Every actor’s portrayal of a character finds within it a source of inspiration. For Paddy Considine, this constituted basing Viserys I Targaryen on his mother, who battled a tragic ailment. The debut of HBO’s House of the Dragon Season One last year brought forth an array of new characters from the fictional universe intricately crafted by George R. R. Martin. King Viserys was among one of them.
Despite turning down the chance to appear in Game of Thrones, the 50-year-old actor chose to star in the prequel series. And fans couldn’t be more thankful. Considine’s authentic embodiment of Viserys the Peaceful proved unforgettable. However, there was a reason why it worked. In an interview, the Blitz star explained how he drew inspiration from his mother for the role.
Paddy Considine Based Viserys I Targaryen On His Mother
In an interview with The Sunday Times, actor Paddy Considine shared the inspiration behind the ailing Viserys I Targaryen’s portrayal. The talent’s response, albeit surprising, demonstrated his admiration and respect for his mother, who dealt with severe diabetes. Considine wanted to encapsulate her “kindness and love” through the House of the Dragon character. In the same breath, he wished to depict the tragic decline of someone suffering from such a grave illness.
Following was the English actor’s statement:
“If anything, Viserys was based on my mother. She was the most powerful woman I knew for a long time. Until she neglected herself. By the end of her life, my mum had diabetes. I adored my mum. But her illness became her comfort zone. It was tragic to see that decline, and I put that — plus her kindness and her love — into Viserys.”
Read more: House of the Dragon Star Paddy Considine Shares Heartfelt Message After Departing Series
In a separate interview for The Independent, he remarked on the similarities between the character and his mother, affirming the following:
“… when I played Viserys Targaryen, I just played my mum. […] She was just an anchor for me. I loved her very much. But she was a woman who became very, very sick. She had diabetes. […] But I think she hid inside her illness, and that made it worse for her. […] And that’s what this character does, eventually, you know… he becomes very sick and hides in his illness.”
In closing, the Peaky Blinders alum said that while King Viserys cocooned into his illness, he shared the same compassion, kindness, and love for everyone around him as Paddy Considine’s mother.
Paddy Considine Rejected Game Of Thrones Without Reading The Script
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In the Sunday Times interview, Paddy Considine also revealed that his agent once approached him to star in Game of Thrones. When he heard that the show was about dragons, the actor was apprehensive to participate even though it would go on to make history. Considine turned down the chance to be in the critically acclaimed fantasy drama without reading the script.
Following was his recollection of the moment:
“He said, ‘It’s about dragons,’ I went, ‘No thanks.’ I didn’t even read it.'”
He may have rejected an opportunity to participate in one of the biggest TV shows in history. However, he swiftly accepted the offer to star in the prequel series. The actor knew he couldn’t miss out on this second chance. Paddy Considine’s portrayal as the fifth ruler of the Targaryen Dynasty was well-received by the audience, who appreciated his talent on screen.
It’s safe to assume he made the correct decision.
The first season of House of the Dragon is available for streaming on Max. The second season is slated for a summer 2024 release. You can check out the newly released trailer below:
