“I had a picture of him”: An Iconic British Politician Inspired Aidan Gillen’s Nefarious Game of Thrones Character Petyr Baelish

SUMMARY

• Aidan Gillen shared his preparation for playing the iconic Littlefinger in Game of Thrones.
• Apart from reading Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, he also channeled British politician Peter Mandelson.
• Littlefinger was one of the most unforgettable characters in the show because of how well he played his game.

It’s difficult to trust someone like Petyr Baelish, better known as the master trickster Littlefinger from Game of Thrones. He’s a cunning, deceitful, and Machiavellian opportunist who would always find a way to advance his position, no matter the cost. For someone who does not use brute force or threat as a means to get what he wants, Littlefinger has a lot of creativity and cleverness at his disposal.

Aidan Gillen in Game of Thrones / Credits: HBO Entertainment

Portraying such a complex and tricky character was indeed a challenge to Aidan Gillen, but thankfully he’s got enough inspiration and resources on how to carry his role. It took a lot of preparation, but it surely paid off in the end.

Who inspired Aidan Gillen’s Littlefinger in Game of Thrones?

Aidan Gillen sought help from Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, a 16th-century political treatise containing an instruction guide for new princes. He read this book after landing the role of Petyr Baelish. Later on, he worked with the production team to look the part, and they agreed to make him appear like Peter Mandelson.

In his interview with Westeros.org, Gillen shared: “In the case of Littlefinger, he’s a bit inspired by Peter Mandelson, the British politician known as The Prince of Darkness.” For those who aren’t familiar with the name, he is a British Labour Party politician.

Peter Mandelson / Credits: BBC

Mandelson got the nickname after working as director of communications and becoming what they called a spin doctor, or someone skilled in public relations. His biggest endeavor as of the latest is his appointment as the next British Ambassador to the US.

Gillen said he had a picture of Mandelson and wanted to look the same for his television role. He approached the hair and makeup team and asked them to work their magic after giving them a crash course on who the politician is and what he’s known for.

Combining the knowledge he learned from Machiavelli’s book with Mandelson’s appearance and global reputation as a media-savvy spokesperson, Gillen was able to deliver one of the most unforgettable roles in television. No matter how much fans hated Littlefinger’s schemes, they could not deny that he was a really great character and a worthy opponent.

Littlefinger is more than what meets the eyes

Aidan Gillen in Game of Thrones / Credits: HBO Entertainment

Littlefinger wasn’t like other characters who came from very high noble houses. He was from a minor holding and he had to work his way to achieve his social status. Moreover, he seemingly appeared as a side character at first whose role grew in significance as the story progressed.

Gillen said in the same conversation with Westeros.org that “Littlefinger pulls a lot of strings without characters realizing what he’s doing. He has a lot of influence that’s not obvious.” There was indeed so much work and creativity put into molding the character of Littlefinger as he’s someone who must appear like a friend to everyone, but he’s got a hidden agenda that only benefits his own goals.

Game of Thrones is currently available to watch on HBO.

Written by Ariane Cruz

Articles Published: 2817

Ariane Cruz, Senior Writer. She has been contributing articles for FandomWire since 2021, mostly covering stories about the latest movies and series. With a degree in Communication Arts, she has an in-depth knowledge of print and broadcast journalism. Her other works can also be seen on Screen Rant and CBR.