Talking extensively to Craig Fitzpatrick in this fortnight's Hot Press Interview about the return of Other Voices, acclaimed actor Aidan Gillen also opened up about that other TV phenomenon in which he's involved.
With the fifth season of Game Of Thrones now well underway, the Dublin star talks about what it's like playing such a recognisable character.
"People don’t call you Aidan, they call you Petyr or Lord Baelish or Littlefinger," he admits. "It’s something that I used to have an issue with, I’m thinking 'why are they calling me that?'. But it’s actually quite a good buffer that people are calling out a name and it’s a character name. When it goes from people calling you Stuart to calling you Carcetti to calling you John Boy from Love/Hate, which is huge here, it’s always great when the last one gets pushed out of the way. So I actually quite like it, being called a character name on the street. It means you’ve made a bond and, you know, Game Of Thrones is huge, Love/Hate was huge here, The Wire had a huge audience, so when people are calling you those names it’s fine. I don’t have an issue with it, it’s never been a problem.
Does he consider himself a Game Of Thrones fan?
"I think it’s a really good show. I hadn’t read the books before I was cast in it. I had actually, but just before. I would watch it if I wasn’t in it, if that’s what you’re asking me."
Gillen has naturally been approached by ardent fans of the show who understand the minutiae of it far more than he ever will.
"Yeah. I’m sure I’ve met many people who know far more about it than I do but they don’t put me on the spot too much. It’s odd being addressed as Lord Baelish but it happens occasionally."
When in doubt, he apparently consults his GoT companion app.
Elsewhere in the wide-ranging interview, Gillen talks about how pleased he is Huw Stephens is on board for the current series of Other Voices, his love/hate relationship with the industry in LA, how Birdman got the Broadway experience spot on and much, much more.
Other Voices airs on RTÉ Two every Sunday at 22.50pm. Game Of Thrones airs on Sky Atlantic every Monday at 9pm.
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