Games of Thrones star here,
Actor Jason Momoa says his most interesting roles have been good men who do bad things, PETER ROBB writes.
Jason Momoa has become a bit of a fixture in the sword and sci-fi set; not bad for a man who first made his mark as a male model. He was on Stargate: Atlantis, where he played Ronon Drex. But his biggest roles have been as Khal Drogo in the first season of HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones and as Conan the Barbarian in the film of the same name. That one was a remake of an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie from 1982, and both were based on the stories of Robert E. Howard.
In February Momoa will be in the series Red Road, which is a western law-and-order show in which he plays a Native American ex-con.
He also appears in the movie Road to Paloma, expected out next spring. He directed that film, which stars, among others, his wife Lisa Bonet. He’s also in a werewolf film called Wolves. But before he does any of that, Momoa is at Popexpo in Ottawa on Dec. 7 and 8. Here is an edited email interview with Momoa.
Game of Thrones has become a worldwide TV hit. Did you think such a complex story would succeed?
Yes, a good story always succeeds and the fans of the book are intense. HBO did a great job of bringing the books to life, the production quality is amazing. It was a bummer that Khal got killed off so soon.
Khal Drogo was as capable of tenderness as of violence. How did you prepare for that role?
Every human has the capability of great violence if the circumstances demand it. Finding the gentler side of Khal was the interesting challenge.
But again, the character was so well written that it was all there in the book.
Conan is pretty much a warrior through and through. Were you familiar with the books, or was your introduction through the 1982 film?
I was born in 1979, but yes, I knew of the film. But the take on Conan was based more on the books, so I used them to get familiar with the character. I think the film did a good job of showing the origin of Conan’s rage.
Do you worry about the violence that these characters engage in?
In every film there are good and bad characters. Someone has to play the bad guy, and usually, the good guy wins, so the final lesson is positive. It’s my job to believe that I am justified in my character’s violence, so in their mind, they are the ones in the “right.” You can’t play a convincing bad guy if you feel guilty about the violence. And sometimes, my characters do bad things, but are good men. Those are the most interesting roles.
Do you see yourself as a role model of sorts for Hawaiian youth?
I have two young children, a boy and a girl. To be the best father and a good partner to my wife, those are the roles I am most proud of. If young people look at my work and appreciate it, that’s great, but it’s living my life in a way that I can respect that I hope speaks for itself.
Do you have any charity work that you care about?
I have been contributing to my friends’ charities, but have not lent my name to any one in particular. When I do appearances I am always willing to donate to their charity auctions.