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Jack Gleeson: Joaquin Phoenix Inspired My Joffrey

Game Of Thrones star admits he basd portrayal of boy king on Gladiator character...

Jack Gleeson has confessed that he took inspiration from Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus in Gladiator for his own portrayal of Game Of Thrones' King Joffrey.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, 21-year-old Gleeson indicated that - despite what some fans might like to think - the evil boy king is not actually based on Justin Bieber.

"Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus in Gladiator; certainly for my characterization of Joffrey, that had a big impact, the smirk," he explained.

"And the monster Hexxus from FernGully, certainly as a childhood fear that was a big one."

And he said he had enjoyed playing an unremittingly bad character.

"It's interesting sometimes when an audience can empathise with a villain, but to get completely lost in it, it's exciting just to be intrinsically evil and not have a speck of good or humanity in their bones.

"I remember in season two we were filming a scene where I come to Sansa with a necklace and tell her I'm very sorry. I was going to play it like I don't actually care but Dan said to try and express any genuine love for Sansa that Joffrey actually has.

"That was the one attempt to put some grey into the black. But overall, it's a pretty black evil road."

Game Of Thrones returns to Sky Atlantic for its fourth season on Sunday and Monday.

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