ROYCE PIERRESON

The Witcher star on playing the mage Istredd in Netflix’s fantasy epic

- Jamie Tabberer

When Netflix announced a Henry Cavill-fronted TV adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s iconic dark fantasy book series The Witcher – about a manmountain monster-slayer surveying a mythical land – comparisons to a certain HBO TV phenomenon weren’t far behind. It’s ironic, then, that another star of The Witcher, Royce Pierreson, hasn’t even finished Game Of Thrones yet.

“I’m on season seven,” laughs the busy actor, whose credits include ITV’s Our Girl and the BBC’s Line Of Duty. “I’m hooked! I’m a huge fan, like everybody, and came to it late. I try not to watch things I enjoy too quickly, so I’m trying not to hear any spoilers! It set the benchmark for fantasy.”

For Royce – who also played musical director Burt Rhodes in recent Judy Garland biopic Judy – surpassing that benchmark isn’t (necessarily) about elaborate sets or far-flung on-set locations.

“I’ve done big-budget movies,” he explains. “[But] it doesn’t matter how big the production is. It comes down to relationships and connection.”

What’s The Witcher about, in your own words?