Jonathan Pryce once slept through the dramatic death scene of his character, the High Sparrow, in HBO’s epic series Game of Thrones. The sequence featured CGI simulating medieval flames as the zealot met his end. Recalling the episode’s slow buildup, Pryce shares that he dozed off during its airing. The next morning, over breakfast with his son Gabriel at a café, the waiter quipped about their order not being green. Confused, Pryce chuckled politely until Gabriel explained it referenced the wildfire used by Cersei Lannister to destroy her foes in the Great Sept of Baelor. Pryce rewatched the scene that night to catch the details.
Skipping the Finale and Actor Habits
Pryce also skipped the controversial series finale, which divided fans by altering long-established storylines. Many actors avoid revisiting their work, a practice Pryce understands all too well. He jokes about comedian Ricky Gervais, suggesting he probably reviews his own material—and shouldn’t. These reflections come ahead of a screening for Pryce’s latest project, the crime thriller Under Salt Marsh, which premiered on Sky.
A New Role in Under Salt Marsh
In Under Salt Marsh, created by Claire Oakley, a Welsh coastal community grapples with dark secrets after a boy’s drowning uncovers a three-year-old cold case. Pryce portrays Solomon, a retired minister whose calm facade cracks into rage during intense confrontations with detective Rafe Spall’s character. He admits enjoying those explosive moments: “It’s generally quite nice to get to shout at people.” The series evokes Scandinavian noir like The Killing, blending police intrigue, local distrust, and environmental threats. Kelly Reilly shines as the lead detective turned teacher.
Roots in Wales and Early Life
Filming took place in familiar North Wales locations, including Anglesey and Barmouth, areas Pryce knew from his youth in Holywell near the River Dee. As a teen, he rode pillion on friends’ motorbikes, seeking adventures and Welsh girls at coastal pubs. Though he left for college in Lancashire and RADA at 21, ties remain strong—his sisters, nephews, and nieces live there, and he serves as vice-president of a local choir, even singing with his former geography teacher.
A Storied Career Across Stage and Screen
At 78, Pryce remains a powerhouse, blending stage acclaim with screen versatility. He boasts two Olivier Awards and two Tonys, including for originating The Engineer in Miss Saigon. On film, he has embodied authoritative figures: a writer in Carrington (1995 Cannes Best Actor winner), a religious leader in Stigmata (1998), and an IRA chief in Ronin (1998). His subtle expressiveness captivates, hinting at deep inner lives through minimal gestures.
By age 60, Pryce had starred in classics like Brazil (1985), Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), Evita (1996), and the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films (2003-2007). He once planned to retire by 60 but reconsidered around age 40. Now, with fewer peers in his age bracket, opportunities abound in high-caliber projects like Slow Horses and The Crown, where he played Prince Philip.
Cult Status in Slow Horses
In Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, Pryce’s David Cartwright, ex-MI5 head and grandfather to spy River Cartwright (Jack Lowden), drives the character-focused narrative. Unfamiliar with author Mick Herron’s books beforehand, Pryce discovered the character’s dementia arc alongside viewers, adding authenticity. The role resonated personally; after performing in Florian Zeller’s The Height of the Storm, audiences shared dementia stories, highlighting drama’s power to foster connection and catharsis among caregivers.
Pryce empathizes deeply: “The comfort for carers is that their loved ones aren’t in distress and anxious themselves. That distress is never going to go away from a carer. That’s the worst thing about it.” Late-career highlights include Cardinal Wolsey in Wolf Hall (2015), a novelist in The Wife (2017) opposite Glenn Close, and an Oscar-nominated Pope Francis in The Two Popes (2019), where working with Anthony Hopkins proved “absolutely brilliant.”
Game of Thrones and Bond Villainy
Pryce initially passed on Game of Thrones, uninterested in the fantasy genre and daunted by the script’s odd names. He joined in season five, once it became a global hit. He modeled the High Sparrow on the newly elected Pope Francis, portraying him nobly at first—washing feet and aiding the poor—before scripts shifted to reveal a darker side. The role boosted his recognition; during a China tour for The Merchant of Venice, fans on a Hong Kong island greeted him as “Hi Sparrow,” likely from pirated viewings.
Earlier, in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Pryce villainized as media tycoon Elliot Carver, plotting war for broadcasting rights. The Bond production’s extravagance—private jets, luxury hotels—left him grumpy about its environmental impact, though the experience was “fantastic.” He laments his character’s demise in a machine after sparing Bond.
Personal Reflections and Hamlet’s Shadow
Pryce’s most haunting role was Hamlet in 1980 at the Royal Court, directed by Richard Eyre. It intertwined with grief over his father’s death from a violent hammer attack during a grocery run. Unable to attend the funeral while performing in New York, Pryce channeled guilt and anger into the prince’s arc. He even hallucinated his father in the garden, mirroring Hamlet’s ghost. On stage, he voiced the ghost himself, drawing from voodoo trance videos, evoking audience shock after initial nervous laughs.
Brazil endures as a career cornerstone; Pryce still hosts Q&As worldwide, where fans credit it with shaping their lives and careers. Aging has eased his self-criticism: “When you’re younger, I’d watch things differently and didn’t enjoy the experience. A lot of it’s to do with vanity.” Now, he grapples with body dysmorphia: “When I look in the mirror, I don’t see an old person. Except when I go out on the street and glance in a shop window, and it’s like, who is that old man walking alongside me?”
Under Salt Marsh airs Fridays on Sky and NOW.
