Top 10 most perfectly cast actors on Game of Thrones

7. Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister)

Honestly, I’m still not entirely convinced that actor Charles Dance just isn’t Tywin Lannister in his daily life. Look at that man! At 6’3”, he stands stately and tall. He carries himself with the air of importance, and don’t even get me started on how powerful that jawline is. This guy could definitely run a kingdom.

Beyond physical appearance, Charles just nails what it means to be Tywin Lannister. Every word is measured, every little glance is calculated. Sharing a scene with Tywin automatically makes your character more interesting, because you know he’s going to hold you to account. And the show explores aspects of her personality we didn’t see in the books; we even saw something approaching a soft side in season 2, when he befriends a young Arya Stark. That relationship stood in stark contrast to the relationships Tywin has with his actual children, especially Tyrion, but with Dance there to find the nuance, it never felt contradictory. It just deepened our knowledge of an already complex character.

Dance’s resume is perfectly attuned for this kind of role. He has a history with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has appeared in many a British television drama and he has plenty of experience playing the villain; one of his earliest roles was as wicked James Bond henchman Claus in For Your Eyes Only.

I think it’s worth noting that Dance actually turned down the opportunity to screen test for 007 himself. Isn’t it fitting that the man who plays Tywin, a GoT villain who juggles pride and cruelty and loyalty and respect, would have had opportunities to play both a Bond villain and hero?