“It makes it very difficult for as an actor”: ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Richard Madden Can Totally Relate to Kit Harington’s One Troubling Experience on the Show

Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, HBO’s fantasy drama series Game of Thrones is one of the biggest and highly popular television series. The series is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of novels by George R.R. Martin, and stars Kit Harington, Richard Madden, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, and more. Upon release, Game of Thrones garnered a record-breaking viewership, and critics named the show one of the greatest television series of all time.

The show, which included a large ensemble cast, followed various story arcs throughout its eight-season run. Despite the final season receiving criticism for various reasons, including the length and a disappointing conclusion, Game of Thrones is one of the most loved series. Actor Richard Madden opened up about playing The Young Wolf on the show.

Richard Madden explains why playing Robb Stark on Game of Thrones was ‘very difficult’

Actor Richard Madden played Robb Stark, a.k.a. The Young Wolf, on Game of Thrones. The actor’s character was one of the most liked characters on the show, along with Kit Harington’s Jon Snow. However, Richard Madden had his own set of challenges with portraying the character on-screen. He opened up in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and said,

I think he’s one of the most honest characters in the show. It makes it very difficult for me as an actor, but it also makes it a much more exciting journey for me when I’m having to be as honest as I can the whole time. As an actor, I try and be like that with every part I do, but with a character that’s trying to be honest, it makes it even more difficult.

According to the actor, portraying an overly truthful character on-screen can escalate the action and drama in a way that a more manipulative character can maybe avoid or alter as they see fit. Madden added that his character had to react a lot more, and for him, acting is exciting when the actor portraying a character is reacting.

Richard Madden is not the first actor from Game of Thrones who has had a difficult time portraying a character that might be too honest. Kit Harington, in his interview with THR, had opened up about a similar feeling, as he mentioned:

Jon Snow was wonderful; I loved him, but he was sometimes tricky to play because he was morally kind of perfect, which is difficult to play sometimes.

After Madden’s character was killed off in Season 3 during one of the show’s most infamous episodes, the actor went on to star in shows including Bodyguard and Rocketman. He was also a part of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Eternals, in which he played Ikaris. Madden led the action thriller series Citadel alongside Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

Harington, after Game of Thrones concluded in 2019, appeared in the second season of Netflix’s Criminal: UK, and later, like Madden, appeared in MCU’s Eternals as Dane Whitman. The actor was cast in the second season of Prime Video’s anthology series Modern Love opposite Lucy Boynton for the episode Strangers on a (Dublin) Train. Kit Harington was cast to play the CEO of a green tech energy company in the third season of the HBO/BBC One series Industry, which premiered on August 11th, 2024.

Richard Madden describes filming the Red Wedding as ‘traumatic’

Game of Thrones’ The Red Wedding is regarded as one of the most devastating episodes in the history of television. The episode titled The Rains of Castamere saw the merciless slaughter of Robb Stark, his mother Catelyn Stark, and his pregnant wife Talisa Stark. Along with the main characters, the entire Stark congregation was murdered by Walder Frey as revenge for Robb Stark walking back on the marriage pact between House Stark and House Frey.

The series concluded in 2019 but remains one of the best shows in television history, and the Red Wedding remains one of the most devastating moments. While promoting his show Citadel in 2023, the actor spoke to ET about the Red Wedding as it marked its tenth anniversary. He said,

I still have fond memories of the whole experience. I mean, not that particular scene but the whole experience I have fond memories of. Three seasons deep, we got to have this horrible death with characters that you’re invested in.

He also spoke to Variety about the Red Wedding, recalling that there was a lot of crying because, at the end of it, he was going to be apart from his family. Madden added that he had spent a lot of time with the cast and crew of Game of Thrones, so filming the Red Wedding was ‘traumatic’. He added that not only was it traumatic to film, but also because he was losing his family as his time on the show was coming to an end.

Madden will be seen starring alongside Shailene Woodley and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Killer Heat. The movie is scheduled for release on September 26, 2024. Game of Thrones is available to stream on HBO.