Why Peter Dinklage Almost Turned Down the Role of Tyrion Lannister in 'Game of Thrones'

Watching Game of Thrones for seven seasons has surely been an emotional experience. As we learned from Season 1 when presumed protagonist Ned Stark was killed, no one is safe in this series. But a common belief has been held generally among fans: Tyrion cannot die, because he’s everyone’s favorite character. It’s true—Tyrion Lannister is funny, clever, even relatable, and a character that great could risk the popularity of the show if killed off.

But as much of a fan-favorite the character is, the actor behind Tyrion, Peter Dinklage, was not so sure about the role at first. In a Reddit AMA from 2014, the actor, who’s gone on to win three Emmys and one Golden Globe for his portrayal, revealed he almost turned the opportunity down.

"I had one hesitation, because of the fantasy genre, I told [showrunner David Benioff] I didn't want a really long beard and pointy shoes," Dinklage stated. “[Benioff and showrunner D.B. Weiss] assured me this character and this world wasn't that. They told me about his complexity, the fact that he wasn't a hero or a villain, that he was a womanizer and a drinker, and they painted a flawed and beautiful portrait of him, so I signed on."

At four-foot-five-inches, Dinklage has been eyed for a few stereotypical roles, as he shared to The New York Times in 2012. “Dwarves in these genres always have this look. My guard was up,” Dinklage explained of when he was approached for GoT. “Not even my guard — my metal fence, my barbed wire was up. Even Lord of the Rings had dwarf-tossing jokes in it.

As fans know, Tyrion is far from the butt of the jokes, and really does make Game of Thrones. Thankfully Dinklage decided to take the role, as it’s clearly been an amazing experience for him and viewers alike.

This article also appears on Mental Floss.