Sheffield actor emulates Sean Bean with Game of Thrones role

A Sheffield-born actor has followed in the footsteps of one of the city's most famous film stars by getting a part in smash-hit TV show Game of Thrones.
Sheffield-born actor Junade Khan as a Dothraki warrior in the new series of Game of ThronesSheffield-born actor Junade Khan as a Dothraki warrior in the new series of Game of Thrones
Sheffield-born actor Junade Khan as a Dothraki warrior in the new series of Game of Thrones

Junade Khan, who has previously acted in Hollyoaks and Coronation Street, will appear in series six of the fantasy drama, which began on Sky Atlantic on Monday, April 25.

Sheffield’s Sean Bean played one of the show’s main characters Ned Stark in the first series, released in 2011.

Sean Bean in Game Of Thrones.  ©HBOSean Bean in Game Of Thrones.  ©HBO
Sean Bean in Game Of Thrones. ©HBO
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Junade, aged 29, admitted he was considering giving up acting before he got the call to audition for the show.

But he got the part of a Dothraki warrior and flew to Spain to film scenes with one of the show’s stars Emilia Clarke, who plays ‘Mother of Dragons’ Daenerys Targaryen.

“I watch the show, and when my agent rang me up and said I had an audition I thought ‘oh my God’,” he said.

“I went for an audition in London and they said I’d got it. I couldn’t wait to start.

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen ⬠photo Macall B. Polay/HBOEmilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen ⬠photo Macall B. Polay/HBO
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen ⬠photo Macall B. Polay/HBO
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“I’d not had an audition for a long time. I was thinking about doing something else. But that’s spurred me on.”

Game of Thrones, one of the most popular TV series of recent years, is filmed all over the world, from Iceland to Morocco but Junade’s scenes were mostly filmed in Spain.

“It was amazing,” he said. “All the Dothraki guys came from around the world, from New Zealand to France. We all just had a great time. We became like brothers.”

Although filming was fun, it wasn’t easy.

Sean Bean in Game Of Thrones.  ©HBOSean Bean in Game Of Thrones.  ©HBO
Sean Bean in Game Of Thrones. ©HBO

Junade said: “I had to learn the Dothraki language. That was tricky. And I had to learn to ride a horse as well, which was interesting.”

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And while Junade cannot give much away about the plot of his scenes, he did give an insight to one of the show’s most famous names.

“All the cast members only get to see their own scenes, so I didn’t know anything about Jon Snow,” he said. “But Emilia Clarke was amazing. She was very humble and an amazing person.”

You can see Junade in Game of Thrones on Sky Atlantic at 9pm on Monday, April 25.

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