Former Rugby Player Beats Impostor Syndrome for HBO Role

When Peter Claffey landed the lead role in HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, he didn't feel like a champion. The former rugby player turned actor felt terrified he couldn't pull it off.

Claffey plays Ser Duncan the Tall (nicknamed "Dunk") in the newest Game of Thrones spinoff, already renewed for a second season. Unlike the franchise's usual epic battles for power, this show follows a humble knight just trying to do the right thing in a complicated world.

The role pushed Claffey far outside his comfort zone. He'd built his acting career playing sidekicks and comic relief characters on shows like Apple TV's Bad Sisters, always happy to support the lead actor rather than be one himself.

"There's so much impostor syndrome that comes from that," Claffey admits. He questioned whether he could handle six-page dramatic scenes and carry an entire series on his shoulders.

But here's where his story gets inspiring. Instead of hiding his anxiety, Claffey channeled it directly into Dunk. He gave the character a nervous, endearing quality that makes him feel real and relatable in the fantasy world of Westeros.

The actor drew from both George R.R. Martin's original novellas and his own experiences playing rugby and making comedy sketches. He learned to trust the show's creative team, finding peace when showrunner Ira Parker and Martin himself approved of his work.

Claffey discovered he knew exactly how to handle the show's lighter moments (including a memorable bathroom scene in the premiere). The dramatic acting scared him more, but he learned an important lesson: you can't portray a character without drawing from your own experiences.

Why This Inspires

Claffey's journey proves that self-doubt doesn't disqualify you from success. His willingness to acknowledge his impostor syndrome while pushing forward anyway makes him the perfect person to play a knight trying to prove his worth.

The best part? He transformed his biggest weakness into his character's greatest strength, creating a hero who feels genuinely human in a world of dragons and politics.

Sometimes the nervousness we try to hide becomes exactly what makes us relatable and real.