House of the Dragon‘s Matthew Needham on Playing the Show’s Master of Manipulation

If you watched time of year one ofHouse of the Dragon , you have an idea of what Lord Larys Strong ( Matthew Needham ) is capable of . For instance , he arranged to have his own father and comrade murderedto curry favor with Queen Alicent(Olivia Cooke ) , and depict not one punch of remorse . Inseason two , Lord Larys has an exalted place of business leader within King Aegon II ’s regime , but he ’s also acquire even better at misrepresent things from the shadows .

“ It ’s all really about power and ascendance , ” Needham explained to a mathematical group of journalists , including io9 , at a late House of the Dragon closet day . “ peculiarly with Alicent , I think it is all about making the queen work for him … I do n’t think he ’s just some overzealous lunatic . It ’s all about control . Definitely . But then again , that ’s the show , right ? I stand for , everything about House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones is about force . Everything can be seen through the prism of how people seek baron and how we attempt to exercise it over other people . ”

While Lord Larys has puzzle very good at meet the long biz — take his time to prod the pieces he picture into piazza — House of the Dragon season two ’s speedy borderland toward state of war means it ’s harder for him to plan ahead . “ He ’s caught off guard a destiny this season , and his plan do n’t work out , ” Needham teased . “ You see him deliver to pivot and accommodate , improvise in the present moment to hold out and to endeavor to get beforehand . In moments like that , you really get to see what he ’s made of — what he ’s capable of and sort of how his brain works . That was very exciting to to diddle because the board is always moving , as it does in warfare time . He ’s having to work a lot hard . ”

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Needham , who intend Lord Larys has no boundaries at this point ( “ He ’s a middling wild hombre ! ” ) , also has to take physicality into consideration as part of his performance . Lord Larys walk with a cane because he has a misshapen metrical unit , and he ’s become adept at using that to make other people underestimate him . In fact , he tend into it , Needham excuse . “ I just seek to make myself as minuscule as potential , ” the thespian said . “ I commend understand [ about clinical ] psychologist , if they really want [ someone ] to open up and not feel threatened , it ’s salutary to sort of be below their eye line . So it was always a witting thing , to just try and be below the somebody I ’m spill to , his eye line . So that was part of it : sample to be as small as as potential , which is fun to do . ”

House of the Dragon time of year two returns to HBO and Max June 16 .

need more io9 news ? Check out when to expect the latestMarvel , Star Wars , andStar Trekreleases , what ’s next for theDC Universe on motion-picture show and TV , and everything you require to know about the future ofDoctor Who .

Tina Romero Instagram