Given the nature of Game of Thrones in which many key characters are killed off, what kind of death would you like [author] George RR Martin to give your character?

I would like Hodor to die in the middle of a big speech. The first time ever he stands up to say something different he gets eaten by a wolf. That would be ironic.



If you could play any other Game of Thrones character, whom would you play?

I would like to play Arya [Stark]. Maybe physically I'm not the right type! And not that I could do a better job than Maisie Williams, but I think she’s an incredible character, who has gotten better and better over the seasons.

What was your favourite location to film?

I grew up within 40 miles (64km) of where we shoot, which makes me very proud. Winterfell is atop of this huge mountain in Northern Ireland and you can see all these weather fronts coming in. Basically the sky circles the mountain. It’s the most beautiful place.

Do you ever get sick of being told to say "Hodor"?

This is what I always tell people and it's 100% true: 10 times more people ask me if I'm sick of being asked to say Hodor than actually ask me to say Hodor. It’s really weird, like a paradox. "Are you sick of being asked to say Hodor?" "No but I’m sick of that." It’s easier just to say Hodor. I love saying Hodor!

Can you please say Hodor?

Hodor.

Did you have to do any special training for the fight scenes?

When I was a kid I was obsessed with Thor. I had a hammer. So [the fight scenes] came very naturally. Someone remarked how deft I was with this hammer.

Would you rather play a character like Ned Stark for three episodes or a character like Hodor for four seasons?

Obviously Ned Stark is Ned Stark and he’s wonderful and a legend and all that crap [laughs] but Hodor is an ongoing part. It’s an actor’s dream to only have one line and people like him, so I'm really lucky. And it’s one of the longest living characters.

Kristian Nairn as Hodor on the set of Game of Thrones. Photograph: HBO Photograph: HBO

How frightened are you of George RR Martin?

I think it’s always worth finding out what drink he likes. Or having a little gift bag with you. George is a great guy but he is pretty terrifying.

Was it difficult playing Hodor when the character Bran [Stark] was controlling him?

People either think Hodor is a very easy character to play or a very difficult one, there’s no in between. But it’s a lot of fun having to completely switch personalities inside four seconds, with no words. That’s a joy for an actor to get to show all that complex emotion in such a short space of time.

If your character could join another storyline what would it be?

I would like to make my way across to the dragons [in the Daenerys Targaryen storyline]. I think Hodor has an affinity with animals. I know at Winterfell he wasn't afraid of the direwolves. He’s able to control them or stop them from attacking. I’d like to see how he'd react to one of the dragons. Like, would he try to hug it?

It’s weird seeing you in modern clothes! What is it like wearing different furs and leather for your part?

Intensely warm. From seasons one to three I was basically wearing three inches of wool, and bear in mind we film in summer. They use filters to make it look dark. And it's never been washed, ever, in four years. In season four they added 80 to 100 rabbit skins on top of it, so it smells like a cross between three-year-old Hodor and dead rabbits. The costumes are very real and incredibly detailed. Every tiny little tear or stitch has been thought out.

How would you like the series to end?

My theory – and this really is only my theory ... I don’t think it's going to be as simple as who wins the throne. I think it’s going to be bigger than that. Daenerys represents some sort of elemental force, the White Walkers represent magic and ice and perhaps Bran is going to represent nature. I’d like it to be some kind of huge clash.