Fans will recall that racism was far more obvious in relation to the other game of Thrones by-products, dragon house. In an interview with Men’s Health, Lord Corlys Velaryon actor Steve Toussaint was asked about his experiences, and he got candid.
“For some reason, people find it very hard to swallow,” Toussaint said. “[Viewers] Happy with the dragon flying. They’re happy with the white hair and violet eyes, but a rich black boy? That’s beyond pale.”
Speaking to Wonderland magazine (via The Hollywood Reporter), Crawford reflected on her own experiences, and not just as one of a few women a knight of the seven kingdoms Cast but also as one of the few people of color.
Crawford said, “It was intimidating to step into something that people are so connected to, love so much and that has so many opinions about.”
And not every viewer had a good opinion of him as Tansley, apparently: “I definitely got some negativity during the run, but at the end of the day, I’m employed — and I’m following my dreams.”
However, the most significant response came from George RR Martin, who first dreamed up Tencel. “[Martin told me] ‘You’re exactly as I pictured [for Tanselle]’, Crawford explained.
And beyond that, Tanselle is more than just her physical appearance; In the original story, she is mostly distinguished by being tall.
“The beauty of Tansley in this series is that he’s a soft outlet,” Crawford said. “The rest of the show is very masculine, quite tough and brutal. I think he’s self-confident and has his own little passions and worlds that are very different from everyone else’s. Of course, his story involves Dank. [Peter Claffey]But he has something of his own going on.”
Crawford was not alone a knight of the seven kingdoms The artists found that they did not meet the expectations of some book readers. Bertie Carvel was exceptional as the doomed Baelor Targaryen – the rare member of the house who didn’t have white-blonde hair, having inherited his dark hair from his mother, the Dornish princess Myriah Martell – but some fans still complained that he didn’t look like a Dornish.
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