THE WORLD HAS BEEN WAITING, GAGGING EVEN, FOR THE SECOND SEASON OF HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, HBO’S SPECTACULARLY FIERY GAME OF THRONES SPIN-OFF. AS OF THIS WRITING, THERE’S NOT MUCH KNOWN ABOUT 22-YEAR-OLD SURREY-BORN ACTOR TOM TAYLOR’S ROLE IN THE SHOW, EXCEPT THAT HE PLAYS LORD CREGAN STARK, THE CURRENT LORD OF WINTERFELL IN THE HOTD TIMELINE.

IF FANTASY EPICS AND CGI DRAGONS AREN’T YOUR THING, THEN YOU CAN CATCH TAYLOR IN HIS PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS, AS JAKE CHAMBERS IN THE DARK TOWER, TOM FOSTER IN THE BBC ONE HIT SERIES DOCTOR FOSTER AND AS LUTHER JONES IN THE NETFLIX MOVIE LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

THE RISING YOUNG TALENT ZOOMED IN FOR A CHAT WITH US ABOUT WHY HE’S A NATURAL FIT FOR THE HOUSE OF STARK.

Left Jacket and jeans **Marine Serre**, coat **Emporio Armani**, shoes **Dior Men**
Right Full look **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**

So, Tom, how did you land the role in HOTD? Were you a GOT fan before getting the gig?

I was 11 or 12 years old when GOT came out and it was such a massive thing culturally, and I was always hearing about it from my friends, as we never had the channel it was shown on at home. So, when I started preparing for this role, I caught up with the GOT world! I did watch the first season of HOTD though, and I was completely in love with the show.

You’re joining S2 as Lord Cregan Stark. How would you describe your character?

He’s the Lord of Winterfell during that period that we see him in the show, and he’s got a lot of pressure on his shoulders, and he’s very loyal. I won’t give away any more than that, haha!

Ok, so what was it that jumped out to you right away about Cregan’s story arc? Was there a specific thing that you were like, “OK, I could hold onto this”?

Everything really stood out to me, and I completely love the Starks anyway, and I have a kind of connection there with the North, as my family is from up North, my dad’s family is from Manchester and the surrounding areas. So, I’ve always grown up with that gritty Northern influence in my life, and it’s such an amazing opportunity to play a Stark in this series, and I’m up for wherever the journey will take me.

No spoilers there then! So, did you get to wield any weapons for the role, and were any parts of it challenging?

I would say the weight of the sword on my back was something to get used to, it was extremely heavy! When I went into the show, I thought those kinds of things along with the costume, would be made for an actor you know, easy to use or wear on set, but no, it’s totally the real deal! But that really helped me to get into the right frame of mind to play the part and put myself in that period all those years ago.

You mention costume, so that affected how you approached the physicality of a scene?

Oh yeah, completely. Just from the costume fitting I could feel myself transforming into Cregan Stark, and when I looked in the mirror once I was dressed up, it totally made me carry myself in a different way.

How else did you get into the character mindset then?

It’s interesting, before you take on a role, especially one of this size, you can go into a tunnel of overthinking everything, from the way a person moves to the inflections in the way they speak. It really comes together on the day, when you’re on set, in the moment and you’re no longer thinking about it, you’re just there and it all becomes real. I think having watched Sean Bean play Ned Stark in GOT was also a big influence on me.

There’s a scene in the Winterfell in this new season, and just being on that set itself, with all the snow around me, and everyone else in costume, it was just so extreme. It all really helped me fall into that Stark mindset, the Lord of the North, and become my character, it’s also so much fun too, like an actor’s dream!

What was it like to be involved in a production of this size and scale too?

I feel like it was the perfect time for me to be involved in a project this size. Like with most actors, it’s been an up and down journey for me, starting off in TV shows like Casualty and then I played young Uhtred in The Last Kingdom, and I’ve done other TV and films too. I feel now that I’ve got all the necessary tools to really do this role justice and give it what it deserves.

So many young U.K. actors like yourself were in the first season of HOTD, did you speak to any of them before taking this on, for advice?

The process of joining the show was quite quick for me, and by the time I got there, everyone was pretty much settled in and had been filming for a while before me. So, I came in and was kind of like, “Er hello”, [laughs] but everyone was so nice, and I was lucky enough to meet most of the cast and we all got on well. It’s a little weird though being part of this other family; I recall Harry (Collett) who plays Jacaerys Velaryon asking me, “Are you ready to be part of this crazy world we’re all in!?”, and I definitely am.

Do you feel any pressure at all in waiting for the fans’ reaction to Season 2 and your portrayal of Cregan?

Of course, yes, I want the fans to be happy, it’s an honour to play such a character and there’s nothing worse than fans not liking what you do! But it’s all about being in your zone and trying not to feel the pressure, and just have fun and enjoy what you’re doing. I can’t wait for people to see it, and I’ve had great experiences in the build-up so far.

Left Shirt, jacket and jeans **Guess Originals**, coat **John Lawrence Sullivan**, belt **Hermès**
Right Full look **Dries Van Noten**

So, with your family being from up North, what was their reaction when you got the role – did you ask them to address you as Lord of the North from now on?

Haha! They couldn’t believe it, and people up North have a great sense of humour, it’s quite dry. Whichever project I’ve done before, they always downplay it, but this is the third time I’ve played a role with a Northern aspect to it. I think maybe they don’t realise how much my upbringing has influenced my ability to portray those sorts of characters.

And is your family creative, any performers among them?

We’re all performers! [laughs] but none of them went to drama school or anything, my dad used to be in the navy, but he would always be coming home singing after the pub, he was a right performer! My brother plays the guitar well and I play the drums, and we would always be putting on a performance, showing off and annoying the neighbours!

You’re a music producer outside of acting too, how did that all come about?

It was Idris Elba who helped me, as he was working on making music in between filming on a project we were on. I kept asking him about the software he was using, and then I started making my own stuff. It’s something I want to continue doing, and pursue more seriously later, as I’m focused on acting for now, but I would love to make music for other people. I love the idea of a collaboration at some point too, I just like being creative.

Left Coat, jeans, shoes and belt **Isabel Marant**, waistcoat **Emporio Armani**, necklace **Sweetlimejuice**
Right Full look **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**

Is that why you designed your own fashion line too, what happened to that then?

I was 17 years old, and it was called Tom’s Yard because I was drawing illustrations in my garden, and I wanted to print the drawings onto T-shirts. I only got so far on the collection, and then got scared and ended up not releasing anything! But maybe someday there will be a music and fashion collaboration of sorts, that would be cool.

So, speaking of Idris (Elba), you’ve worked with some great actors so far. Which do you think has been the most interesting to observe in terms of your own takeaways for perfecting your craft?

I do observe a lot, and I learned a tremendous amount from Tom Hollander, particularly his professionalism. He would finish work and then go back to his hotel room and learn lines and he gave up a lot of his free time at weekends to go over scenes with me, to help me more than anything. That was such a great lesson to learn, to be able to give yourself to others in this profession and have empathy. One other thing I’ve noticed as an actor, is that I’ve always been surrounded by older people in terms of who I’ve worked with, so that’s really helped me to mature in the way I approach things and just being professional on set.

Jumpsuit **Kenzo**, shoes **Camper Lab**

What type of role would you like to tackle next then?

I’ve always wanted to play Fagin in Oliver Twist…

Well, you’ve got the hair for it, maybe grow it a little longer!

Exactly! [laughs] I’ve always loved him, he’s a right old twisty miser, and I like the way he sings too.

Are there any real-life figures you’d like to portray?

Funnily enough, I do get a lot of people saying I should do Kurt Cobain, maybe one day!

Maybe Kurt Cobain as Fagin the Movie! So, what’s next for you this year?

Haha! Well, I’m off to Cape Town for just over a month to work on a project, which is where I filmed The Dark Tower with Idris. I was 14 years-old back then and with my dad who was looking after me, so now I’m an adult, it’s going to be a new experience! The character I’m playing is so completely different to Cregan Stark too, and it’s so exciting. I just want to keep challenging myself, and the weirder a role the better. I never want to be comfortable or be typecast.