Currently in the midst of filming the upcoming season, the hit HBO series has added a trio of actors playing the members of House Tarly, the relatives of Night’s Watch member Samwell Tarly (John Bradley-West). Among the new additions to the cast is Downton Abbey actor James Faulkner, who will play the role of Samwell’s stern, abusive father, Randyll Tarly.
Faulkner, who recently portrayed Lord Sinderby on Downton Abbey and Pope Sixtus IV on Da Vinci’s Demons, will be joined in House Tarly by Samantha Spiro and Rebecca Benson. Spiro is a stage and screen actress who’s appeared in Psychobitches, Coupling, Cold Feet, and other series, as well as award-winning roles in stage performances of Merrily We Roll Along, and Hello, Dolly! She’ll play Samwell’s mother, Melessa Tarly.
As for Benson, she’s best known for playing a lead role in the stage production of Let the Right One In, and will play Samwell’s sister, Talla, on Game of Thrones.
All three actors will join previously cast Harry Potter actor Freddie Stroma, who will portray Samwell’s brother, Dickon Tarly. The casting of House Tarly was initially reported by Game of Thrones fan site Watchers on the Wall, and subsequently confirmed by HBO.
Set to run at least eight seasons, Game of Thrones is currently in production on the sixth season. The 10-episode arc is scheduled to air next spring.
Game of Thrones is based on George R.R. Martin’s series of A Song of Ice and Fire novels, which have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide as of April 2015. Martin is currently writing the sixth book of the series, The Winds of Winter.
