A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Cast Guide: 20 New Game of Thrones Characters Explained

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Unlike Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a fresh perspective on the world of Westeros. Created by Ira Parker and George R.R. Martin, this new series is based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas – stories that are generally more lighthearted and concise than the A Song of Ice and Fire saga. Set roughly 90 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the show explores a previously unseen side of Westeros.

Casting has been incredibly important for this show, just as it was for both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. These characters have a long history, appearing in the books for nearly 30 years, so finding the right actors to play them is essential. Like those previous series, the show doesn’t rely heavily on famous stars, instead featuring a blend of fresh faces and talented British actors. As I mentioned in my review of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the cast is a major highlight, so here’s a guide to help you keep track of who’s who in Westeros.

Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall, aka Dunk

Ser Duncan the Tall, usually known as Dunk, is the main character in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He’s a wandering knight – one not loyal to any lord or house – and gets caught up in a dispute with the Targaryens during a tournament in the first season. The actor playing Dunk, Claffey, has also appeared in Vikings: Valhalla as Dunstan, as Cormac Kelly in Wreck, and as Barry in the film Small Things Like These.

Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg

Alongside Dunk, Egg is a self-assured young boy who works at an inn’s stables when the story begins. He joins Dunk on his journey to the Ashford tourney and becomes his squire, quickly demonstrating a surprising understanding of Westeros. Egg is played by Dexter Sol Ansell, who was only nine years old when he got the part. This isn’t his first big role, though – he previously played a younger version of Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon

Before landing the role of Lyonel Baratheon, nicknamed the Laughing Storm, in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Daniel Ings was already known for his work in popular series like The Gentlemen (as Frederick “Freddy” Horniman), The Winter King (as Owain), Sex Education (as Dan), and The Crown (as Commander Mike Parker). He’ll also appear in the upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter. Lyonel Baratheon is a highly skilled warrior and the heir to Storm’s End, famous for his unusual habit of laughing even while fighting. He’ll become a key supporter of Dunk during the Tourney.

Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor Targaryen

While most Targaryens have silver or gold hair, Baelor stands out with his dark coloring. More importantly, he’s known for being unusually fair and just, consistently rewarding honorable behavior. This makes him supportive of Dunk’s journey in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, even considering his family’s reputation. Actor Bertie Carvel, known for roles in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and The Crown, will also appear in the upcoming HBO adaptation of Harry Potter as Cornelius Fudge.

Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen

Okay, so this guy, Baelor’s brother – another son of King Daeron II Targaryen – is totally different from his brother. He actually looks the part, you know, the classic Targaryen look, and he’s way more intense and quick to anger. He gets really annoyed dealing with Dunk, and he’s seriously stressed because two of his sons, Daeron and Aegon, have gone missing, while the third, Aerion, is just a constant headache. You might recognize the actor, Spruell, because he’s been in some cool stuff – he played the villain Swarm in Doctor Who Season 13, Horace in the new Dune: Prophecy, and Ole Munch in Fargo.

Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion Targaryen

Aerion is a very typical Targaryen character, exhibiting the family’s tendency towards unpredictable, almost crazed behavior. He serves as the primary antagonist in the first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He’s portrayed as proud, cruel, and repeatedly clashes with Dunk during their time at Ashford. The actor Finn Bennett, known for his role as Peter Prior in True Detective: Night Country, plays Aerion.

Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle

Tanselle, a puppeteer from Dorne nicknamed “Too-Tall,” performs at the tourney featured in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Her shows impress Dunk, and she agrees to paint him a new shield, though this also brings her some unwelcome notice. The actress playing Tanselle, Alyssa Crawford, has appeared in Tiny Beautiful Things and Swift Street, and will also be in the upcoming Netflix series Assassin’s Creed.

Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway

Raymun Fossoway, a young squire serving his cousin Ser Steffon, shares a lot of similarities with Podrick Payne in both how he looks and his personality. He’s a kind, unassuming young man who earns the respect of Dunk at the tourney, becoming a valuable friend and helper. The actor Thomas Byrn also appeared in the television series Emmerdale, the film Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and the TV show The Long Shadow.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Supporting Cast & Characters

Let’s talk about Henry Ashton’s performance as Prince Daeron Targaryen. Honestly, Daeron isn’t exactly a shining star – he’s the eldest son of Maekar, but a bit of a disappointment, a bit of a drinker, and frankly, not the sharpest tool in the shed. I’ve seen Ashton before, notably in My Lady Jane and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and he definitely brings a certain… vulnerability to the role, which I think works for this character.

Oscar Morgan plays Prince Valarr Targaryen, Baelor’s son and a participant in the tournament. Viewers may recognize Morgan from his role as Turner Hayes in the television series Gotham Knights.

Danny Webb plays Ser Arlan of Pennytree, an experienced, older knight who guided Dunk. His death sets the stage for the story in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Webb has been acting since the 1970s, and you might recognize him from roles like Morse in Alien 3 and Mr. Jefferson in Doctor Who.

I was really impressed with Edward Ashley’s portrayal of Ser Steffon Fossoway! He played this older cousin of Raymun, and you see him right away as one of the first knights to challenge Dunk. It’s cool to see familiar faces, and I recognized him from his roles as William Gibson in The Terror and Jack Kidd in Masters of the Air – he’s a fantastic actor!

Ross Anderson played the role of Ser Humfrey Hardyng, a talented knight who competed against Aerion in the jousting tournament at Ashford. He’s also known for his roles as Domnal in The Last Kingdom and Kyle in The Rig.

Danny Collins plays Ser Humfrey Beesbury, a skilled knight who competes in the tournament and has scenes with Dunk. Collins is also known for his role in the film Cats.

Youssef Kerkour plays Steely Pate, a blacksmith who helps Dunk by crafting new armor for a tourney and becomes a friend. You might recognize Kerkour from his roles in films like House of Gucci (as Nemir Kirdar) and Napoleon (as Marshal Davout), as well as the George R.R. Martin adaptation Nightflyers.

Daniel Monks plays Ser Manfred Dondarrion, a bold, red-haired knight from House Dondarrion. Dunk finds him at a tournament, hoping Ser Manfred will support his claim to knighthood. Monks was recently seen in the film All Her Fault, where he played the brother-in-law of Sarah Snook’s character.

Okay, so Tom Vaughan-Lawlor plays Plummer, who’s basically the guy running things at Ashford. Dunk needs to get Plummer to let him join the tournament, which is a key part of the story. You might recognize Vaughan-Lawlor – he was Ebony Maw in those huge Avengers movies, Infinity War and Endgame. He’s a really solid actor, and he brings a lot to this role, even though it’s quite different from the MCU!

I recently spotted Rowan Robinson playing a fiery red-haired character – she plays a woman who playfully needles Dunk and lets him know where to find Ser Manfred. I’ve seen her in a few things before, including A Haunting in Venice, Passenger, and the series Brassic, so it was great to see her pop up in this too.

Steve Wall portrays Lord Leo Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden and a celebrated jouster, in the Tourney at Ashford. He’s also known for his roles as Uncle Einar in Vikings, Boholt in The Witcher, and Bashar in Dune: Part Two.

Chloe Lea plays Rafe, a friend of Dunk’s who grew up with him in the poor district of Flea Bottom in King’s Landing. You might recognize Lea from her roles as Gia in Foundation and Sister Lila in Dune: Prophecy.

New episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premiere on Sundays at 10pm Eastern Time on both HBO and HBO Max, starting January 18th.

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2026-01-17 01:19