Game of Thrones: Joe Dempsie reveals 'initial discomfort' over sex scene with Maisie Williams
‘It always made me slightly uncomfortable,’ he admits
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Game of Thrones star Joe Dempsie has opened up about his "initial discomfort" over his sex scene with Maisie Williams.
In the HBO show’s final season, Gendry reunites with Arya Stark for the first time since the third season.
Ahead of the Night King battle, in a romance teased in George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series, the pair sleep with one another after Arya tells him she wants to lose her virginity.
Following the broadcast of the episode, many viewers were left questioning how old Arya was considering Williams was just 14 when the show began. HBO confirmed that the character was 18 – Gendry was 22.
In a new interview with The Independent, Dempsie admitted he found doing the scene “an odd transition” purely because he’d “met [Williams] when she was a child”.
He revealed he “always avoided answering questions” about the possible sex scene years before it happened considering Williams was still a minor.
“During the course of the first three seasons, it was something I was asked regularly because the books suggest there’s a possible romance,” he said, adding: “It always made me slightly uncomfortable.”
Dempsie continued: “I know we were recreating fantasy, but we as actors have to make it very much in reality, and they were asking me to comment on whether I – at the time, a 25-year-old man – would like my character to hook up with a 14-year-old.”
He said that filming the scene was “absolutely fine” and that he put his “initial discomfort to the side” as he “didn’t wanna patronise” Williams, who was 20 when filming the scene.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
“It would have been doing her a massive disservice,” he said.
In the same interview, Dempsie also rubbished a fan theory regarding the show’s “rushed” ending.
Dempsie can currently be seen in Channel 4 drama Adult Material, which provides an unflinching look at the porn industry.
Read the full interview here.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments