Game of Thrones’ Alfie Allen recalls “isolating” and “tough times” working on series as he reunites with showrunners for new role

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Alfie Allen’s busy schedule speaks volumes as the only available slot for him to chat with TopMob is 8.30 on a Sunday morning. “I’m always exhausted,” confesses the 38-year-old actor, who arrived in London last night from the Paramount+ thriller Baby Doll set in Spain. But he’s not complaining. “Being busy is great,” he says. “I love my work and being around talented professionals.

Alfie Allen, son of the renowned actor and comedian Keith, and younger brother to popular pop singer Lily, could have easily coasted through life as a lesser Allen. However, he’s chosen a different path, establishing himself as a sought-after actor in high-budget TV shows and movies, many of which are action-packed or violent. Today, despite battling travel fatigue, he’s discussing his pivotal role in Sky’s latest pulse-pounding thriller titled Atomic.

Drawing inspiration from William Langewiesche’s book, “The Atomic Bazaar,” which delves into the clandestine market for nuclear weapons technology, the story finds Max, a drug smuggler portrayed by Allen, entangled in a scheme to illegally transport enriched uranium through North Africa and the Middle East.

As a fellow enthusiast, I’d say, “We’ve all found ourselves making some less-than-ideal decisions in life, and Max is no exception. Yet, there’s something endearing about him, a touch of vulnerability that makes him quite charming.

In the initial installment, Max articulates his ethical guidelines: “As a driver, I don’t cause harm to people.” For Allen, the pleasure of driving extended hours in the Moroccan desert during summer last year was one of the job benefits. “I relish driving long stretches,” he expresses. “Moreover, as an actor, I appreciate having additional thoughts to ponder, rather than merely reciting lines.

In addition to regularly running throughout the series, he frequently jogs with a large bag believed to contain dangerous nuclear waste. Yet, despite this strenuous activity and the warm climate, he remarks that it wasn’t excessively scorching. He explains that September is the hottest month, and they had already finished filming by August. Contrasting this with [BBC drama] SAS Rogue Heroes, where they were in the heart of the Sahara Desert, he mentions that the highest temperature during their shoot was 53 degrees, which was incredibly intense, causing severe disorientation.

However, it’s not just Max who has a questionable past on Allen’s resume; his roles stretch from portraying the Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in “McVeigh” to a Nazi officer in “Jojo Rabbit”. He also played a significant part in the tragic incident involving Keanu Reeves’ dog in the first “John Wick” movie, which unknowingly ignited a series of four movies filled with intense and relentless violence. Laughing, Allen recalls, “While I was in New York for a play, people would always yell at me, ‘Hey, you killed John Wick’s dog!'” Such experiences make for fond memories for him.

Moving forward, he’s scheduled to collaborate again with David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the creative minds who introduced him as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones back in 2011, for the second season of their Netflix science fiction thriller titled “3 Body Problem.” When they reached out to him, he said, “They offered me a role that I found intriguing. After reading the material and our discussion, I was eager to join their team. David and Dan are exceptional writers and producers who excel at maintaining a show’s momentum, given all its complexities.

Seven years following the conclusion of what was once TV’s most popular series, Allen now recalls the entire Game of Thrones experience with predominantly positive sentiments. However, given the intense and emotionally draining portrayal of Theon – transitioning from Ironborn royalty to Rheon’s tormented character, Ramsay Bolton’s victim – it seems that aspect of the production may have left a lasting impact.

Indeed, yes,” he affirmed, nodding. “By the third season, I found myself trapped in a gloomy dungeon alongside Iwan. It was an isolating experience, with some scenes being quite grim, especially when I was subjected to torture. Iwan and I often spent our nights playing pool in an effort to distract ourselves from the day’s events. Unfortunately, during this same period, my grandfather was nearing his end. So, it’s safe to say that season 3 presented some particularly challenging times for me.

His life has significantly changed since Benioff and Weiss introduced him to Westeros. Nowadays, Allen is conversing over video from a friend’s house where he’s temporarily residing. He mentions that he’s currently renting out his London home. “My usual residence is Los Angeles, due to having a six-year-old daughter there from my previous relationship with American DJ and fashion designer Allie Teilz,” he explains. After this week, he plans to be in LA for three weeks, followed by returning for work on “3 Body Problem,” and then back to LA until more projects come along. Given his current pace of work, it’s likely that he won’t have much downtime.

He finds Los Angeles appealing. “There’s an upbeat vibe to it,” he notes. People often describe it as quite business-oriented, but he believes that’s true of most places – it’s just more evident in LA. Additionally, it’s a stunning location: you can find mountains and deserts, beaches, and even rainforests. And when your child starts speaking with a Californian accent, then it truly feels like home.

Allen, who spent his formative years in London, was diagnosed with ADHD and was dismissed from several prestigious schools in the southern part of England due to behavioral issues. Looking back, he recalls that a significant aspect of his childhood was finding ways to express whatever emotions he felt, be it through acting or sports. Nowadays, he doesn’t often discuss how ADHD affects him personally, but instead sees it as an integral part of his identity.

At 20 years old, he gained public attention as the inspiration behind his older sister’s somewhat unflattering song titled Alfie. In it, she urged him to cease being idle and halt the dissipation of his life. Without any formal education in acting, he swiftly demonstrated his talent when he replaced Daniel Radcliffe in the stage reprisal of Peter Shaffer’s Equus. Since then, he has received both Emmy and Tony nominations, notably for his roles in Game of Thrones and the Broadway play Hangmen.

Given his high demand and reputation as one of the most successful Allens, doesn’t it give him some leeway in handling such matters more casually? However, he seems somewhat unconvinced when he replies, ‘Yeah, I suppose so.’ He explains that he wants to stay proactive rather than reactive about these issues. At some point, he might get tired of avoiding questions and then potentially change his approach.

He flashes a brief, half-apologetic smile. “But not yet.”

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2025-08-19 03:27