticing the spoiler warning above it!! (yes, I know, people should be more observant, but unfortunately we’re not all Sherlock Holmes or Patrick Jane ;)
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
C’mon…. Hide the spoilers better.
LarsQuote Reply
Jaqen is kind of a teacher. He taught Arya how to prioritize hits and how to be observant. Can’t wait to see Jaqen …he’s all kinds of WOW!
MimsyQuote Reply
he looks like the perfect jaqen, but which actor will they replace him with at the end
oicQuote Reply
I think he’s gonna be awesome. A super-star making role, I’d say.
And could somebody PLEASE tell me how we’re meant to pronounce Jaqen? Is it ja-QUEEN, ja-KEEN, JA-queen, JA-ken, it is J as in Jake or J as in Jean-Paul Sartre? Or something completely different?
I always pronounce it Ja-KEEN.
EosQuote Reply
I always pronounced his name in a french way like Jaquen .
JohnQuote Reply
Eos,
its pronounced Ja Ken like that imp creature from Inu Yasha
oicQuote Reply
haha, that got me thinking – how fun would it be if he turns into syrio XD -
1_RedCatQuote Reply
Oh, good – that’s how I’ve imagined it would be pronounced!
Tickler’s GoldQuote Reply
Completely missed the spoiler warnings, but I’ve already read the books. I wonder how many who haven’t read the book missed the warning, though…
Anyway, Jaqen is such a cool character. I can’t wait to see Tom and Maise in scenes together. I hope it will be a relatively clear what happens to him at the end of Jaqen’s arc. In the book, if you blinked you probably missed that he turned into the guy that Sam runs into.
DreamlifeQuote Reply
I just really hope he gets the polished, overly polite, foreign sounding voice right – that sweet voice is such an important contrast between Jaqen vs. Rorge and Biter. I’d love for him to have the particolored hair, but know that’s doubtful. His storyline is probably my favorite one in this season…
persephone88Quote Reply
Edited the post to make it less spoilerific. Remember to use spoiler tags in your comments too, please.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
OT, but I can’t believe the show is only 3 months away! When do we get a countdown clock? (And a trailer, for that matter).
LexQuote Reply
Lex, just as soon as HBO announces the premiere date. I have the countdown clock ready to go, just need to know what day we’re supposed to be counting down to!
And I’m guessing we will get some kind of trailer on Jan 29th, prior to the Luck series premiere.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
This is super exciting. Any Jaqen news is good news in my book. I think he’s going to end up being one of the most interesting characters of the season, and definitely a scene-stealer (or, as much as that’s possible when he’s acting alongside Maisie).
Someone already mentioned this above, but I wonder if Tom’s comments about being a “teacher” refer just to his role as an ally and sort of mentor to Arya, or if he’s actually going to start her Faceless Man training a bit early. In the book, I don’t necessarily remember Jaqen teaching Arya as much as just killing for her and recognizing her personality/skills as beneficial for a trainee of the Faceless Men. But maybe HBO will rewrite this portion of Arya’s story a bit to forge a stronger connection later on.
And as for the shape-shifting, that’s terribly exciting. I guess I hadn’t really thoughtyet about how that would happen, but I’m really glad we’ll get to see it!
LinaQuote Reply
Teenfi huh? Did I read that right?
HildaQuote Reply
Fuck. yes. Can we please get a shot of him in the next trailer? Please??
“The hungry gods will feast on blood tonight, if a man would do this thing,” Jaqen said. “Sweet girl, kind and gentle. Unsay one name and say another and cast aside this mad dream.”
Valar Morghulis
the goatQuote Reply
perfect human specimen. *fans self*
GythaQuote Reply
Now your getting me all pumped up!!!!
False dolearos.
surfKrakenQuote Reply
Off Topic, but The Onion poked fun at GRRM in their latest youtube video, lol.
http://youtu.be/6pwytrTmAYY
Josh DesjardinsQuote Reply
Man I hate auto complete.
Valar dohaeris!
surfKrakenQuote Reply
Josh Desjardins,
it’s funny because it’s true!
KnurkQuote Reply
I like that, it should be adopted as some kind of motto! Besides ASTB of course. :D
LisaQuote Reply
Great actor, can’t wait to see him as Jaqen!
Completely off topic, sorry, but I was just thinking about Chatya, the brothel owner in King’s Landing. Has she been cast yet? Because if not, is it possible that Ros takes her place instead? Neither seem highly integral to the story, but I dunno…Possible?
DraigQuote Reply
FIT!
that is all
houndloverQuote Reply
Extremely crass (spoilered for tact, not actual spoilers) first thoughts at seeing this photo…
Man, winter isn’t the only thing that’s coming…
Yeah I’m sorry for that.
On a more serious note, Anyone else think he might take the place of the man Arya interacts with at the house of black and white? Certainly if his character is well recieved and it won’t affect later plots, this would be a great way to keep him on my screen.
JillQuote Reply
Jill,
maybe. I think they’ll cut the whole oldtown plotline, so i can see this happening
Elena AmiciQuote Reply
On an unrelated note…so I walk into Future Shop (that’s like Best Buy here in Canada….though there is Best Buy here also…LOL) to buy the first season of “Boardwalk Empire” and I get to the cashier to pay, when the girl at the register says…”Wait, because you bought the series, you get a little something extra with it, a promo of sorts!”, so as I wait patiently for her to return to the teller, lo and behold she does…my knees wobble, I get sweaty, lighthearted, dizzy…as my humble eyes grasp the shape of Ned Stark sitting on the Iron Throne with Ice in his hands! So I pass out…
…moments later I wake-up with a huge bonner (relatively speaking)…wait …I meant to say nerd-bonner…holding in my hands (how that came to be I have no re-collection) a DVD with “Game Of Thrones – Episode One-”Winter Is Coming”, with the whole Ned Stark-on-the-Iron-Throne poster and the moniker “You Win Or You Die” on the cover in a nice thin plastic case… (this promo was apparently both for the DVD and Blue-ray sets included with the purchase of “Boardwalk Empire”).
So tonight, (for the eight or ninth time, I think…) I will once again have the privilege to enjoy an early viewing of the pilot episode of “Game Of Thrones”…and have a nerd-gasm to go with that non-viagra induced nerd-bonner!
As I was walking out of the store…the lovely cashier-lady-girl-thing said…”Wait? Aren’t you forgetting something?”, and as I looked around, I was…leaving behind the “Boardwalk Empire” DVD set I had purchased (and misteriously paid for before passing out)…so I returned and collected it from the counter…with my mind still completely focussed on “Game Of Thrones”…how I finally got home is yet another riddle I’ll have to unravel in time!
PS Winter Is Coming indeed…no really we are due for a large winter storm up here…but I’ll be celebrating a different return of winter…with the Starks of Winterfel and those Lannister bastards!
loco73Quote Reply
Ooh Jaqen! I can’t wait to see his look. Wonder if he’ll have the white and black hair? And the accent, I’m really interested to hear if he’ll keep his own accent or not.
OT: GoT received a nom for best drama for the IFTAs (Irish Film and Television Awards) as did Michele Fairley for actress in a lead role. Aiden Gillen also got nominated but alas, not for GoT. Oh and I forgot Liam Cunningham as well!
BroQuote Reply
loco73,
That’s awesome!
LexQuote Reply
loco73,
Way cool! What a clever move by HBO, when word gets out this is sure to boost sales of BE considerably, and create many “nerd bonners” among the male GOT fans. Do lady nerdettes get “bonners”? Or is that just a myth………..:)???
Anyone know if this deal can be got in the UK? What would be the “Best Buy” equivalent over here?
Two FeathersQuote Reply
loco73,
That was a swell story. I enjoyed it.
Epic The BallsQuote Reply
The GoT pilot episode giveaway is happening in the UK too, at brances of HMV. You can buy ‘Winter is Coming’ by itself for £1.99, or get it free with any HBO box set.
Sweet :-)
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Doesn’t anyone know how to spell “boner”?
gdavQuote Reply
I don’t get it, didn’t they pass these out a month ago? I distinctively remember someone on the bluray.com forum posting pictures of it in 2011.
Edit: jup, from the beginning od december it was already available with every HBO set. http://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-movies-north-america/175380-game-thrones-season-1-pre-order-10.html#post5534012
KnurkQuote Reply
Knurk, well why didn’t you tell us about this back then? We coulda given you all the credit and you woulda been famous! ;)
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
haha, I bloody remembered it because I posted it somewhere here, you lazy moderator!
KnurkQuote Reply
Knurk, I know. I just searched your post history and saw your comment, but the only thing you mentioned was how good the Blu-Ray transer looked, you didn’t mention that anyone could just go and get the sampler at B&N, you NFL-loving Dutchman! ;)
All kidding aside, it seems that while it was kinda available back in early Dec, it wasn’t really as widespread as it is now. So even if we had reported on it back then, not many people would have been able to take advantage.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Wow, I am so going out and getting the DVD at Best Buy! YAY!!!
And damn, Tom is friggin hot!
Handmaiden of DanyQuote Reply
I want to see who was cast as post face change Jaqen too. Lets sick Rabbit on the net to see if any well regarded actors were in NI at that time! I agree that the Syrio or Jaqen could easily take over the kindly man role, or either actor could switch back into their previous appearance. I assume we won’t see Jaqen in a trailer any more than we have seen Brienne as his reveal (to be a handsome gentleman not somene so fug he needed hood) is a big one.
Tom looks the perfect Jaqen. Another er, gold star to Nina.
Ser Lemon CakesQuote Reply
Well, you know this gives me hope for my Jaqen = Syrio theory. We’ll see! I’m sure Miltos will remain mum either way, because if it will turn back into him, he couldn’t say anything before it airs. Even if he doesn’t morph into Syrio a la Miltos’ face, it still does not rule out Jaqen = Syrio! Remember nothing is how it originally seems in Westeros! And man, Tom is so much hotter than I ever pictures Jaqen being. I wonder if this will add any subtext to the relationship – allthough Arya is way too young for that in our world. But not in Westeros!
purplejillyQuote Reply
purplejilly,
If Jaqen did turn into Syrio what would that prove exactly? I think it would be awesome, but the show is a different medium than the books and we know they have changed other parts of the story for season two. Would David and Dan do this just because the fans want it?
SamQuote Reply
First, i’ll be shallow and comment on how utterly delicious Tom is. Cannot wait to see him as Jaqen. He’s definitely got the looks so i’m excited to see how he portrays the character.
I’m probably in the minority here but i hope they don’t do the red/white hair. It would just look ridiculous and with the terrible wig history this show has…
NeedleQuote Reply
gdav,
boehner
Rose SathmantesQuote Reply
Will echo earlier comments and state that I am seriously looking forward to seeing him on screen.
OT: check out these pics of Sean Bean in his new role in a BBC drama-so far removed from Ned Stark.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2085462/Sean-Bean-plays-transsexual-BBC-drama-The-Accused.html
Also, if I didn’t know better I’d swear my arabic tutor is a fan of GoT-gave us a phrase this evening that translated to Winter is Coming.
radQuote Reply
i pronounce it “Dja/Ken Ha/Ger…. if anyone is keeping score :)
Damryn of DorneQuote Reply
something witty,
It’s ‘homosexual’ you intolerant cretin.
And so what if he is?
What an IMDB-esque comment!
Josh AtreidesQuote Reply
oh c´mon!!!
andreaQuote Reply
andrea,
That’s all your going to say to that comment? It’s probably the most offensive thing I have ever seen on this board. That word he used is the equivalent of a racial slur. Name calling and aggressive debating is one thing. But that word is something else entirely.
Josh AtreidesQuote Reply
andrea,
Sorry didn’t mean to get mad at you…:-)
Josh AtreidesQuote Reply
Josh Atreides,
yes, that´s all. What do you want me to say? I don´t wish to start a debate here. I’d rather take it as a joke. I guess he did not say it with malice. May be I´m used to such outbursts. I live in Latin America, don´t forget… it sounds like a cliché, I know but many men here say this things without thinking and never as an insult. Don´t get mad. I guess what you say it´s right but you should know that I spend my days with common people without much education that because of ignorance sometimes says this kind of thing. And also know academics without this argument in its favor and they also say it so I don´t know. Sometimes this word can be just the result of an oversight. Every day I must manage my energy for less civilized fights than this so I don´t get angry or scared so easily. I´m sorry.
andreaQuote Reply
Josh Atreides,
oh, too late. It´s ok, don´t worry ;)
andreaQuote Reply
It’s so sad to see what’s happening here in the comments lately. Where does all the pointless hate come from?
This world’s going straight down.
@Topic:
I’m actually totally with the non red-white hair faction. Just keep the hair he’s got in the photo above.
G_LeeQuote Reply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hF_HLSVLwM
Wanna sleep with common people like Shae!
the goatQuote Reply
the goat,
Love Pulp. But I think this is my favourite version of the song: http://youtu.be/KXWEM4gZhg4
Joshua TaylorQuote Reply
Except that we already know who he turns into…
Read the beginning of A Feast for Crows (hint: Oldtown)
;-)
Tyrion4LyfeQuote Reply
I was scrolling down just to catch the new comments from last time I checked this thread when I noticed the angry replies to whatever “something witty” posted (Judging from the reactions, it wasn’t witty at all).
Now the post itself seems to be gone. I was curious to see it. but not as interested to ask for a recap, specially if it was some sort of hateful slur as it seems the case. My question is if the author of the post thought better and deleted it, or it was a moderator’s action, and if it was the latter, is this a first on this site or has it happened before? Just curious
DennaiQuote Reply
Dennai, I deleted it and it is definitely not the first time I have had to delete comments due to offensive language.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
I feel you, man. It’s a real shame. I’m all for free speech, but, c’mon people, have a little respect for your fellow man.
HirondelleQuote Reply
Or due to “personal attacks”, right? I remember this one time when someone came here and said “this site has some of the internet’s finest douchebags” or something like that. It rubbed me entirely the wrong way, I let it provoke me into replying “It does now” and my comment ended up being deleted. Which I totally get, btw. I’ve filed the whole episode under “forum-use learning experiences”.
HirondelleQuote Reply
Hirondelle, yes, personal attacks and overly offensive or crass language are the only two things that will get your comment deleted. And I think in your particular case, I didn’t delete your comment because you responded with an attack (I don’t blame you for reacting to a comment like that) but because you quoted the original posters completely unwarranted attack.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
the goat,
I mean everyday people. “Common” perhaps wasn´t the right word. I am also ordinary people you know. My last name isn´t Lannister…luckily.
Thanks for Pulp btw
andreaQuote Reply
Good to know! I should have just ignored him, though. After all, everyone knows that trolls and their ilk thrive on attention. Here’s to more civilized and constructive times! And to Jaquen H’ghar, of course!
HirondelleQuote Reply
Hirondelle,
What it reminds me how much I miss an “Ignore” option in this forum. I tend to read each comment on the go, only checking the name of the poster if the comment itself catch my eye (for either the right or wrong reasons) and it would give me a much pleasant reading time and save me a lot of Stannis-style teeth grinding if I could skip entirely the words of some people whose contributions I know by experience I’m not interested to read.
DennaiQuote Reply
Dennai,
There certainly are a lot of things I wish I could un-read, where an ignore-button would have helped. So far, I haven’t singled out any particular posters whose comments I know for sure will annoy/upset/offend me, though. Which can turn things into a bit of a mine-field, since I try to follow a thread from the top. But, you know what they say: If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. We can stand it, right? ;o)
HirondelleQuote Reply
+1
LouisaQuote Reply