Carice van Houten discusses Melisandre’s enduring loyalty to Jon Snow

Melisandre returned to the game in Sunday night’s episode of Game of Thrones, “Stormborn.” Showing up on Dragonstone to treat with Daenerys Targaryen, Melisandre suggested that the Mother of Dragons summon Jon Snow to see him, suggesting she still believes in him even after he banished her from the North. Van Houten spoke with the Los Angeles Times about what’s next for the Red Preistess, and whether she’s switching her allegiance to Daenerys.

"I think [Melisandre is] still on the path of Jon and just knows that [he and Daenerys] have to meet in order to … God knows, but she’s on Jon’s track."

If only van Houten had finished that sentence…

So it sounds like Mel remains on the Jon Snow bandwagon, at least nominally. But according to Van Houten, the Red Priestess is moving into a more conciliatory role after having her faith badly shaken by Stannis Baratheon’s defeat.

"I totally feel like she’s way more vulnerable and transparent than she ever was and way more about bringing the right people together, even if it means she has to go back to Dragonstone and might even be seen by Jon Snow. It’s tricky, everything she does now. I feel like she’s so much into doing the right thing at this point after making this huge mistake, even if it means it will hurt her."

A side benefit for Van Houten: jumping between storylines let her work with cast members with whom she’d previously had little contact, like Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clarke. “I was starstruck myself,” she said. “Again I felt like, ‘Look at me, and I am here with the dragon girl and Peter Dinklage and Missandei!’ Wow! I was quite impressed with everyone, and I just had a baby six weeks before, so I was in a state.”

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Looking back to season 6, Van Houten reflected on getting into character for the scene in “The Red Woman” where Melisandre takes off her necklace and we learn that she’s actually hundreds of years old.

"It was so scary. You sort of forget about it, because you get into the zone after five hours of sort of zen meditation because you have to sit still and have stuff glued on your face. And then I got up and went to my trailer and went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, and I was just so shocked."

She was more coy when discussing Melisandre’s future. “I don’t know anything,” she said when the Times asked her if Melisandre would live to see the Lord of Light’s prophecy come true. “I wish I did. But I, personally, think she is a little bit going towards the end of her journey.”

She may have to consult the flames.

Next: Ratings report: “Stormborn” is the second most-watched episode of Game of Thrones ever

Apart from Thrones, you’ll soon be able to see Van Houten in Brian de Palma’s Domino, in which she costars with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. “Even I am like, ‘Look at me, I am here filming a scene with Jaime Lannister,’ It’s so cool!” We’re sure we’d react the same way.

Finally, she revealed that she loved making this skit, although that’s pretty obvious.

Game of Thrones season 7 continues this Sunday with “The Queen’s Justice” at 9:00 p.m. EST.

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