Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on acting one-handed and why Jaime Lannister is not bad

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau who plays Jaime Lannister in 'Game of Thrones' (Getty Images)

Apparently, sleeping with your sister and throwing a little boy out of a window is all just a matter of perspective, says Game of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

Speaking at a recent press conference in London, Coster-Waldau, who plays Jaime Lannister on the hugely popular medieval fantasy series, said his character was simply ‘reacting to the situation,’ and is not an inherently bad character.

“Yes, it's his sister but it's true love. It's the love of his life and they desperately want to be together and it's horrible but it's just love.

“If you knew that and if you were then told there's a horrible, evil little boy climbing the walls. If that horrible little boy tells anyone what he saw, they would have to kill their lovely children […] you would think differently.”

The HBO drama will be returning next month for its fourth season and sees Coster-Waldau reprising his role as the morally dubious knight who has lost his hand. Did the loss of the character’s limb affect his performance?

“It was great, as an actor, I think obstacles are just gifts, obviously with a guy who's defined by his ability with a sword, to lose that part of him is a huge obstacle.”

The series is known for its graphic violence and audience members were left gasping in horror after Jaime has his hand unexpectedly severed.

“That night we shot that specific scene I got sick, so it was perfect. I felt really bad. It was really violent, as it should be.

“Then [the makers] built this huge knife and they built a version that was metal [with a curve], so he could whack it down. Now, you have to be very accurate, and he wasn't always accurate,” he says with a laugh.

Aside from getting his hand lopped off by a psychotic Lord, Coster-Waldau’s character is undergoing an emotional change of sorts.

“I think the biggest change of course is the fact that he loses his identity in many ways. He has to re-evaluate who he really is and rediscover himself.”

Offering only the smallest of morsel of what fans can expect from the new season he said:

“I think the big thing is what happens when he gets back to Kings Landing. That's how you'll find out how it's actually changed him. At the end of Season 3, something has changed but he doesn't know what that is.”

Several trailers have been released for the forthcoming season, promising even more thrills and bigger storylines.

Season 4 of Game of Thrones will be starting in April.

Game of Thrones': The Complete Third Season is out on Blu-ray and DVD from HBO Home Entertainment from 17 February