Jack Gleeson on the unique challenges of playing Joffrey Baratheon 

By all accounts, Jack Gleeson is a delightful human being. He’s involved in

charity work, his fellow cast members speak very highly of him, and he looks adorable posing with puppies. See?

Still, Gleeson has had some trouble squaring his friendly personality with his 

character, the legendarily sadistic Joffrey Baratheon. Joffrey may be dead, but his spirit continues to linger. When speaking at the recent IGN Convention in Abu Dhabi, which is a thing that happened, Gleeson confessed that he’d like to try showing a softer side in his next role.

When I go back to acting, I will have to think about what kind of perception there will be with my new role and I would want to maybe play a positive character or nice guy next to dispel any kind of prejudices this character has built.

Gleeson’s comment about going “back to acting” is news in and of itself, since he had previously pondered leaving the profession entirely. He’s since started a theater company called Collapsing Horse, so perhaps he’s reevaluating his stance.

Gleeson also talked a bit about the unique difficulties of portraying a character as loathsome as Joffrey. “Playing Joffrey was more of a challenge because, as an actor, you always try to empathise with the character you’re playing and you try to understand them,” he said. “Even though how Joffrey behaves – he has no redeeming qualities – I tried to take pity on that and understand that all his evil acts are because of how he was brought up and the influences he had as a child. I just tried to cut him some slack.”

I’m not sure many people have it in their hearts to cut Joffrey from slack, but I guess you have to try if you’re going to understand what makes him tick. Even so, it wasn’t always easy for the polite and respectful Gleeson to inhabit the guy—he said that some of nastier onscreen behavior was “embarrassing, but you got to do what you got to do.”

As for a return to professional screen acting, I hope Gleeson goes for it. He’s certainly talented enough to make a go of it, and if he waits a while maybe people will have forgotten he played Joffrey and cast him in some gentler roles. Hopefully they don’t have access to YouTube.

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However Gleeson feels about it, Joffrey on GoT is maybe the greatest TV villain of all time. That’s something to be proud of as an actor.

I thought He was amazing , I have never hated a character on screen more than him.

I will go even to the extent of saying He is/was the Best Actor in the series

I completely agree. My husband only watched season one but saw Joffreys death and said the little shit finally bought it

I made that fookin cunt my bitch in hell. Aye!

Yep, Joffrey is a Good villain. But I think Ramsay is giving him a run for his money in terms of being completely evil and unlikable.

He did a great job being the main antagonist for a season and half. I especially love how he owned the chair when he sat on the iron throne. I can see how being Joffrey would be hard for him if he is a method actor. It would’ve took a lot out of him and may explain bears in space. Hopefully he can keep his personality separate his on scene persona, he could have a bright future.

Gleeson is really talented. I hope he gets back into acting again. His character being hated was a compliment to his work. He should be proud. I could see how a role like that would mess with you a little.

for someone trying to put the role behind him he sure won’t shut up about it. hope he banked his money.

Don’t worry, Mr. Gleeson, the days audience confuses an actor’s performance with real life personality are generally over.

However, finding a nice, sweet role for your next acting job definitely won’t hurt, Mr. Gleeson.

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