Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is keen to emphasise that his career extends far beyond his iconic role as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones. While the fantasy drama made him a household name, he notes that he worked more weeks on other projects over the eight seasons, including two films per year. His latest role is in the small-town thriller The Silencing, where he plays a grizzled alcoholic tracker haunted by his daughter's disappearance.
Coster-Waldau has a preference for smaller, guerrilla-style filmmaking, with The Silencing shot on a shoestring budget in Canada. He contrasts this with the logistical challenges of filming large-scale productions under Covid-19 restrictions, stating that a show like Game of Thrones with hundreds of extras and crew could not have been made during the pandemic.
When asked about potentially joining superhero blockbusters like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor expressed reluctance, describing green-screen movies as “incredibly boring” despite acknowledging the talent involved. He prefers roles that allow for more nuanced storytelling.
Reflecting on the divisive Game of Thrones finale, Coster-Waldau attributes fan dissatisfaction to the difficulty of crafting a perfect ending and the natural reluctance to see a beloved series conclude. On the topic of “cancel culture,” he advocates for basic forgiveness, arguing that shutting down careers over past offensive remarks is counterproductive to progress.
