Turkish Cypriot Tamer Hassan has landed a role in the next series of Game of Thrones. The Hollywood actor revealed the news at the London premier of Breakdown last week.
He told Bang Showbiz: “I just finished doing Game of Thrones. I loved it. I can’t say too much about it but I’m part of that.”
He added, “It’s exciting what you’re going to see. Learning that Dothraki language was a feat in itself… so I’ve given you a little bit, but I’m not going to say too much!”
Season six of the globally popular HBO show will return in late April. According to interviews Hassan has given since the news broke, his arrival on the show will impact significantly on the fantasy drama. The 47-year-old actor told Loaded.co.uk his character is a Dothraki warrior.
“I play a Dothraki warrior, a leader … It’s not a regular role or a major role, but the impact of what I do is epic … What I do affects the main characters. Really, it’s massive. A lot of people around me die. I didn’t die.”
The actor has been eager to play a role in the drama for years and even though he has regularly met with the show’s producers, they have only seen fit to cast him now for season six.
“I actually was a little bit angry because I’ve met for Game Of Thrones for every season but it never worked out. When you look at the show, how do I not fit in? It’s just one of those ones that I could never seem to get, until now.”
Of his experience on set, Hassan said the hit show was like no other he has experienced: “How they work and what they do on that show is just like nothing I have ever seen before. They work incredibly, incredibly hard. You get your page of lines and that is all you see. You have no idea of the script and no idea what’s going on and that is what is really magical about it.”
During his 16-year career, the entrepreneur-turned actor has appeared on the silver screen with distinguished actors such as Sir Ben Kingsley, Richard Gere, Ralph Fiennes, and Daniel Craig. Among Hassan’s 50 plus film credits are cult classics The Football Factory and The Business alongside Danny Dyer, as well as Clash of the Titans, and Robot Overlords.
Tamer Hassan has also had roles in many hit TV series including Eastenders, Casualty, The Bill, NCIS, Dracula, and 24: Live Another Day with Kiefer Sutherland. His memorable film and TV performances have earned the actor from southeast London a cult following in Britain and beyond.
Game of Thrones is based on George R. R. Martin’s books. Season six, which stars Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Maisie Williams and Alfie Allen, starts on 24 Apr. 2016.
Another, Turkish-origin actor – Sibel Kekilli – previously starred in the drama. She made a guest appearance as Shae in series one in 2010, before returning as a regular cast member for Game of Thrones series 2 and was killed off in series 4.
