‘Game Of Thrones’: Liam Cunningham On Heartbreaking Twist

Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth, Kerry Ingram as Shireen Baratheon (Helen Sloan/HBO)

“Game of Thrones” delivered a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching and totally “Game of Thrones”-esque twist in Sunday’s “The Dance of Dragons.”

(Spoiler Alert! This article contains major plot details from Season 5, Episode 9.)

After Ramsay Bolton’s 20 men managed (off camera) to hit Stannis Baratheon’s army hard during a secret attack in the night, the King made a big decision. He sent his Hand of the King — the always rational Davos Seaworth – away, and with no one left to help him see reason, Stannis did the unthinkable: he let Melisandre kill his daughter, Princess Shireen, by burning her at the stake.

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Liam Cunningham, as Davos Seaworth, was often paired in scenes with Kerry Ingram during her run as Princess Shireen. He wasn’t around when they filmed the young actress’ Season 5 exit, but fittingly, Liam was there during one of Kerry’s final days on set.

“So on the last day, we actually shot the scene where I’m saying goodbye to her,” Liam told Access Hollywood of the moment where Davos gives Shireen a wooden stag toy, and shares a lovely exchange with her before heading off to The Wall.

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“It was early December last year, so not only was it my last scene with her, it was the last of the season as well, so, you know, you feel that ‘end of another year’ thing as well. So it was quite emotional and then we swapped gifts. I didn’t know she had anything for me, and she didn’t know I had anything for her, and she was there with her mum, and we hugged, and it was incredibly sweet,” he continued. “I must admit, I felt a little of the pain, a very small bit of the pain that we’re gonna see Davos feeling as the season comes to a close.”

Stannis has let the Red Priestess do a number of heinous things since their side was first introduced on “Game of Thrones” in Season 2. Reading the Shireen shocker in the script though, still surprised Liam.

“My jaw – I think you could have heard the clang of my jaw as it hit the floor in my house, and it was a combination of horror — I mean, dramatically, it’s extraordinary. I think it’s probably going to be controversial, but… from a dramatic point of view, you know, it’s kind of magnificent. What did WB Yeats call it? ‘A terrible beauty,'” Liam said. “From a personal point of view, not to be working with Kerry any more is – I treasure those scenes and I love working with her and she’s an absolute sweetheart. I’m very fond of that young lady.”

Performing with the young actress was always a joy for Liam.

PHOTOS: ‘Game Of Thrones’: Season 5, Episode 9 — ‘The Dance Of Dragons’

“She’s a sweetheart. We always have a laugh on set. She has a very dry sense of humor as well and she’s older than her years and she’s incredibly professional and she’s so prepared when she gets to the set and is always open to ideas and stuff like that,” he said. “She’s a joy. She’s a proper, proper actress. She’s really, really good. [What you’re] seeing on screen is very much what Kerry is like. She’s kind of got that solid iron character about her. You just know she’s gonna be an incredibly decent adult. You can just tell.”

“Game of Thrones” Season 5 wraps up Sunday night on HBO.

Jolie Lash

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