“Knowledge is kind of a bit like power”: Abubakar Salim reveals how he prepared for the role of Alyn in House of the Dragon

Alyn of Hull, a character from George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood”, is a key figure in the world of House of the Dragon, the TV series adapted from the book. He plays a role in the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, fighting on the side of the Blacks (Rhaenyra Targaryen’s faction). Alyn of Hull, is portrayed by actor Abubakar Salim in the TV series “House of the Dragon”, who brings depth and nuance to the role of Alyn.

The Power of Preparation: Abubakar Salim’s Approach

Thoroughly preparing and researching a character, to understand its role, context, and backstory is important to enact the character well. This extensive preparation allowed Abubakar Salim to gain a deeper understanding of his character and the world he inhabits. He believes that having knowledge and understanding of his character and the story gives him a sense of power and agency in his performance. In a recent interview with Decider, the actor said,

“Yeah, I did too much. I did everything. I thought it was really important to kind of know essentially what I’m going into, where I’m playing, what I’m doing, who I am because then it just allows me to then have my own imprint on it and have my own sort of events. I feel like, in a way, knowledge is kind of a bit like power.”

Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

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Abubakar Salim discusses his preparation as an actor

Abubakar Salim is highlighting the importance of being well-prepared and informed in order to make authentic and meaningful creative choices. – He wanted to gather as much information as possible about the character, story, and world of House of the Dragon. He did this by reading the book (Fire & Blood) to understand the source material and researching online, including Reddit, to see what fans and others were thinking and discussing.

“So essentially that was it, right? It was like for me, it was important to read the book. It was important to scour over Reddit, you know, to see what people’s thoughts are as well. I wanted to touch base with as much knowledge as I could, because then whatever the decisions I do make, I feel like they’re coming from me, myself and I.”

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01/28/2025 08:17 am GMT