Written by Playing one of the most ruthless characters in the Game of Thrones universe comes with some intense real-world side effects. In an exclusive interview with People, breakout star Ewan Mitchell revealed that his portrayal of the fierce, one-eyed prince Aemond Targaryen on HBO’s House of the Dragon genuinely terrifies viewers in real life. He revealed his experience around the fans in public spaces and said:
I’ve had people move out of the way for me.
He further added another incident,
Had to get from one [side of the] airport to another a couple of years back. At the time, season 2 was airing, and I think it was episode 4, just as that episode had dropped. I remember stressing, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to get from this side of the airport to the other side in less than five minutes.’ And I had so little resistance. Because people would stop and stare as I was running past them. When in doubt, when I’ve got to get somewhere fast, [I’ll put Aemond’s wig on].
Mitchell, who joined the fantasy series back in 2022, admitted that ordinary people frequently “move out of the way” when they spot him in public spaces. The British actor’s menacing, stone-cold performance has left such a lasting impression on the fandom that everyday citizens instinctively clear a path for him on the streets, blurring the lines between the dangerous skies of Westeros and modern reality.
Mitchell Opens Up About Playing Westeros’ Vicious Prince in House of the Dragon
Ewan Mitchell and Olivia Cooke from House of the Dragon/ Credits: HBO
The sheer intimidation factor of Aemond Targaryen is no accident. Mitchell has masterfully crafted the dragon-riding prince into a calculating, unpredictable villain, complete with a signature leather eye patch and a chilling, silent stare. This fascinating public reaction highlights just how deeply House of the Dragon has gripped pop culture. It takes a truly special kind of performance to make an audience project a character’s fictional brutality onto the actual actor walking down a sidewalk.
Beyond his intimidating public reputation, Mitchell also opened up about the deeply unsettling psychological layers that define Aemond on screen. Reflecting on the highly controversial moment in the season premiere where Aemond plants a romantic kiss on his mother, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), Mitchell didn’t hold back.
It kind of makes you want to throw up in your mouth a little bit. It’s quite a difficult pill to swallow, isn’t it? Kissing your mom on the lips, especially in that way, the actor admitted.
According to Mitchell, this disturbing behavior stems entirely from a childhood starved of affection. Because Aemond grew up feeling neglected by his family, he lacked the unconditional love required to build a balanced sense of self. Ultimately, these bizarre public reactions and disturbing on-screen dynamics highlight just how deeply Ewan Mitchell has immersed himself in the dark psychology of Westeros.
Would you dare approach Aemond Targaryen in real life? Let us know how you would react to seeing him in the comments below!
House of the Dragon is currently available to stream exclusively on HBO Max.
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