STEVE TOUSSAINT

House Of The Dragon's legendary Sea Snake tells all...

- Will Salmon

Steve Toussaint has been a British TV S mainstay for the last couple of decades, often appearing in popular crime dramas like Lewis, Silent Witness, and Waking The Dead. In recent years he's impressed in critically acclaimed dramas like Line Of Duty, It's A Sin, and Small Axe. But despite a role in 2010's Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time and a part in Doctor Who, he's more or less avoided fantasy fare until now. In Game Of Thrones spin-off House Of The Dragon he takes on the part of naval hero Corlys Velaryon - the Sea Snake. It's given him the chance to flex his muscles, both literally and metaphorically.

He's an important, powerful man, but what were your first impressions of Corlys Velaryon?

He's a very rich man and a great naval warrior, but for him it's all about his familial relationships. When I met Miguel [Sapochnik, co-showrunner] we ended up talking a lot about fatherhood. I found it really interesting that this was the angle they were coming from for Corlys. It's about his hopes for his kids and his wife Rhaenys and so on. Alongside all of the bashing people's heads in with axes!

You mentioned Rhaenys Targaryen there - what's Corlys's relationship with his wife like? Are they a happy couple?