Alfie Allen admits he did not know when he took on his role in Game of Thrones just how successful the show was going to be.
‘‘I was watching The Wire at the time ... so it didn't seem realistic to me that I would ever be part of an HBO megashow. I always thought it was going to get the attention it did in America. But worldwide, I didn't foresee that.''
With season six of the show set to premiere on Monday, anticipation among fans worldwide is reaching fever pitch, but Allen says his technological ineptitude keeps him mostly removed from the storm of speculation.
‘‘I barely open my emails ... I don't really keep up with the hype, that's not to say I'm not interested in it, I'm just seriously ... technology frustrates me. I sound like such an old person'', he says with a laugh.
The show to date is based on George R. R. Martin's as yet unfinished A Song of Ice and Fire series, but this season will mark the first time the plot of the show overtakes its source material, meaning fans are more in the dark than ever before.
Allen says the departure from the books did not really concern him, as he has never let them dictate how he approaches his role.
‘‘I asked. I asked people who were involved in the project whether I should read the books or not, and they said, ‘you know, it's your decision'. And then I soon realised that once I was sort of halfway through book three, as much as I enjoyed reading them, I didn't want to make pre-emptive decisions about my character any more.''
Allen's character is Theon Greyjoy, former ward of season one fan favourite Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) and more recently hostage and victim of the psychopathic Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon), under whose enslavement he has become known as Reek.
In a show that is not known for giving its characters an easy ride, Theon/Reek's has been one of the roughest. Having disastrously betrayed his adoptive family, the Starks, Theon becomes Ramsay's prisoner and is physically and emotionally tortured, and even castrated, eventually becoming the mentally broken and subservient Reek.
Allen says he found the torture scenes difficult to film, making a lighthearted atmosphere on set essential.
‘‘You've got to keep it light to go to those very dark places, so definitely ... it was not something that was spoken of, but it was just understood that we need to keep it sort of light in between''.
Ironically, he says Iwan Rheon, the man who played his on-screen torturer, was a key source of support during that emotionally demanding process.
‘‘He's a very nice man. And in a way, he kind of helped me through that whole season, even though it's kind of funny for people to understand that, that the person they see sort of torturing me and causing me so much pain, in the real world, he actually really helped me through it.''
Fans last saw Reek and fellow captive Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) jumping from the battlements of their prison in a desperate bid for freedom. Allen can't divulge exactly how they will land, but he hints that Theon's journey this season may deliver him back to his own family, the Greyjoys of the Iron Islands.
‘‘For season six you can definitely expect a lot of Greyjoy action. That's about all I can say.''
As for what he hopes for his character, Allen believes Theon has paid for his sins and deserves redemption, but he would find it just as interesting if there is no happy ending for him.
‘‘I'm much of the opinion that anyone can be forgiven. I'd say that as a person, I'd like to see some light at the end of the tunnel for Theon/Reek. But then also, as an actor, if they were to make it any darker, then I would like to see how they would do that ... I'd definitely take on that challenge gladly and embrace it.''
Asked if he thinks Theon's story in season six will be well received by fans, Allen says he can't answer for others, but there should be something to please everyone.
‘‘That's subjective. It depends what you like seeing. If you like seeing dark stuff, then yes, if you don't like seeing dark stuff, then yes.''
■ The sixth season of Game of Thrones premieres on Monday at 1pm, on SoHo. It is also available to view via Sky's Neon streaming service.
-By Cushla Turner
