‘Game of Thrones’ actor predicts ending

GOT TO PREP for the role, Alexander Siddig “binge-watched” the first four seasons in two weeks.

LONDON—A quarter century in the business, and British actor Alexander Siddig—known from the TV show “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and the movie “Kingdom of Heaven”—considers himself an “old dog.”

But being cast as Prince Doran Martell of Dorne in the fifth season of HBO’s hit fantasy-drama series “Game of Thrones” he said, has been “vivifying.”

Siddig told reporters from around the world, including the Inquirer, “Everybody already likes the show so you know that audiences are going to be particularly judgmental of what we do. But it’s quite nice to be in the white-hot center of that kind of scrutiny again.”

Landing the role—Doran is the elder brother of the deceased fan-favorite Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal)—Siddig confessed that he “binge-watched” the first four seasons in two weeks, taking note of the nuances in Pascal’s portrayal.

“Thank God for Pedro, I had a template… I watched a couple of his scenes over and over, trying to figure out what he was doing and why,” Siddig said, adding that he and Pascal also discussed the good and bad things that came with stepping into a running popular show.

Unlike the flamboyant and fearsome warrior that was Oberyn, Doran is a contemplative, rather stoic, ruler whose severe gout has rendered him wheelchair-bound.

“He behaves like an archetypal older brother—more level-headed and calculating. But he still has a big heart and loves his family,” Siddig said of Doran, also called Lord of Sunspear.

“He just can’t move, run around or, you know… do sexy things,” Siddig jested, poking fun at Oberyn who was as famous for his sexual appetite as for his skills in combat. Asked if he is rooting for a specific character or family in the series, Siddig said his hunch was that the children would take over:

“All these kids wandering around Westeros—a little girl here, a little boy there… It’s probably going to be all about them, and these old guys will be finished when the show’s done.”

“There’s this little girl with black hair and looks like a tramp, whose name escapes me right now…” “Arya Stark,” a writer offered. “Arya!” Siddig said, clapping his hands. “She’s got it! She’s going to take over, I reckon.”

“Game of Thrones” Season 5 airs Mondays at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on HBO (replays Wednesday 11 p.m. and Thursday 1 p.m.) and HBO HD.

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