‘Game Of Thrones’: Jack Gleeson Opens Up About Purple Wedding Shocker

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains an interview with Jack Gleeson with SPOILERS from the April 13, 2014 episode!

Well, that’s one way to celebrate your nuptials! Even if you’ve read the books, the Purple Wedding was surprising to say the least. Game Of Thrones has killed off many characters, but Joffrey Baratheon?! That’s right — King Joffrey is dead! The king was killed at his very own wedding to Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), after being poisoned by an unknown murderer.

Jack Gleeson opens up in a brand new interview with Entertainment Weekly to tell all about his shocking send-off. He admits, “It was tough.” But guess what? He knew from the beginning! “I knew from Day 1,” Jack told the magazine. “When I got the part, I read the first book. And before that, I Googled the character summaries.”

Despite his loathsome character’s popularity, Jack didn’t think that the TV writers would alter his character’s fate from the books. “I knew it was coming. I would have been surprised if it didn’t come in season 4. I was just like, whatever.

Jack Talks About Joffrey’s Death

Jack spoke with Entertainment Weekly about his sad send-off. Here are bits and pieces from his revealing interview!

So you just shot your death scene. How was that?
Jack Gleeson: It’s relieving, in a way. You want to do the scene and character justice. It’s a complicated scene; I’ve never had a death on screen before. You want it to look believable — the choking and the coughing. It’s calming to know I’m in the great hands of [director] Alex Graves.

How did it feel to go through those motions?
It was tough. I suppose it’s one of those things that you have no prior experience in. I’ve never seen anyone die. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like. But Alex very kindly walked me through it. It was fun in the end, but kind of stressful to be so focused, but acting like you’re completely unfocused. Difficult, but exciting.

When you’re doing the pie-cutting scene, showing off for the crowd, what was going through your mind?
When I’m cutting the cake, I’m just trying to make sure I cut it through the center. When I’m gloating to the crowd, I’m just trying to enjoy it — the fake praise.

You’ve played a character fans love to hate for so long. How do you think fans will react?
I think it will be 50-50. There will be a delight that the person tormenting their favorite characters is gone, but I would like to think there’s a certain sadness at the loss of the delight people take in hating a character like Joffrey.

What was your favorite scene to shoot on the show?
Certainly the death scene is pretty cool. And [in next week’s episode] we did the funeral scene where I was on a cliff with stones in my eyes and I just got to sleep all day, and [spoiler happened]. So that was fun.

Was there anything Joffrey ever did that made you uncomfortable to perform?
No, I don’t think so. Oh, certainly the obvious answer — the two prostitutes and forcing one of them to beat and kill the other one. But I don’t remember it being awkward or uncomfortable to film.

Now you’re giving us another twist in this story by retiring at the age of 21. Why?
The answer isn’t interesting or long-winded. I’ve been acting since age 8. I just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to. And now there’s the prospect of doing it for a living, whereas up until now it was always something I did for recreation with my friends, or in the summer for some fun. I enjoyed it. When you make a living from something, it changes your relationship with it. It’s not like I hate it, it’s just not what I want to do.

What do you want to do instead?
I don’t know. Yeah. No idea. I have one year left in college. After that, I might do a post-graduate of some kind, but I don’t know in what.

So after this airs, Hollywood shouldn’t send you any scripts to try to lure you back?
Gleeson: Not for now. When I’m destitute in 10 years time, I’ll accept any script! No. As long as I’m in the not-ungrateful-but-perhaps-happy place where I can say “No” to whatever, I’m going to do that.

Many who follow entertainment in Hollywood will have a tough time wrapping their head around you–
Gleeson: Deal with it.

Wow! We certainly hope that Jack doesn’t leave acting for good. For the full interview, head on over to Entertainment Weekly.

HollywoodLifers, do you think Jack will really never return to acting? And what was your reaction to Joffrey’s shocking death on the Purple Wedding episode? Let us know!

— Elizabeth Wagmeister

Follow @EWagmeister

More ‘Game Of Thrones’ News:

1. ‘Game Of Thrones’: Why [SPOILER] Deserved To Die
2. ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 4 Premiere Recap: Meet Prince Oberyn Martell
3. ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 4 Preview: Daenerys’ Dragons Are Taking Over