A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cast is led by a young Emmerdale star and former rugby player
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has a smaller cast than House of the Dragon
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms introduces a new cast to Game of Thrones fans – and if you’re a Hunger Games (or Emmerdale) fan, you’ve seen some of them before.
The new series, based on George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg novellas, is set almost 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones. It’s also around 70 years after House of the Dragon. So, in short, don’t expect to see any established characters.
It follows Ser Duncan the Tall, a lowborn knight who wanders Westeros with Egg, a young squire he finds along the way.
This is a smaller-scale entry in the franchise, so don’t expect a huge cast in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. However, they should look familiar.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cast and characters
Peter Claffey plays Ser Duncan the Tall
Who is ‘Dunk’?
Dunk, also known as Ser Duncan the Tall, is a hedge knight (a lowborn, basically). He doesn’t come from any of the Great Houses, but he’s one of the most legendary knights in Westeros’ history, even name-dropped by Joffrey in season 4.
Don’t worry, we won’t include any actual spoilers about his fate in the story.
As explained by showrunner Ira Parker, this is the first time a show has taken place from a single character’s POV.
“Cutting away from one scene of Dunk to another scene of Dunk puts a lot on that character’s very broad shoulders,” he told Den of Geek.
As for Claffey, Parker said he didn’t “want someone who is a finished product”.
“You want somebody who is going to grow into this. This is a huge job to take on for any actor of any level. Peter has risen to that challenge and more. I’m just so proud of him,” he added.
Where you’ve seen Peter Claffey before
Rugby fans may remember Claffey from his time playing for Ireland’s under-20s team in the 2016 Six Nations Championship.
However, his acting career took flight with roles in Harry Wild and Bad Sisters (one of the best Apple TV shows) in 2022. This led to a role in BBC Three’s Wreck, and best of all, playing Dunstan in Vikings: Valhalla.
In an interview with Nerdist, Claffey compared Dunk (unfavourably) to Henry Cavill’s Geralt from The Witcher.
“He’s kind of a less sexy, less confident, less charismatic Geralt,” he joked.
Dexter Sol Ansell portrays Egg
What we know about Egg
Egg is a young, bald stableboy who joins Dunk on his journey. Is there more to learn about his character? Maybe, or maybe not.
What else has Dexter Sol Ansell been in?
Dexter Sol Ansell’s career dates back to 2016, when he had a small role as Carl Holliday in Emmerdale. He returned as a different character three years later: Lucas Taylor, who he played until 2021.
In 2022, he landed a role in a major Hollywood movie: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the Hunger Games prequel, and he played a young Coriolanus Snow.
He’s since appeared in Robin and the Hoods and Here, but Ansell is the main supporting actor in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
According to Parker, Ansell was “entry number one that [he] was sent at the very beginning of this process… that kid just nailed it”.
Finn Bennett plays Aerion Targaryen
Who is Aerion Targaryen?
Aerion Targaryen, also known as Aerion the Monstrous and Brightflame, is the son of Prince Maekar I.
In the book, he sees himself not just as a member of the dragon house, but a dragon himself.
He’s the grandson of King Daeron II Targaryen, also referred to Daeron the Good. As “monstrous” would suggest, he doesn’t share all of his grandpa’s qualities.
Netflix viewers should recognise Finn Bennett
Finn Bennett appeared in Netflix’s Black Doves in 2024, as well as True Detective: Night Country.
He started off as a child actor, with small roles in Foyle’s War and Top Boy. He also starred in 2025’s Warfare, and he’s joined the cast of The Backrooms, A24’s highly anticipated horror movie about the online urban myth.
Given he’s playing a Targaryen, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms could boost his career.
“Hopefully, I’m lucky enough to do something that will bring that kind of reception,” he told THR.
“All I can hope is that people like it. We worked really, really hard on it. The leads are incredible, and showrunner Ira Parker is just a great captain of the ship.”
Bertie Carvel portrays Baelor Targaryen
Who is Baelor Targaryen?
Baelor Targaryen is Aerion’s uncle, brother to Maekar I, and son to King Daeron, as well as serving as Hand of the King.
Two things to note. Firstly, without any plot details, we can say Baelor is one of the extraordinarily rare ‘good’ Targaryens.
Secondly, you’ve probably noticed his dark hair. Yes, Targaryens are typically blonde, but Baelor’s mother was Myriah Martell, a Dornish princess. House Martell is known for its darker features.
Bertie Carvel movies and TV shows before A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Bertie Carvel is a two-time Laurence Olivier Award winner, earning acclaim for his roles in Matilda the Musical and Ink.
He’s also enjoyed an extensive television career. Between 2004 and now, he’s appeared in Holby City, Doctor Who, Waking the Dead, Midsomer Murders, Sherlock, Doctor Foster, Baghdad Central, and The Crown (as Tony Blair).
Also, he’ll play Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter reboot series.
Sam Spruell plays Maekar I Targaryen
What you should know about Maekar Targaryen
There’s little we can say about Maekar I Targaryen without getting into spoilers, other than him being the father of Aerion, brother to Baelor, and son of King Daeron.
He’s sterner and brasher than Baelor, but he’s devoted to his family.
What else has Sam Spruell been in?
Spruell is a prolific British actor. You may not recognise him in his makeup as Maekar, but you’ve definitely seen him in movies and TV shows before.
For example, he’s popped up in films like The Hurt Locker, Legend, The Martian, Outlaw King. TV-wise, he recently wrapped up his time in Fargo playing Ole Munch, and he’s also appeared in Doctor Who, Dune: Prophecy, and Catastrophe.
The latter comedy-drama got him the job. “I knew him as the ex-boyfriend on Catastrophe, which I love,” Parker told Den of Geek.
“Then I saw the work he did in Fargo and thought, ‘This guy’s a genius. This is what we need.’”
Daniel Ings plays Ser Lyonel Baratheon
Who is Ser Lyonel Baratheon?
Ser Lyonel Baratheon, known as the Laughing Storm, is a knight who’s also the heir to Storm’s End.
His ancestry isn’t entirely clear, but he’s definitely related to one Game of Thrones character in some way: King Robert, the 17th ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
Where you’ve seen Daniel Ings before
Daniel Ings’ career is having a bit of a boom. He’s had steady work in Netflix shows, whether it’s Black Mirror’s ‘Smithereens’ episode, Sex Education, or The Gentlemen. He also appeared in The Woman in Cabin 10 last year.
Martin was so impressed by his performance that he told the showrunner, “Be careful, this guy might steal the show.”
Tanzyn Crawford portrays Tanselle
Who is Tanselle?
Tanselle is a puppeteer in Ashford Meadow. She’s not of highborn descent, but she’s a key figure in the events of A Knight of Seven Kingdoms.
Tanzyn Crawford movies and TV shows
Crawford’s career is just getting going, but that’s not to say she hasn’t already secured strong credits. She starred in Servant, Tiny Beautiful Things, and Swift Streets.
However, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms marks one of her biggest projects yet.
Guest cast includes Youssef Kerkour and Shetland star
There are some things we can’t tell you, lest we spoil the series. However, there are characters who pop up throughout A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
For example, Youssef Kerkour plays Steely Pate, a blacksmith working in Ashford Meadow.
Kerkour earned acclaim for Home, his Channel 4 comedy-drama about a Syrian immigrant in the UK. He’s also been seen in Significant Other, Death in Paradise, and House of Gucci.
If you clock Henry Ashton (who starred in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder) in the opening episode, all you need to know right now is that he’s a drunkard.
The guest cast also includes:
- Ross Anderson (Shetland) as Ser Humfrey Hardyng
- Edward Ashley (Masters of the Air) as Ser Steffon Fossoway
- Daniel Monks (All Her Fault) as Ser Manfred Dondarrion
- Shaun Thomas (Emmerdale) as Raymun Fossoway
- Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame) as Plummer
- Steve Wall (Vikings) as Lord Leo ‘Longthorn’ Tyrell
- Danny Webb (Liar) as Ser Arlan of Pennytree
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms showrunner explains benefit of smaller cast
Showrunner Ira Parker likened A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to earlier seasons of Game of Thrones, “without all the stuff”.
“We don’t have the dead coming to kill mankind. We don’t have the politics, really. We don’t have the massive roving POVs from different families and different characters,” he said (via GamesRadar+).
“We have one character: we have Dunk, and we have Egg, our little stable boy, and I would say that relationship is probably closest to the dynamic of something from Game of Thrones along the lines of the Hound and Arya or Pod and Brienne.”
Read more: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was filmed in classic Game of Thrones locations
