Interview
“I hate you, you b*stard”: Iwan Rheon talks about fan response after his Game of Thrones stint
A Villain in the Eyes of Fans, but Not in Real Life.
Actor Iwan Rheon, known for portraying the notorious Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones, has faced a unique challenge in separating his real-life identity from his infamous character. In an interview, he shared his experiences with fans’ reactions to his role as one of television’s most hated villains. With his portrayal of Ramsay Bolton, Iwan Rheon brought to life a character so reprehensible and sadistic that he earned a permanent place in the annals of television history as one of the most hated villains of all time.
No Hard Feelings from Fans Over Ramsay Bolton’s Role
Iwan Rheon revealed that while some fans have good-naturedly teased him about Ramsay Bolton’s sinister actions, he hasn’t encountered any serious backlash or trouble from viewers who can’t distinguish between him and his character. He surmised that those who struggle to separate the two are unlikely to approach him, and therefore, he hasn’t experienced any negative consequences.
Instead, he has found that fans generally engage with him in a lighthearted and playful manner, acknowledging his role as Ramsay with a sense of humor and irreverence. In an interview with CBR, Iwan Rheon shared his insights,
“Rheon said that some fans have jokingly razzed him over his character, but always in a “tongue in cheek” way. The actor surmised that he doesn’t get any trouble because anyone who truly can’t separate him from the character isn’t likely to approach him.”
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Blurred line between real and reel life
Iwan Rheon has found that fans often use humor to address his role as Ramsay, making lighthearted comments like “I hate you, you bastard.” However, he suspects that some fans might be hesitant to approach him, possibly due to a blurred line between the actor and his character.
He acknowledges that this can be a risky business, as some fans might genuinely believe he is Ramsay Bolton and therefore avoid him. Despite this, he has found that most fans engage with him in a lighthearted and playful manner, acknowledging his role as Ramsay Bolton with humor and irreverence.
“People generally know that I’m an actor, I hope,” he said. “Yeah, people go, ‘Yeah, I hate you, you bastard,’ but it’s always a bit tongue in cheek. I don’t really get [any trouble]. But other people, maybe they don’t speak to me, because I suppose if you really thought I was the character, you wouldn’t come up to me and talk to me. Because you really don’t want to talk to someone like Ramsay Bolton. It’s a risky business.”
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