Jacob Anderson talks Grey Worm and his rising music career
Actor Jacob Anderson has played Grey Worm the castrated mercenary on Game of Thrones since season 3. Over the years, he’s risen to the rank of General, earned the respect of his Khaleesi and also won the love of Missandei, and become a fan favorite. Anderson also has a healthy career as a music artist, and he talked about both callings in an interview with Vulture.
No character is supposed to be safe on Game of Thrones, and now, Kit Harington expects a “bloodbath” in season 8. When asked if he, as the “black guy” on the show, felt safer, Anderson replied with a laugh. “Sometimes I’m like, “Okay, that maybe isn’t going to keep me safe.” There was a moment while shooting “Sons of the Harpy” in season 5 when he was certain Grey Worm’s death card was about to be punched:
"I remember someone telling me something when I first started the show. Like, ‘If they call you in for prosthetics, assume that’s it.’ I remember I had a special costume fitting and they were like, ‘We’re going to put a stab rig in.’ I was like, “Ugh, no one comes back from a stabbing!” Not in those days. That was a big surprise, to come back from that. They give us episodes in pieces. I had read all the episodes basically up until that scene, so I didn’t know if I was coming back or not. I didn’t know if I made it."
Grey Worm did end up making it, of course, but poor Barristan Selmy did not.
As for the stresses of fame, Anderson says that “[i]t’s not that intense for me. I’m pretty low-key.” He doesn’t seek attention, and usually wears a hat when he goes out, mainly because he likes it. He hasn’t had many strange things happen to him with fans, with the exception of a mild shout-out on a New York subway:
"I’ve told this story so many times … I was on the subway, and this guy shouted, ‘Fuck yeah, Grey Worm!’ I looked up and I’m pretty sure it was this one guy reading his newspaper. That was it. [There was] no eye contact at all. I think he was looking down when he said it. That was the weirdest experience I’ve had. Apart from that, people are really nice. Generally it’s cool."
Outside the show, Anderson is a musician who performs under the name Raleigh Ritchie. One of his singles — “Stronger than Ever” made it on the UK charts in 2014. His newest electropop album is 2016’s You’re a Man Now, Boy. His first headlining U.S. tour came to an end this spring, and he found the fans on this side of the pond to be quite receptive, despite being warned about cold audiences in New York:
"It was amazing. It was awesome. I didn’t really know what to expect. I’ve been told it was like a London show, where you have to win New Yorkers over. Actually it was a really warm crowd. By the end we were jumping around together, singing together."
Anderson doesn’t know quite how to label his music. “I wouldn’t categorize myself as R&B or hip-hop. I don’t really know how to categorize myself. I’m still working out where I fit with that stuff. I kind of think of myself as pop.” Music has always been a part of his life, while acting arrived much later:
"Music was something I chose that I came to as a kid, and acting was something that was suggested to me. I was kind of like, “Okay, I’ll take a risk on that and try it.” I really enjoyed it and fell in love with it, whereas music has been something that has been a part of my life for a long time. My parents were very loud — both households [were]. My mom listened to a lot of house music. My dad listened to a lot of roots and dub. I’ve got a lot of bass. It’s been in my whole life. I feel like music is an emotional outlet for me, and acting is the opposite. It’s a way of not having to think about things I want to get out."
Anderson is constantly busy on the set of his music videos: “I’m a bit of a control freak so I can never relax on a music video or shoot,” he says. “I’m always asking ‘What’s going on?’ and ‘How does it look?’ and ‘What’s this?’ and ‘Why are we doing this?’ It’s a completely different thing, whereas with Thrones I can completely relax.”
What’s next for Anderson now that Thrones is preparing to winding down? A “difficult second album,” he laughs. “That’s where I am at the moment, trying to work out what it’s going to be.” He’s going on a retreat to write the new album so he can “have it out by the end of the year.” He wants his music to reflect what’s happening right now for all of us:
"I think for everybody in the world, particularly here and definitely in England as well, we’ve got a lot to think about at the moment. I am trying to work out what my place is in all of that stuff. I feel like at the moment that’s what I want the album to be. You can never plan it. If I learned anything from the first one, you can’t plan what it’s going to be."
We wish Jacob the best of luck on his new album, and Grey Worm the best of luck in the game of thrones.
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