Game Of Thrones' Sean Bean Looked To His Own Father To Help Inspire His Portrayal Of Ned Stark
Even three years after "Game of Thrones" wrapped up its divisive final season, George R.R. Martin fever is still gripping fans as "House of the Dragon" ushers in a whole new legion of fans and as other possible spin-offs for the dark fantasy series lurk in the background — like Kit Harrington's proposed Jon Snow spin-off (via The Hollywood Reporter). Of course, no one knew the dark fantasy series was going to grow to be so big back in Season 1.
Though early characters like Ned Stark (Sean Bean) and Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) were incredible in their own right, what really blew the minds of fans was how quickly and flippantly these seemingly pivotal characters were killed off. Ned Stark, with his honorable disposition and pragmatic point of view, seemed especially primed to become the main character of "Game of Thrones," a factor that made his untimely demise all the more shocking. According to Bean himself, though, many of the admirable attributes that made Ned so beloved actually came from a real-world source.
Sean Bean says his father had a quiet authority
As the series approached its end long after the death of his character, Sean Bean sat down with Vulture to reflect on the legacy of Ned Stark and how his influence was passed on to his four surviving children. Ironically, though, Bean also took a moment to recall how his own father's presence informed his portrayal of the Stark patriarch.
Though Bean admitted that he had read the first book of George R.R. Martin's series, "A Game of Thrones," which features his character, he turned to his father for much of his interpretation of Ned. "I brought parts of me and my father and parts of people who are father figures. I tried to bring an honesty and a sympathy to Ned," he said. Ned Stark definitely has these attributes in spades, which is part of why the character remains so likable and popular even today.
Bean went on to explain how other, more subtle aspects of his father's personality and disposition became part of Ned Stark in "Game of Thrones" as well. "We respected him very much, and we loved him very much, of course," Bean recalled of his father. "He had a quiet authority. He was a mild-mannered man and a kind man, and I suppose those things rub off in your everyday life," he concluded. Going off of the strong reception that the character received, it looks like Bean went to the right source for the iconic character.