• A. Carice van Houten
  • B. Michiel Huisman
  • C. Rutger Hauer
  • D. Famke Janssen

💡 Need help?

Think of Dutch actors who achieved international breakthrough in the 2010s. This actor appeared for multiple seasons and had an important role alongside Daenerys Targaryen.

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The correct answer is B. Michiel Huisman. The Amstelveen-born actor played Daario Naharis, the charming mercenary who led the Second Sons and fell head over heels for Daenerys Targaryen. Huisman appeared from season 4 through season 6 (2014-2016).

Fun fact: Huisman was actually the second actor to play Daario. Ed Skrein portrayed the character in season 3, but was replaced by Huisman starting in season 4 - one of those typical Game of Thrones casting changes that fans needed a moment to process.

Now I should be honest: option A (Carice van Houten) could also have been a valid answer, as she of course played the legendary red priestess Melisandre. She was even in the series longer than Huisman - for six seasons. But the question was specifically focused on a male actor. Rutger Hauer and Famke Janssen? Both excellent Dutch Hollywood actors, but neither ever appeared in Game of Thrones.

📚 More background information

Between 2011 and 2019, Game of Thrones was undoubtedly one of the biggest television phenomena ever. The series, based on George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series, attracted hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide and won an impressive 59 Emmy Awards - still a record for a drama or comedy series (these figures are from 2019; new records may have been set since).

For Dutch actors, a role in Game of Thrones truly meant an international breakthrough. Michiel Huisman, born in 1981, had of course already gained considerable experience in Dutch productions. Think of “Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden” (Good Times, Bad Times) and Paul Verhoeven’s “Black Book.” But Game of Thrones took him to a completely different level. After his time as Daario, he landed roles in major productions such as “The Age of Adaline” (alongside Blake Lively) and the much-discussed Netflix series “The Haunting of Hill House.”

Carice van Houten played Melisandre - also known as “the red woman” - a mysterious priestess with magical powers who stirred up quite a bit of controversy. Her character created memorable scenes that regularly went viral on social media. Van Houten received two Emmy nominations for this role, and deservedly so. She appeared starting in season 2 and continued returning until the very last season.

The production of Game of Thrones was massive. They filmed at all kinds of exotic locations: Northern Ireland, Iceland, Croatia, Spain, Morocco - you name it. In the final seasons, a single episode cost more than 15 million dollars to produce. The final season in 2019 drew an average of more than 44 million viewers per episode, in the United States alone (these viewing figures are from 2019).

Both Dutch actors have significantly expanded their international careers after Game of Thrones. It just goes to show how important such a series can be as a springboard for international talent. In the Netherlands, we’re naturally quite proud of their achievements - they’re regularly cited as examples of Dutch acting talent that has made it internationally.