Static Media
Working with your idols can be a rollercoaster of emotions, particularly when those idols are actors you’ve admired since you were a child. This was the case for the young cast of HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” including Ewan Mitchell, who took on the role of Prince Aemond Targaryen. Sharing the screen with Matt Smith, who plays Prince/King Consort Daemon Targaryen, was an uncanny experience for Mitchell. Smith is well-known for his portrayal of the Eleventh Doctor in the globally acclaimed British sci-fi series “Doctor Who” from 2010 to 2014. To avoid letting his admiration for Smith’s Doctor interfere with his performance, Mitchell adopted a somewhat unconventional approach reminiscent of Method acting. He fully immersed himself in his character, while being mindful of his co-stars. Perhaps Jared Leto could take a page out of his book.
Mitchell was determined to fully embody his character’s responses to his uncle Daemon. He decided not to make eye contact with Smith when they were “off character,” until their first on-camera encounter. In a Variety interview, Mitchell shared his rationale and strategy for avoiding eye contact with Smith. The result? An incredibly powerful scene that has contributed to a unique tension between their characters, who are destined to become the fiercest of foes by the end of the series.
The Acting Strategy of Avoiding Eye Contact
HBO
In the interview, Mitchell revealed his childhood admiration for “Doctor Who” and his dreams of embarking on adventures with Smith’s Doctor, similar to how Aemond would have fantasized about adventures with his idol. He appreciated the concept of keeping Smith and Daemon distinct and elevated until their on-camera meeting. This idea was approved by showrunner Ryan Condal and Smith himself. The result was a moment of perfection when Daemon and Aemond finally confront each other:
“I wanted to save that eye contact for a very particular moment in season 1, where these characters finally come face to face at the banquet table and save the eye contact for that moment. It was just pure electricity in the room, to only ever see Daemon and to not see Matt. If you can keep those same relationships off of set that your characters have on set, it can pay off in tremendous dividends.”
Daemon and Aemond share many similarities, both prone to brooding in dark castles and sudden fits of anger, and both covet the Iron Throne more than their older sibling who actually occupies it. It’s heartbreaking that these two will end up in a deadly dance, given how much they could potentially learn from each other. But then again, the thought of them joining forces to seize control of Westeros is quite terrifying.
The Limits of Method Acting
HBO
Here’s the thing about both Aemond and Daemon: they are really terrible people. Aemond is basically an anime villain, for heaven’s sake, and Daemon’s big claims to fame are killing people and marrying his niece. So, when it comes to any additional Method acting or trying to stay “in character” for any length of time, it would be rather difficult for either actor. (Especially since Mitchell and Smith both seem like decent guys in interviews!) There are plenty of ways to delve deep into the mindset of your character without taking Method too far, and it seems like Mitchell found the perfect balance. Good thing, too, because no one would put up with Aemond Targaryen in real life for very long!
While Aemond and Daemon are both pretty monstrous, they’re also two of the most fun characters to watch on “House of the Dragon,” bringing a bit of camp that the show desperately needs when it gets too dour. Some of that is the writing, but it’s really the incredible performances by Mitchell and Smith that make these sinister princes so entertaining.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
