Conleth Hill Talks Lord Varys Role on Game of Thrones

Lord Varys is undeniably one of the most fascinating characters from ‘Game of Thrones.’ The actor who portrays him, Conleth Hill, has recently shared his reasons for joining the popular HBO series.

For quite some time, I hesitated when offered the role of Varys from 2011 to 2019. In an interview with The Irish Times, I shared my doubts, revealing that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to accept the part at first.

“I was resistant for a long time. I’m not into wizards.”

In a surprising turn of events, it wasn’t until Hill read a particular scene from Game of Thrones that he decided to take on the role of Varys. In season 3, episode 4, titled “And Now His Watch Is Ended,” Varys reveals his past to Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage). He explains that as a child, he was taken by a sorcerer who later made him a eunuch. The scene stands out because in it, Varys unveils the sorcerer’s presence to Tyrion by opening a crate, a moment fans remember vividly. Despite numerous significant interactions between Varys and Tyrion throughout the series, this scene remains the most iconic.

It’s captivating to learn about Hill’s reasons for choosing to portray Varys in Game of Thrones, as people frequently ponder what draws actors towards specific roles. Varys is a character with an indelible arc within the series, serving as the Master of Whisperers. Notably, Daenerys Targaryen’s (Emilia Clarke) dragon Drogon takes his life in season 8, episode 5, “The Bells.” This scene is particularly poignant and leaves a lasting impression on viewers. Although some characters on Game of Thrones meet their end off-screen, the fiery demise of Varys is vividly depicted, making it a truly terrifying spectacle.

In simpler terms, when speaking about his role as Varys in Game of Thrones, Hill openly discusses the scene that inspired him to accept the part and has also shared his opinions on other aspects of the show. After learning through Entertainment Weekly that his final episode had aired and his character was leaving the series, he admitted to taking it personally. In an interview with The Times UK, he explained how he felt when he discovered Varys would die, saying, “I thought I’d made a mistake” and expressing dissatisfaction over what he perceived as a rushed ending. Many fans and even Kit Harrington himself have criticized the final season of Game of Thrones for being hurriedly produced.

Initially hesitant, Hill proved an excellent choice for the HBO series, largely due to his extensive background in Shakespearean theatre. He has graced the stage of London’s National Theatre in “All’s Well That Ends Well” and shared with The Irish Times:

It seemed unusual for the audition; they were looking for individuals skilled in handling the language and experienced with Shakespeare.

Besides his role as Mike Ross in Suits, this actor has been cast in numerous mysteries. For instance, he portrayed Mendel Liebermann on the TV drama Vienna Blood from 2019 to 2024 and Alan Conway on Moonflower Murders, which premiered in 2024. Additionally, he made an appearance as Pope Gregory XIII in a single episode of the Netflix sci-fi series The Three-Body Problem.

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2025-03-28 18:07