I said that the big man could tell you the latest casting news. That’s because the big guy is Ian McNeice, a veteran British character actor most recently seen on HBO as the newsreader in ROME. He’s done a million other parts as well, of course. In A GAME OF THRONES, he’ll be playing Illyrio Mopatis, Magister of the Free City of Pentos, merchant prince, and arch- conspirator.

There is one character with a speaking part in the HBO pilot who did not appear in my novel. In the early drafts of the script she was known only as Red-Headed Whore, but she has since been christened “Ros.” Playing Ros will be the lovely Esme Bianco, an actress, model, and burlesque performer whose website can be found at http://www.esmeforever.com/

Her previous credits include CHEMICAL WEDDING, BURLESQUE FAIRYTALES, and DEAD MAN RUNNING, which is where those clues about chemicals, fairies, and dead men came from. Tyrion will be very pleased to make her acquaintance.

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