Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm) explains why being a geek is a badge of honor
By Ashley Hurst
As the man behind Unsullied commander Grey Worm on Game of Thrones, Jacob Anderson is part of one of the biggest fantasy fandoms of all time. He’s used to being mobbed by swarms of loving fans, but he’s also a pretty big fan himself. Speaking on John Bishop and Tony Pitts’ Three Little Words podcast, the 31-year-old actor and musician explained why the word “geek” is special to him.
“There are so many negative connotations to the word ‘geek’,” Anderson said. “It was something that I was embarrassed of growing up. Like, I love comic books. I always have loved comic books. I love music. I love films. I think the things that I love, it doesn’t end with the thing. There’s always more, I always want to read more. ”
"I think sometimes people think of geeks as people that want to lord it over other people. For me, it’s not that."
It’s true that in recent times being a “geek” has become a bit more fashionable. Given the success of franchises like the MCU and DCEU, the comic book industry has seen an enormous rise in sales. Hopefully, the trend continues to grow and the negative connotations fade away.
Jacob Anderson has lots of time for Game of Thrones fans!
There are certainly moments when fame can become irritating for actors, what with them getting stopped for pictures and signatures at every turn. When John Bishop asked Anderson how he felt about being there for fans, Anderson said that he always strives for patience, since he knows what it’s like to be an adoring fan. “I can completely, completely appreciate that,” he said. “And I try to make sure as well that I don’t forget that when I meet people that have seen the show and respond to it in that way, to not try and break that relationship.”
Incidentally, Bishop recently joined one of the world’s biggest fandoms himself. Earlier this year, we learned that he’ll appear on the upcoming 13th season of Doctor Who as Dan, the Doctor’s new companion. He could definitely get some tips from Anderson about what it’s like to be surrounded by geeks who admire your work.
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