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Eugene Simon Talks Upcoming Bloodshed In 'Game Of Thrones'

'There is a serious amount of carnage coming up.'
Everyone's favourite TV character. Ha.
HBO
Everyone's favourite TV character. Ha.

Eugene Simon is not the most popular man on television right now.

Playing the devout militant brother Lancel Lannister (or as he now prefers to be known, 'Brother Lancel') in the hit HBO series 'Game of Thrones', while he's not as loathed as say, Jack Gleeson's Joffrey or Iwan Rheon's Ramsay Bolton, he's probably not too far behind.

Currently in Australia for the Supanova Pop Culture Expo, Simon took some time to chat to The Huffington Post Australia about The Faith, violence and what we can expect to see in the last two episodes of season six.

So. What's it like to be one of the most hated people on TV right now?

"Well, you're not talking to Iwan, so at least I'm not the most hated," Simon told HuffPost Australia.

"I guess I'm lucky people have an honest opinion of Lancel. It's nice to know people respond to him in all sincerity.

"I enjoy playing him not because he is a villain but because he is very interesting -- he certainly is an abstract asset to the Lannister family.

"I feel very lucky to play him at the age that I am, which is 24, and to be honest I'm just thrilled to be a part of it."

Do you often get recognised in the street?

"Actually, not too often. I guess I don't have that star carved into my forehead. I got rid of it using excellent moisturiser, which I am not going to tell you the name of, for copyright reasons.

"Actually, it's rather nice. He's a lovely character to play. It's wonderful to see the look on people's face when I tell them. Their eyes bulge out when they realise who the character is... it does make me giggle from time to time."

Eugene Simon sans head carving.
FilmMagic
Eugene Simon sans head carving.

Lancel likes a bit of violence. Do you hope to get to fight The Mountain at one point? Who do you think would come out on top?

"I would like to think that Lancel is certainly a brave/mad enough to get in a fight. I certainly expect there to be a great deal more fighting between Lancel and, I would say, the folks in King's Landing.

"In that scene where the mountain decapitates one of his brothers, it was difficult to strike a balance between afraid and furious.

"I would say there is plenty of fight left in him though. He's certainly not running away from a fight.

"As for who would win, The Mountain does have something on his side... he's a giant, for one. He's a soldier, and he's also a zombie. While Lancel is a gifted fighter and he would certainly try his best... I don't know."

Speaking of 'that scene', what's involved in crushing one's skull on TV?

"It actually took us two and a half days to shoot. It's funny how the mechanics of a scene -- and I literally mean the mechanics -- can be so time consuming.

"We had to do so many takes. I felt quite bad for [the stunt actor] who had to be strangled again and again. And the final part, where the head is ripped off, it was basically filled with fake blood and gore and organ. The first take we did it, myself and the other brothers were completely covered in residue.

"Unfortunately the cameras weren't on us because they were looking at the head. But I think our director Mark did a wonderful job."

What do you think it will take to beat The Faith?

"The horrible fact about them is they are so insidious. Lancel is a rare exception. Most of them come from great poverty -- they are the many, the great unwashed, if you will.

"They're a hard one to defeat. The only thing that could really put them in their place is a superior tactic of suppression. But I don't know if there's anyone around to pull that off."

Do you think The Faith has bought into Margaery Tyrell's act?

"Very much so. There is an arrogance to The Faith.

"When Margaery seemingly converts, they like it. It appeals to their 'holier than thou' attitude and their arrogance. I think they are quite chuffed to see their indoctrination is working."

Do you think your character will be around for a while?

"I would say at this point -- and I should warn you, I am a very gifted liar -- I genuinely believe we will be seeing a great deal more of Lancel.

"Put it this way -- I'm not worried. I'll leave that non-answer on your desk."

What can fans expect to see in the rest of season six?

"You can expect a genuinely horrifyingly large amount of death. The death of a horrifying amount of characters.

"There is a serious amount of carnage coming up, in every arena."

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