Actor Clive Russell, who appeared as Brynden Tully, aka the Blackfish, in Game of Thrones Season 3, says most American fans of the show had no idea who he was when he showed up. Ser Brynden Tully, a respected knight and uncle to Lady Catelyn, is the younger brother to Hoster Tully, the Lord of Riverrun.
While touring through Scotland on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip this week, Russell, 70, talked a little bit about being cast on the hit HBO show:
"That is a complete one-off in my life. I’ve never been involved in anything with that visibility . . . When I was chosen, the blogs were like ‘who? Who is this?’"
That is something coming from Russell, who has had quite a distinguished acting career in the UK, including earlier roles on Ripper Street, Sherlock Holmes (2009 film), Maid of Honour, and The Bill, to name just a few.
Though the Blackfish didn’t carry a major storyline in Season 3, he was memorable for grumpily taking a bow and arrow from his nephew, Lord Edmure, when he repeatedly failed to hit Lord Hosters’ funeral boat. Ser Brynden is a strong supporter of the Starks (he is often seen advising Robb) and Lady Catelyn, and he appears to have escaped the slaughter of the Red Wedding feast by having excused himself to go outside and urinate on a tree.
SEASON 6 SPOILERS FOLLOW
And although Clive Russell is mum on the subject, on-set reports have it that the Blackfish will return for Season 6, so Ser Brynden may soon have a bigger part to play in the Game of Thrones saga. If Ser Brynden, infuriated by the murders of his niece and the Starks, is able to return to Riverrun and hold the Tully castle in Robb’s name, he’ll most likely face a siege by some combination of the Freys and Lannister.
And, considering reports of siege equipment on the Game of Thrones Riverrun set in Corbet, Ireland, it looks like there is a good chance Clive Russell may become much more familiar to American audiences very soon.
h/t Daily Express