Brain aneurysms and sandwich thieves: behind the scenes on HBO’s fantasy drama Game of Thrones

It’s hard to believe that HBO’s fantasy drama series, Game of Thrones, first aired on April 11, 2011. After eight epic seasons, the show is just one episode away from its finale. 6 surprising facts about Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner Over the course of those series, the show has used thousands of pounds of silicone and coffee creamer, 52,000 bags of paper snow, 163 tonnes of propane gas and 50 miles (about 80km) of fabric to bring us some of the most detailed prosthetics, pyrotechnics, settings, and wardrobes in television history. While we have all watched in awe and yelled at the screen, the series has claimed numerous prizes, including 47 Emmy Awards, one Golden Globe and seven Screen Actors Guild Awards. We’ll be sad to say goodbye, but in homage to GoT let’s check out 5 of the show’s most interesting facts. 1. Musical geniuses I know it hurts. But Somewhere in the multiverse @missnemmanuel pic.twitter.com/nP2vdYqkeH — Raleigh Ritchie (@RaleighRitchie) May 7, 2019 We all already know they can act, but we had no idea that these Game of Thrones stars have hidden musical talents, too. When we think of King Joffrey, played by Jack Gleeson, two words come to mind: red flag. Yet in an effort to break from the demands of being a tyrant on screen, Gleeson could often be found entertaining his co-stars. One memorable moment was his off screen rap titled, Got Monies and Honies, a song about none other than Winnie the Pooh. Gleeson is not the only one with a passion for spitting fire. How much money are the Game of Thrones stars making for the final season? Maisie Williams (Arya), Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran), and Sophie Turner (Sansa) have all been caught dropping a beat or two on the World Wide Web. The Stark children aren’t the only performers among the cast. In addition to playing Grey Worm, Jacob Anderson is actually a singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer; his alias is Raleigh Ritchie. Grey Worm and Missandei, played by actress Nathalie Emmanuel, are definitely #relationshipgoals. In a cute tribute to his recently slain co-star, Raleigh Ritchie posted a video of them on set, singing and dancing to I Want To Be Your Lady Baby. Check out their footwork in the video. 2. Life-threatening aneurysms We watched as she broke free from the Dothraki, freed the Unsullied, conquered hearts, reclaimed lands and charmingly smiled on press tours, but we didn’t know she was silently suffering. Emilia Clarke, the 32-year-old English actress who slays as Daenerys Targaryen also known as Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Lady of Dragonstone, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons, recently revealed that during her time on the show she has battled two brain aneurysms. Though originally denying rumours about her condition, she has recently started speaking out and sharing her story. After being taken to hospital in 2011, she was given the life-threatening prognosis of a subarachnoid haemorrhage. She would later discover she had another aneurysm growing on the other side of her brain, and had her second operation in 2013. How HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ has turned Northern Ireland into a tourism hotspot Fans were shocked that Clarke not only survived, but that she was able to continue her demanding schedule of filming, keeping up appearances and press tours. 3. Curly-haired star wore a wig ... at first In the course of eight seasons, a whopping 12,137 wigs and hairpieces were used. Daenerys’ wig colour and style alone took more than two months of testing and seven prototypes. You’ll never guess who also wore a wig ...The King of the North, Jon Snow. via GIPHY Although we never saw it, Kit Harington who plays leading man, Snow, also wore a wig in the original pilot. Yet the pilot never aired (Harington and most GoT fans are also probably very glad it didn’t). Viewers and co-stars alike admire Harington’s curls. The hair envy must have been real because early on Harington was contractually obliged not to cut his luscious locks. We won’t remind you that he also wasn’t allowed to wash it regularly! 4. Fake food and vegetarian meat ... When first approached about the show Peter Dinklage, the seasoned actor who plays Tyrion Lannister, heard the words fantasy and wasn’t quite sure about the role. Thankfully he said yes! We often see him on screen indulging big time in drinking, women and food. Dinklage is an animal-lover and has been a vegetarian since he was a teenager. Bonus fact: he even once starred in an advert for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Because of this, none of the meat he consumes on the show is actually meat; it’s all tofu and fake meat products. Another actor found herself in a sticky situation after participating in a Dothraki ceremony. Clarke, as Daenerys, eats a stallion heart in Season 1. via GIPHY Everyone will be relieved to hear that the prop was made from a jellylike substance, using dried pasta for the veins, which was injected with a sugary jam-like substance for the fake blood. She had to shoot the scene several times and not only did the prop taste disgusting, but when she went to the bathroom later on, she actually got stuck to the toilet from all of this sticky blood. 5. Sean Bean, the would-be sandwich thief Sean Bean was the actor that directors wanted to play the character of Ned Stark, but they auditioned other actors in case he turned them down. One couldn’t possibly imagine anyone from House Stark, least of all Ned Stark, doing a dishonourable deed. However, it’s been reported that actor Sean Bean, who played Ned Stark, often tried to steal the sandwiches of co-star Lena Headey, who plays Cersi Lannister, during filming breaks. Headey probably thought it was all in good fun, but Queen Cersi would definitely have taken his head. Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter