“I would avoid Matt Smith’s eye contact”: House of the Dragon Star Ewan Mitchell Went As far As to Ignore Matt Smith to Make 1 Thrilling Scene Even More Electrifying
- Ewan Mitchell says Aemond Targaryen is the biggest stan for Daemon Targaryen.
- The actor reveals that he avoided making an eye contact with Matt Smith to perfect a scene in Season 1 of House of the Dragon.
- Ewan Mitchell says Aemond Targaryen does not want to sit on the Iron Throne.
English actor Ewan Mitchell plays Prince Aemond Targaryen on HBO’s fantasy action-adventure series House of the Dragon. Prequel to Game of Thrones, the show created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal is based on the parts of Martin’s 2018 novel Fire & Blood. It shows the events that ultimately led to the decline of House Targaryen.
House of the Dragon also stars Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, and more. The show has received positive responses from the audience and the critics, with special mention about the character developments and the performances of the actors. Ewan Mitchell decided to avoid his co-star to achieve a perfect scene.
Ewan Mitchell talks about creating the iconic ‘Aemond-Daemon’ scene in Season 1 of House of the Dragon
In an interview with Variety, English actor Ewan Mitchell was asked about which direction he thinks the relationship between his character Aemond Targaryen and Matt Smith’s character Daemon Targaryen will go when they meet. The actor stated,
I think they’d be really good friends in reality. Aemond wants to be his uncle, but he also wants to be better than him. To achieve that, he has to do more than what he did, which is a tremendous feat in itself. So much of Aemond’s costume lends to the idea that he very much idolizes Daemon. He’s Daemon’s biggest stan. From the Targaryen blacks to the long hair, it’s so reminiscent of a young Rogue Prince. It’s a homage to his idol.
The actor added that he does not want to spoil anything for the audience, but if Aemond and Daemon end up meeting in a room, somewhere every household object would become a dangerous weapon. Mitchell was further asked if he had the chance to talk to Matt Smith about how similar their characters are, which he revealed;
One of the first decisions I made on my first shoot day was the idea that I would avoid Matt Smith’s eye contact and only ever see Daemon. I was a big fan of ‘Doctor Who’ growing up, and Matt Smith was such an electricity and a useful vibrancy that was a lot more accessible for a young kid. I dreamt of going on adventures with him, very similar to how Aemond would probably dream about going on adventures with his idol.
The actor further explained that he found that it was interesting to keep Smith on a podium, keeping Daemon on that platform as long as the actor and the show-runner were OK with it. He said he wanted to save that eye contact for a very particular moment in Season 1 where the eyes of these characters finally meet at the banquet table. Mitchell describes that moment as ‘pure electricity’ to see Daemon and not Smith.
Ewan Mitchell reveals if Aemond Targaryen would give up the Iron Throne once Aegon recovers
Further in the interview with Variety, the actor who has been highly appreciated for his bold and fierce portrayal of the young prince was asked if his character would give up the throne once his brother and the King recovers. The actor said,
Aemond has a multitude of motivations. One of them is that he wants to be the war hero and to be seen as this nigh-unkillable force, very similar to the Rouge Prince, the younger Daemon Targaryen. Especially because Aemond wields the largest singular power in Vhagar, with that power comes a great responsibility. He has to be seen as someone who can capably control that power.
Ewan Mitchell added that in Aemond’s mind, he has to be the one who wins the fight for the Greens, and he’s prepared to do the necessary evil. The actor mentioned that the one thing Aemond does not consider is other people’s perspectives on the situation, adding that he’s got his singular vision.
It’s almost like if one is not with him, they are against him, and if someone gets in his way, he won’t hesitate to cut them down. Mitchell added during the interview that Aemond does not even want to sit on the throne as he realizes that the one who sits on the throne is the most wanted man in the realm. He is happy operating as prince regent.
House of the Dragon is streaming on HBO Max.
