A new job can put you in a nervous position, especially if it is a prequel to Game of Thrones for HBO. Revealed on The Official Game of Thrones Podcast about episode four, King of the Narrow Sea, House of the Dragon star Fabien Frankel, who plays Ser Criston Cole, “forgot how to act” because he was so nervous.
On his first day on the set of House of the Dragon, Fabien Frankel froze on camera right when the director called “action.” What went through his mind during this was, “This is it, I’ve totally f—ed it.” As seen in the series, he managed to make it through to deliver his performance as the protector of Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock).
“The camera finally got around to me and I swear to God I literally forgot how to act. I couldn’t do it! I didn’t know what to do.”
House of the Dragon star Fabien Frankel froze, forgetting “how to act”
Veteran Game of Thrones director and ex-showrunner of the prequel series, Miguel Sapochnik, stepped in to talk to Fabien Frankel about his takes on House of the Dragon. After a talk, eventually, the actor was able to get through his scenes and got used to the feelings he had while on set. Still, it haunts him after the time between production and the show airing as he called it “the worst f—ing experience of my life.”
Fabien Frankel getting nervous on House of the Dragon does not make him alone on this. While reading the scripts, Emily Carey, who played the young Alicent Hightower, was “scared” of her sex scenes with Paddy Considine. Through his comfort, she managed not to have issues, but it was still a concern as a 17-year-old reading a sex scene with a 47-year-old man.