House Of The Dragon: Paddy Considine Was The Showrunners' Only Choice For King Viserys

Prior to his incredible performance on HBO's "House of the Dragon," it's safe to say that Paddy Considine would be one of the last actors you'd expect to find in an epic fantasy series. Throughout the majority of his career, Considine has made a name for himself through numerous performances as a struggling everyman fighting for a place in the world. Some of his most prominent roles include the illegal Irish immigrant Johnny in "In America," reporter Simon Ross throughout the "Bourne" film franchise, and aging boxer Matty Burton in "Journeyman."

Indeed, throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Considine became well known for playing characters who were working class, ex-military, or ex-criminal, which is perhaps why he was so surprised to not only get the call for HBO's "House of the Dragon," but also to find out that he was Miguel Sapochik and Ryan Condel's only choice for the supremely important King Viserys I Targaryen. 

"I said, 'Who's turned this down?' Because I'm cynical that way," Considine recalled during an interview with Variety. "My agent was like, 'I assure you, they're just coming to you for it.'" Considine went on to express how grateful he was to break out beyond his typecast as a working-class hero, saying that he always felt like he was "capable of so much more" — something he more than proved with his exceptional performance as Viserys I.

As surprising as it might have been to learn that Paddy Considine would be portraying the honorable (though ultimately flawed) King Viserys I Targaryen, his jaw-dropping performance consistently stole the spotlight throughout Season 1 of "House of the Dragon."

Perhaps recreating a bit of that relatability that made all of his prior characters so engaging, Considine's Viserys is a tragically inept father struggling to keep his family together amid the chaotic political landscape of Westeros. As his wife, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), and his daughter, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy), rally supporters to their side for the impending civil war, the ailing King Viserys tries desperately time and time again to right his own wrongs for the sake of the realm and for the sake of his doomed family. Author George R.R. Martin personally congratulated Considine for giving the character "a tragic majesty that my book Viserys never quite achieved."

Although the character of Viserys I Targaryen may have been a bit outside of Paddy Considine's usual work, it's clear that the prolific actor made the most of this new opportunity and gave us one of the most compelling performances in the entire "Game of Thrones" franchise.