A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was such a hit it seemingly escaped the sort of racist backlash that unfortunately tends to cling to every pop culture adaptation that dares to introduce diversity into its casting. However, it seems now that wasn’t really the case, according to Tanzyn Crawford, who had a small but pivotal role in the show’s first season.
Fans will recall that racism was much more overt in regard to that other Game of Thrones spin-off, House of the Dragon. Lord Corlys Velaryon actor Steve Toussaint was asked about his experiences in an interview with Men’s Health, and he pointed out the obvious.
“For some reason, it seems to be very hard for people to swallow,” Toussaint said. “[Viewers] are happy with a dragon flying. They’re happy with white hair and violet-colored eyes, but a rich Black guy? That’s beyond the pale.”
Speaking to Wonderland magazine (via the Hollywood Reporter), Crawford reflected on her own experiences, not just as one of few women in the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cast but also as one of few people of color.
“It was intimidating to step into something that people are so connected to, love so much, and have a lot of opinions about,” Crawford said.
And not every viewer had a good opinion of her as Tanselle, apparently: “I definitely did get some negativity around race, but at the end of the day, I’m employed—and I’m following my dreams.”
However, the most important feedback came from George R.R. Martin, who dreamed up Tanselle in the first place. “[Martin told me] ‘You’re exactly what I pictured [for Tanselle]’,” Crawford explained.
And even beyond that, Tanselle is more than her physical appearance; in the original story, she’s mostly distinguished by being tall.
“The beauty of Tanselle in this series is she’s a softer outlet,” Crawford said. “The rest of the show is very manly, quite harsh, and brutal. I think she’s self-confident and has her own little passions and worlds that are very separate from everyone else. Of course, her storyline involves Dunk [Peter Claffey], but she has her own thing going on.”
Crawford wasn’t the only A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cast member to find they didn’t conform to what some book readers expected. Bertie Carvel was a standout as the doomed Baelor Targaryen—the rare member of that house not to have white-blonde hair, with dark hair inherited from his mother, Dornish princess Myriah Martell—but some fans still complained he didn’t look Dornish enough.
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