Clinton Liberty remembers exactly where he was the first time he watched House of the Dragon. The actor’s eyes were glued to the screen as he saw Steve Toussaint appear as the formidable Corlys Velaryon, aka the Sea Snake, in the Game of Thrones spin-off series. 'I’m from a really small village in Ireland called Laytown, in a county called Meath,' he tells Metro. 'I remember seeing Steve Toussaint on the screen, and having this really sharp thought of, “I can do that. I just need an opportunity. I just need a shot.” Asking the universe for a shot, and wondering how a kid from this small village in Laytown can go there. Then lo and behold, the opportunity came.'
From Self-Tape to Dragonrider
The 28-year-old sent in his self-tape, which he filmed at home where he lived with his mum, and the rest is history. He was cast as Addam of Hull from season two, a character who boasts one of the most memorable scenes in the entire epic franchise – when he’s chased by the dragon Sea Smoke, who chooses him as his rider. Clinton explains the connection: 'He kind of mirrors my life. For Addam, being a normal person and then being transported into a greater height, it’s the exact same thing as me being from the village in Laytown, and then being on the biggest show in the world, which is also my favourite show and favourite franchise of all time. So, yeah, I hear you.'
The Moment Sea Smoke Chose Addam
The scene takes place in season two episode six, when Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) seeks commonfolk with Targaryen ancestry to become dragonriders. Addam, Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), and Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) are chosen. While Ulf and Hugh are taken to the dragonpit, Addam’s experience is more unorthodox: a dragon swoops in and pursues him. He fears for his life before realizing Sea Smoke will not harm him. Clinton recalls filming on a beach in Wales, which reminded him of his hometown beach. 'There was a point in the day where I was like, “I’m literally living my dreams right now.” I wish I could speak to 16, 17-year-old Clinton watching Game of Thrones for the first time and tell him, “Dude, one day you’re gonna be riding a dragon; you’re gonna be chosen by a dragon.” It was so surreal; it was such a pinch-me moment. I will never forget what that day felt like to me. Genuinely.'
Addam’s Moral Crossroads in Season Three
Going into season three, Addam faces a dilemma. He is officially a dragonrider for Team Black, but Rhaenyra refuses to legitimize him and his brother Alyn (Abubakar Salim), despite their father Corlys’ request. Addam is 'angry,' according to Clinton. 'He feels like he’s been let down, because the one thing he’s ever wanted his whole life, him and his brother Alyn, has been to be legitimised by either their father or by Rhaenyra, but obviously it holds more weight when it comes from the Queen of the kingdom, and she has an opportunity to do it, and it’s been denied and taken away from him.' Clinton adds: 'It’s kind of like someone looking you in the face and saying, “Your lifelong dream, I will not grant, and I’m not giving you any specific reasons why.”' Addam is left at a crossroads: 'Do I betray my internal moral code and moral compass for the validation of those I love and care about, or do I stick to who I truly am at my core, and possibly betray those around me and those that I care about? It’s a big dilemma for him.'
Real-Life Brotherhood and Manifestation
Clinton shares a strange connection with co-star Abubakar Salim, who plays Alyn. 'We’re practically brothers in real life,' he says. Clinton had been a fan of Salim’s work in Assassin’s Creed before they met. Additionally, as a teenager, Clinton was inspired by Simon Russell Beale, who plays Ser Simon Strong in House of the Dragon. While studying Shakespeare in secondary school, Clinton watched Beale perform King Lear and told his teacher, 'That’s the kind of acting I want to do.' Years later, at the read-through for House of the Dragon, Clinton found himself sitting next to Beale. 'Out of everyone, I fangirled the most over Simon Russell Beale. Next was Matt Smith, Doctor Who, obviously, but Simon was the first one, and I was just so in awe of him. I was like, “I literally remember watching you and being so inspired by you in my English classroom.” I’m just always subconsciously manifesting things.'
Gratitude Among Cast
Clinton reveals that the actors playing Addam, Ulf, and Hugh are close in real life. 'We genuinely care about each other and love each other’s families. I remember so many days, for two hours plus, we’d just be sitting outside our trailers and talking about our lives and our journey up until this point, and how grateful we were to be a part of something so big, and that gratitude we share.'
House of the Dragon is available to watch on HBO Max, Sky and NOW, with new episodes released on Mondays.
