Wiltshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge.jpg" alt="Anton Lesser stars in A Beautiful Thread at Stonehenge" class="wp-image-36744" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Andor star Anton Lesser sent shivers down our spines as Qyburn in <em>Game of Thrones</em>, brought gravitas to Thomas More in <em>Wolf Hall</em> and spent a decade keeping crime in check as Chief Superintendent Bright in <em>Endeavour</em>. Now, the acclaimed stage and screen actor is bringing Thomas Hardy into the spotlight, with <em><a href="https://orchestraoftheswan.org/a-beautiful-thread/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Beautiful Thread: Thomas Hardy in Words and Music</a></em>. This May the production came to Wiltshire in a powerful open-air production at the iconic Stonehenge, as part of <a href="https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/salisbury-international-arts-festival" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salisbury International Arts Festival</a>. </p>



<p>Muddy caught up with Anton to talk Thomas Hardy, filming <em>Wolf Hall</em> in Wiltshire and learning to fit Jaime Lannister’s famous golden hand&#8230;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Macall-B.-Polaycourtesy-of-HBO-1000x667.jpg" alt="Game of Thrones Anton Lesser Lena Headey" class="wp-image-36739" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Macall-B.-Polaycourtesy-of-HBO-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Macall-B.-Polaycourtesy-of-HBO-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Macall-B.-Polaycourtesy-of-HBO-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Macall-B.-Polaycourtesy-of-HBO.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph by Macall B. Polay: courtesy of HBO</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-you-tell-us-a-little-about-a-beautiful-thread">Could you tell us a little about <em>A Beautiful Thread</em>?</h2>



<p>The show tells the story of Thomas Hardy’s life &#8211; through his letters, great novels and poetry – up to his end which is more Thomas Hardy than a Thomas Hardy novel! The show is full of love, life and laughter.&nbsp;Laughter isn’t something you necessarily associate with Hardy, but he could be very funny. Hardy is often portrayed as this Victorian novelist, but in many ways, he was a thoroughly modern man, who travelled on the Tube, and cut deals with Hollywood.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-you-a-big-hardy-fan-nbsp">Are you a big Hardy fan?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>I knew the novels, but I have been transported, discovering Hardy’s poetry. The poems are like little dramas. They draw you into the whole world within a few lines. I went straight out and bought a massive <em>Collected Poems.</em> I began turning down the pages of poetry I liked.&nbsp;If you saw the spine of the book now, almost every page is marked – it’s ridiculous.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stonehenge-is-a-unique-venue-how-did-you-feel-about-performing-in-such-an-iconic-location">Stonehenge is a unique venue, how did you feel about performing in such an iconic location? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge-1.jpg" alt="Anton Lesser stars in A Beautiful Thread at Stonehenge" class="wp-image-36743" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Anton-Lesser-stars-in-A-Beautiful-Thread-at-Stonehenge-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Thrilled! Famously, Stonehenge is the scene of Tess’ downfall, in <em>Tess of the d’Urbervilles</em>. What an experience, to perform in Hardy’s ‘Temple of the Winds.’  We were right by the Stone Circle, so the audience experienced the show through headphones – like a kind of marvellous Hardy silent disco. We had this wonderful atmosphere as the evening developed, with the light changing. And I get to say that I have done a gig ‘with the Stones’!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-have-you-visited-wiltshire-before">Have you visited Wiltshire before? </h2>



<p>Lovely Great Chalfield Manor stood in for Thomas Cromwell’s estate in <em>Wolf Hall</em>. It’s a beautiful county, with such variety. I love the ancient landscapes, and the mystery. Thomas Hardy said ‘I confess to a liking for the state of dim conjecture in which we stand with regard to Stonehenge’s history.’ I’m with him on that.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-we-have-to-ask-you-about-game-of-thrones-what-for-you-were-the-highlights-of-playing-qyburn">We have to ask you about <em>Game of Thrones</em>&#8230; what for you were the highlights of playing Qyburn? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Helen-SloanCourtesy-of-HBO.jpg" alt="Anton Lesser as Qyburn in Game of Thrones " class="wp-image-36740" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Helen-SloanCourtesy-of-HBO.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Helen-SloanCourtesy-of-HBO-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Helen-SloanCourtesy-of-HBO-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/05/Photograph-by-Helen-SloanCourtesy-of-HBO-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photograph by Helen Sloan:Courtesy of HBO</figcaption></figure>



<p>The <em>Game of Thrones</em> cast were lovely, and Lena Headey [Cersei Lannister] was very welcoming.&nbsp; My character was on the periphery so I would turn up and never know quite what might happen next, but there were always people who could put me straight. And I became pretty good at fitting prosthetic hands on Nikolaj [Coster-Waldau, who played Jaime Lannister]!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-a-favourite-tv-role-and-if-so-what-did-you-love-about-playing-the-character-nbsp-nbsp">Do you have a favourite TV role and, if so, what did you love about playing the character?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>



<p>This wasn’t TV, but I think one of the happiest times of my life was when I was doing Twelfth Night with the wonderful Richard Briers. That was just a joy. And I loved my <em>Endeavour</em> family. Roger Allam [Fred Thursday] and I got away with a modicum of bad behaviour on set, simply because we were very old. Two theatre actors in gentle competition for the best ‘light’ or close up must have been a sad and sorry spectacle, and an example for younger actors how not to behave &#8211; but it was great fun.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-were-nominated-for-a-bafta-for-playing-thomas-more-in-wolf-hall-how-did-that-feel">You were nominated for a BAFTA for playing Thomas More in <em>Wolf Hall</em>, how did that feel?</h2>



<p>I’m happy enough always to be working, but it was amazing, and it was such a great show to be part of.&nbsp;I’m probably proudest of my daughter, Lilit, who played Princess Mary. We managed a day’s filming together and that was really special. We kept telling each other ‘Can you believe this?’</p>



<p><strong><em>A Beautiful Thread: Thomas Hardy in Words and Music</em> is now touring the UK, for tickets see <a href="https://orchestraoftheswan.org/a-beautiful-thread/">here</a>. </strong></p>



<p><br>&nbsp;</p>


From Westeros to Wiltshire: Game of Thrones star Anton Lesser live at Stonehenge

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