Steve Toussaint, who portrays Corlys Velaryon in House of the Dragon, has revealed that fans frequently inquired whether he was in a romantic relationship with his co-star Eve Best, who played Rhaenys Targaryen. Speaking to Metro from Madrid on the day season 3 premiered, Toussaint shared that the misconception was common. 'People used to often ask whether I was actually in a relationship with Eve Best,' he said. 'I asked her, she said, “Oh, yeah, they asked me that a lot as well.”'
Corlys Velaryon's Motivation After Tragedy
Despite the devastating losses Corlys has endured—including the death of his daughter, the supposed death of his son, and the death of his wife Rhaenys in battle against the Greens—Toussaint explained that his character's drive stems from his late wife. 'Prior to her demise, she said to him, “We have to help [Rhaenyra] in her quest for the throne because hers is a rightful claim.” She also says to him, “I know who your two sons are, I’ve always known, and you have to recognise them because it’s not their fault that you were lousy to them.” So, as he says in season two, everything I do now I do for her.' He added, 'A combined sense of injustice, indignation and rage is what propels him through this season. He’s lost so much, a lot of it in this cause for very little return.'
The Battle of the Gullet
The Battle of the Gullet—a pivotal clash between the Greens and the Blacks—was originally intended to conclude season 2 but was moved to the season 3 premiere after a two-year wait. The battle, which took around two months to rehearse, ended with the shocking death of a key character and the loss of a dragon. Toussaint praised the show for balancing spectacle with emotional depth. 'As Abu [Salim] said, who plays Alyn, “When you’re doing a fight, every blow is meant to be the last blow. Even though you know that choreography is 20 shots, each one of them is meant to be the last one.” With that in mind, that becomes a lot more emotionally challenging.'
Rhaenyra and Corlys: A Chess Match
Toussaint described the dynamic between Corlys and Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) as a chess match—allies who often feel like opponents. 'When he was in her presence, he admired her, and he felt that she was the right person to rule. But whenever he was apart, he was constantly like, everything this woman touches turns to dust. They have a very complicated relationship, and it gets more so this season.'
House of the Dragon Ending with Season 4
With confirmation that House of the Dragon will conclude after season 4, Toussaint reflected on the series' journey. 'It’s been wonderful to be a part of something where so many people are invested,' the 61-year-old actor said. 'It’s mixed feelings about the fact that we’re coming towards the end, because on the one hand, I have had so much fun playing this, and I really do like the people that I work with. But as an actor, you’re always looking to try something different. I’m going to try and enjoy whatever part that I play in the subsequent season if I make it that far, but everything has to come to an end.'
New Film: A Blue Butterfly
Beyond Westeros, Toussaint has written and stars in a psychological drama titled A Blue Butterfly. The film, inspired by stories from the Rwandan genocide, follows Sentwali, a man grappling with inner turmoil and a quest for redemption. 'Years ago, I had done a movie about the Rwandan genocide [called Shooting Dogs], and I was fascinated by the stories that were coming out at the time. I decided that I wanted to tell a story about somebody living with the consequences of that, and so that’s what I did,' he explained. 'To be able to portray a character that has an inner turmoil on the surface just to survive, to exist, but also underneath all these raging things happening, this guilt, this need for redemption, and this need for human contact, to be able to play that on a set, and go, “Oh my god, I wrote this, and these people are involved.” It was a wonderful experience to make that movie, and hopefully, towards the end of this year, people will get to see it.'
Inspiration from Gary Oldman
Toussaint, who grew up in south London, has long been inspired by actor Gary Oldman, who also hails from the area. He recalled watching Oldman in The Firm and Prick Up Your Ears, which convinced him that acting was attainable. 'Added to the fact that he’s from where I grew up in south-east London, it was like, God, if someone from New Cross can do that, then maybe I’ve got a chance,' he said. 'I long for the day that I get to meet him and go, “You man, you did it, you were amazing,” because he’s just one of the finest of his generation.' When asked if he might join Slow Horses, where Oldman stars, Toussaint laughed, 'You never know, you never know.'
House of the Dragon season 3 airs on HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, and NOW, with new episodes on Mondays.
