Sean Bean talks resurrecting Ned Stark, and other Game of Thrones cast member interviews

Sean Bean dies in a lot of his movies. That’s an established fact. Hence this:

Talking to Bean about his upcoming BBC drama Broken, Radio Times asked him which one of his many dead characters he’d like to resurrect, given the chance. “I suppose Game of Thrones would be all right,” he said. Ned Stark return confirmed.

Not really, obviously. But if fans want to see Ned Stark return to the world of the living, Bean says they’ll have to take up their case with the higher-ups at HBO. “Tell them!” he laughed. Who’s up for a letter-writing campaign?

Elsewhere, Gemma Whelan (Yara Greyjoy) and Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm) ran through some of their favorite (and, in Whelan’s case, least favorite) moments from the show. Anderson, who also goes by the name Raleigh Ritchie when making music, talked to Nylon about the unique challenges of keeping a straight face when playing an emotionally closed-off eunuch warrior.

"One of my favorite scenes was a scene where Grey Worm smiles, because I’m really bad at holding in laughter. Peter Dinklage and Conleth Hill and Nathalie Emmanuel, they’re all really funny, but I’m never allowed to laugh because I’ve got to have this stoic face on all the time. So one of my favorite scenes was being able to smile. This sounds like a lie, it sounds like the thing somebody would say in a press junket or whatever, but obviously we’re not just talking about Game of Thrones, so I feel like I can say it: I genuinely have never had a bad day on set. Game of Thrones is the best job in the world."

The Grey Worm smile—It’s elusive, but it exists.

And speaking to NME, Whelan revealed her favorite kinds of scenes to film. “Probably the ones with very beautiful, majestic coastlines, because it’s just so extraordinary to behold,” she said. “The Antrim coast is phenomenally beautiful. To think you’re at work and then be on this beautiful coastline is quite pinch-worthy sometimes – it’s a real privilege. I think we all realise how lucky we are when we’re doing it. Every day is enjoyable on Game of Thrones for me, but when you get a nice view as well it’s a bonus!”

Not everything is a dream of course. “Fighting scenes are challenging.”

"Doing scenes where you’ve got to be in the water for a long time is challenging because it’s just cold and often they’re long night-shoots and stuff. This is not me playing a tiny violin, I realise how lucky I am. If it’s challenging I’d rather be in a nice warm brothel than I would in the sea – but you know, wouldn’t we all!"

But obviously, everything is worth it if you get a play a character like Yara. “She’s just a glorious character to play. She’s strong, and front-footed, and knows her mind, is apologetic but sensitive, family-oriented but not saccharine. She’s just brilliant! I think she speaks for herself really. She’s very, very likeable for all sorts of good feminist reasons.”

You can see more of Yara and Grey Worm when Game of Thrones season 7 premieres on July 16. I wouldn’t hold your breath about Ned Stark, though.