Back in the Game

Game of Thrones draws on a mythological world of castles, sword-wielding knights and flying dragons informed by English Medieval literature.

Few other Danish actors of his generation — Mads Mikkelsen and Connie Nielsen come to mind — have carved out successful international film careers, but Coster-Waldau always had his eyes on that prize. “My ambition has always been to work with English and American actors and directors,” he says. “Those were the movies that I was watching when I was growing up.”

The actor continues, “The only way to do that was to practise your English, but it’s a lot harder than I ever imagined it would be. You can be as good an actor as you want but, if your accent is too strong, it’s going to limit you.”

It’s been almost four years since Coster-Waldau first picked up a broadsword to play the amoral Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones. For three seasons television viewers have loved to hate Lannister, who sleeps with his sister, Queen Cersei (Lena Headey), and has three children with her. In order to protect his incestuous affair, he pushed Bran Stark , a boy who had spotted him having intercourse with Cersei, out of a tower window. When his right hand was lopped off at the end of the third season, many fans regarded it as well-deserved punishment.

Season four will premiere on HBO this month. In the first episode Lannister, now equipped with a metal right arm, learns to fight with a sword in his left hand — a challenge to the right-handed actor.

Lannister is returning to King’s Landing, capital of the Seven Kingdoms, after a long imprisonment by the House of Stark. During his journey back, he develops feelings for Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), a guard who has helped him escape.

“He has this relationship with his sister,” Coster-Waldau says. “He learns that it is possible to trust someone outside of his family. So there’s a connection that is deeper than he ever imagined.”

The actor suggests that his character finally may be growing into the man his father — Lord Tywin (Charles Dance), the head of House Lannister and the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms — always meant him to be.

While filming Game of Thrones in locations as diverse as Belfast and Croatia, Coster-Waldau also has travelled the world shooting feature films, making Blackthorn (2011), Headhunters (2011) and Mama (2013).

He may be in demand in Hollywood, but Coster-Waldau still lives in Denmark and has no plans to relocate. “It’s important to be able, at least for me, to know yourself, to keep your feet on the ground,” he says.

Coster-Waldau is currently in Australia, preparing to leave for the set of Gods of Egypt. He plays the god Horus, with Gerard Butler as the rival god Seth. Next up, the actor shifts gears to make his first major comedy, playing a philanderer opposite Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann in The Other Woman.

“Even when you are convinced and believe that you made something great, and even when you love it, the audience might not,” he says. “So enjoy the journey and accept whatever the outcome, knowing that you gave it your best.”