Graham McTavish talks playing Dijkstra on The Witcher

Working on big franchise shows comes easily to Graham McTavish these days. He’s played the war leader Dougal MacKenzie on Outlander, the former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Harrold Westerling on House of the Dragon, and Redanian spymaster Sigismund Dijkstra on The Witcher, where he makes a big splash in the five new episodes released last month on Netflix.

Somewhere between an ally and an enemy for Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), Dijkstra puts his vast intelligence to use changing the power structure of Redania alongside his partner Philippa Eilhart (Cassie Clare). The scheming Dijkstra is very different from the steadfast, grounded Harrold Westerling in House of the Dragon. However, McTavish is keen to point out that Dijkistra is not as cold-hearted as he might seem.

Speaking to GamesRadar+, McTavish said that Dijkstra is “very kind, very thoughtful, you just don’t get to see a lot of that. Yes, his obsession with macrame and knitting are really very well known in Redania, it’s just you don’t get to see it.”

So Dijkstra has a lighter side? Despite his careful planning, we do see him in some embarrassing situations. He may be a strategic mastermind, but he has flaws like everyone else.

Graham McTavish appreciates the humor on The Witcher

McTavish is happy for the opportunity to play that side of the character. “One of the things I really appreciate about The Witcher is the humor, actually. The humor of all the characters, Dijkstra being one of them. Everybody has humorous interchanges, and I think that personally distinguishes the show.”

We have yet to see much of this kinder and more thoughtful side of Dijkstra that McTavish is hinting at, but maybe all will be revealed when Part 2 of The Witcher season 3 drops on July 27. Seasons 1-2, as well as the first five episodes of season 3, are are streaming on Netflix now.

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