Jonathan Pryce, the veteran actor known for roles in Brazil, The Crown, and Game of Thrones, has revealed that he fell asleep while watching his character's dramatic death scene on television. The High Sparrow, his malevolent zealot in the HBO series, was incinerated by wildfire in a spectacular sequence. 'There was this really slow build-up to it. It went on for ever,' Pryce recalled. '... and I fell asleep.'
The following morning, his son Gabriel joked about the scene at breakfast, prompting Pryce to rewatch it. He also admitted he has not seen the heavily divisive finale of Game of Thrones. When asked if he watches his own work, Pryce quipped, 'Does Ricky Gervais watch his own work? I bet he does. He shouldn't.'
Pryce is currently starring in Under Salt Marsh, a new crime series on Sky. The six-parter, set in a remote Welsh coastal town, follows the investigation into a young boy's drowning that reopens a cold case. Pryce plays Solomon, a retired minister with a volcanic temper. 'I enjoyed that scene,' he said of a particularly explosive moment. 'It's generally quite nice to get to shout at people.'
At 78, Pryce remains active in his career. He described his character as 'sombre and contained' until provoked by Rafe Spall's detective. The series was shot across Anglesey and North Wales, territory familiar to Pryce from his youth in Holywell. As a teenager, he would ride pillion on motorbikes with older friends, heading to coastal pubs 'ostensibly to drink, but really we were looking out for Welsh girls.'
