In the event you’ve ever shouted at your TV while watching Game of Thrones, odds are Jack Gleeson’s Joffrey Baratheon had something to do with it. The teenage tyrant was a walking rage trigger. So cruel. So entitled. So punchable. And yet, watching his audition tape now appears like whiplash. Because this monster was pure performance.
The viral clip from Gleeson’s Game of Thrones audition shows something wild: just how briskly he slips into Joffrey mode. One second he’s relaxed and unassuming, the following he’s icy, postured, and each bit the boy king you like to hate. The voice, the eyes, the stillness, all of it snaps into place like a switch was flipped.
That range is strictly why fans are begging for his full-time return. Sure, he’s done indie theater and the occasional appearance, but nothing on the dimensions of Westeros. And that’s what stings. Gleeson became TOO good at being bad, and it would’ve chased him away.
Even George R.R. Martin Couldn’t Hate Joffrey, Because of Jack Gleeson’s Genius
Even George R.R. Martin, the creator of the Game of Thrones universe, agrees Gleeson’s performance was next level. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Martin said:
“I believe Jack was sensational… he played this loathsome character and in some way made him more loathsome. He created someone that everyone hates, and likes to hate, and that’s a substantial feat of acting.”
Martin didn’t stop there. He called Gleeson “fiercely intelligent,” “perceptive,” and admitted to feeling “guilty” that the young actor took a step back after the show. In Martin’s words, Gleeson has quite the gift and will have a significant profession as an actor. And he’s right.
What Gleeson did with Joffrey, folks, was historic. There are many on-screen villains, but only a few that draw universal hatred from fans while also making you obsessive about their every move. Gleeson found the razor-thin line between detestable and compelling, and danced across it with ease.
So, if you happen to’ve ever questioned whether Game of Thrones was price it, just remember: we got Jack Gleeson as Joffrey out of it. And judging by that audition tape, the person’s only warming up.
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