‘Game of Thrones’: Kristian Nairn on Hodor and ‘Hold the Door’ Memes

ENLARGE

Kristian Nairn as Hodor on 'Game of Thrones.' Photo: HBO

This article contains major spoilers for “Game of Thrones” season 6. Read at your own risk.

Hodor may be gone, but he’s not forgotten, nor will he likely be for a long time. The character’s demise in Sunday night’s episode of “Game of Thrones,” “The Door,” will go down as one of the most memorable deaths in TV and pop culture in general.

But while the life of the character, played by Kristian Nairn, has ended on the show, his legacy is just beginning. Already memes featuring Hodor and “Hold the door,” the line of dialogue that tragically gave him his name, are popping all over the place. It can only help Nairn’s notoriety as he pushes forward with a busy post-”Game of Thrones” career, which is so loaded with film and music projects that he’s having trouble finding time to move to a new house. “It’s just nonstop,” he says.

Nairn talked to Speakeasy about Hodor’s big, tragic moment, how he felt about leaving “Game of Thrones,” and what it’s like to become an iconic character. An edited excerpt follows:

Leading up to that last day on set, were you dreading it or looking forward to it in a certain way?

I think I was looking forward to it, and then when we got there I got very sad about it. I’m not the kind of person who dreads things. I tend to just run toward it, and put my head down and not worry about it too much. When I got there, I was definitely sad. More because, I know I’ll stay in touch with everybody — I’ve made lifelong friends on set — but it’s just not going to be the same. We’re not going to be working together anymore. I’m not going to be wearing my smelly costume. It’s just going to be slightly different. Sometimes it’s a good thing, but I’m just happy with the way it went.

How did you contend with your emotions while doing the scene?

You don’t contend with them, you use them. I completely used them. When I have an upset face on when Bran and Meera are disappearing into the snow, I was actually thinking, “Yeah, this is it. I’m not going to see my friends anymore properly.” It’s like being a model. If you ever watched “America’s Next Top Model,” you have to think about what’s going on behind your eyes. It’s the same as being an actor. … It didn’t require too much acting. Just reality.

What was the hardest part of pulling that off? Beside the emotional stuff, there’s also a lot of logistical stuff, effects to consider.

You have to do your whole face-acting thing. You have to remember to put your arm up at a certain point. You’re reacting to an imaginary skeleton blow. The whole time the wind is whipping in your face, a hundred miles an hour. It’s just intense. You’re also holding people back. You’re just trying to do 10 things at once while still trying to be real and convincing as an actor. It’s just being human. That’s what I always say to people. I don’t know how to act, man. I just know how to be. I think that’s really an important part of being an actor. I’ve never learned how to be false. I studied some Meisner. I did some drama when I was at stage and music school, but I was always more interested in music. I find it easy to be natural, and that till now has put me in good stead.

Did you have no idea before reading the script, or did someone warn you?

I was warned. We’re like a coffee klatch, us actors. We like to talk. I remember I was sort of joking with one of my friends. I said, “Ha ha ha, I guess I don’t die in this season.” And they sort of gave me this look. I was like, “Really?” And they’re like, “Yes, Kristian, I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Who was it?

No way. We’re not supposed to do that. I have yet to give that one away. Nameless actor friend told me. And then I got the call from David and Dan about a week later, confirming my impending demise.

There was a big reaction to this, and it’s gathering steam. What’s the most impressive reaction you’ve seen from fans?

At the moment it seems to be — I’m not just saying this, people are showing me this. People are going around elevators and putting stickers of my face on the “hold the door” button [laughs].

Have you seen the doorstop with your face and your body?

Yes, I’ve seen that one, too, but it’s crazy. I thought it would have died down by now, but you’re right, it seems to be gathering momentum.

This is up there with Gandalf from “The Lord of the Rings” saying, “You shall not pass!” in terms of popular fantasy now.

Well, it’s kind of a similar thing. I kind of said, “You shall not pass,” in a less eloquent way … I didn’t say anything, I just turned my back to them.

How does it feel to be at the center of this immortal moment?

Since I started “Game of Thrones,” my life has been a series of bizarre moments. This is just the next one. This is one of the biggest ones, I have to say. My phone hasn’t been on fire as much the entire time I’ve been on the show, and there have been some pretty hot moments. This is next-level stuff. But it’s just incredible, man. I never thought this would happen to me. I always knew I’d be in showbiz somehow. I’ve always worked in some aspect of it. But I never thought it would get to this level. I’m so bloody grateful for it. These six years have been a bizarre whirlwind, and I think it’s going to continue, hopefully.

How many people have asked you, jokingly, to hold the door?

Honestly? Zero. I’ve been at home – I’ve been in Belfast, and no one gives a s— in Belfast. People in Belfast are very chill. Very chill. I haven’t been in public [that much]. I made my way through Heathrow airport today, and I saw a few people sort of gasping. But no one has asked me so far. I’m expecting it very shortly.