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For seven seasons, viewers have been on an emotional rollercoaster with Game of Thrones—and one of its stars has even cautioned that therapy might be necessary once the series wraps up. Though Ned Stark's shocking demise early on taught us that no one is safe in Westeros, fans have long believed Tyrion Lannister is untouchable. Not due to any supernatural abilities, but simply because he's universally adored.
Despite Peter Dinklage suggesting that Tyrion might not make it through the final season of Game of Thrones, fans were even more dismayed to discover that the actor almost declined the role altogether. During a Reddit AMA, Dinklage revealed why he initially hesitated to join the series.
"I had one concern, given the fantasy genre. I told [showrunner David Benioff] I didn’t want to wear a long beard and pointy shoes," Dinklage explained. "[Benioff and D.B. Weiss] convinced me this character and world were different. They described his complexity—how he wasn’t purely a hero or villain, but a flawed, womanizing, and heavy-drinking individual. They painted such a vivid and imperfect picture of him that I agreed to join."
Standing at 4-foot-5-inches, Dinklage revealed to The New York Times that he had often been considered for stereotypical parts. "Dwarves in these genres always fit a certain mold. I was cautious," Dinklage admitted, reflecting on his initial reaction to joining Game of Thrones. "Not just cautious—I was fully guarded, even defensive. Even The Lord of the Rings included jokes about dwarf-tossing."
In 2012, Dinklage won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Tyrion and has received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for every season of the show (winning three times out of seven).
