'My guard was up': Why 'Transformers' star Peter Dinklage nearly declined 'Game of Thrones' role as Tyrion
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Peter Dinklage always comes to mind when we talk about actors breaking the mold that the industry set for them based on looks. Over the years, the 53-year-old actor has made a name for himself with his iconic performances in blockbusters like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Ice Age: Continental Drift’. Now, Dinklage is once again ready to lend his voice to Decepticon Scourge in 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts', which is scheduled to hit theaters on June 9.
The ‘Avenger: Infinity War’ star may have delivered a string of marvelous performances but it was his role in ‘Games of Thrones’ that bought his ticket to fame. In HBO’s recording-breaking series, Dinklage portrayed Tyrion Lannister aka "the Imp" — an intelligent but alcoholic dwarf belonging to the noble House Lannister. For the unaware, Tyrion was the youngest brother of the three Lannister siblings, heirs to House Lannister and their home, Casterly Rock. The role won him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series a record four times.
Why Dinklage was hesitant about signing on to play Tyrion
Although Dinklage became a household name after playing Tyrion, he was initially hesitant to accept the part. In a Reddit ‘Ask Me Anything’ session, the actor revealed that he was a little apprehensive about playing Tyrion because of his prior experience in fantasy movies. Before 'GoT', he played a crucial role in 2008's fantasy epic 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'. In the movie, he was seen slipping into the shoes of Trumpkin, the cynical, practical caretaker of the Pevensie children.
The role required him to sit in the makeup chair for three hours each morning, according to Business Insider. Reflecting on his prior experience, Dinklage revealed on Reddit that “I had one hesitation, because of the fantasy genre. I told [David Benioff] I didn’t want a really long beard and pointy shoes, and they assured me this character and this world wasn’t that.” The actor only agreed to play the role after the show-runners assured him that Tryion truly was a one-of-a-kind fantasy character.
'It's the most realistic show'
"[Benioff and co-creator Dan Weiss] assured me this character and this world wasn't that," Dinklage told Reddit, adding, "They told me about his complexity, the fact that he wasn't a hero or a villain, that he was a womanizer and a drinker, and they painted a flawed and beautiful portrait of him, so I signed on." In another interview, Dinklage praised Tryion’s character saying “This (Tyrion's character) was the opposite, because of the relationships between these characters, because of who Tyrion is, how flesh-and-blood he is. It's the most realistic show that I've ever done that also happens to have dragons and dead people walking around in it."