Game of Thrones Star Recalls Hodor’s Comically Large Prosthetic Penis

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As a fan who has followed Kristian Nairn’s journey from the very beginning, I can’t help but admire his resilience and good humor in the face of some rather unusual challenges that came with playing Hodor on Game of Thrones. The anecdote about the prosthetic penis is certainly one for the books, and it’s clear that Nairn’s experience was as memorable (if not more so) for the cast and crew as it was for the viewers.

Picture this scenario: Stepping onto a film set one day for a high-tension scene on Game of Thrones, and instead of the usual makeup preparations, you find an oversized prosthetic prop resembling a giant penis in the trailer. This was the unexpected encounter experienced by actor Kristian Nairn, who portrayed Hodor in the popular HBO series. Since his character is part giant, Hodor stands at an impressive 6’10”, making him the tallest human character in Westeros. Due to his unique ability to only utter the word “Hodor,” which was how he got his name, viewers don’t learn much about him until later seasons of Game of Thrones. Apart from one scene, where we unfortunately get a bit more insight into his personal life.

In his recently published work titled “Beyond the Throne“, Kristian Nairn shares insights about his experience working on “Game of Thrones“. As shared by Vanity Fair, the actor reminisced about a particularly intriguing scene and the elaborate prosthetics used to create it. While Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) underwent a drastic change in his manhood during “Game of Thrones“, Hodor received an addition. Nairn recounted the moment he first saw the prosthetic, surrounded by the makeup team, writing that:

Upon laying eyes on its dimensions, I jokingly remarked to makeup designer Paul Engelen, “This could serve as an excellent door draft stopper!” Measuring sixteen inches in length and resembling a hollowed-out, oddly shaped toy, the hard plastic piece appeared somewhat dildo-like.

It seems that Kristian Nairn’s response to the prop was echoed by everyone on set, as they all shared a similar amusement. The actor reminisced about an incident involving Richard Madden (portraying Robb Stark). “Apparently,” Nairn penned, “he had secretly taken it from the special effects department.” He went on to describe Madden’s reaction to the prop, followed by:

‘Wow, check out the magnitude!’, he exclaimed to the modest group of assistant directors and helpers, who were all in stitches with laughter. ‘And this is for you!’, he bellowed as I approached.

Kristian Nairn Explains the Painful Process of Attaching the Prosthetic

Working on a medieval fantasy series, such as “Game of Thrones,” in extreme climates like Malta and rural Ireland can lead to some challenging situations. Numerous actors have shared their tales from the set, detailing some of the less pleasant memories. Yet, among these stories, Kristian Nairn’s account of working with prosthetics might be the most uncomfortable to hear.

In contrast to basic practical effects such as bald caps that are merely attached with adhesive, the creation of a prosthetic penis involved an intricate procedure including braiding and gluing. As Nairn puts it, this process was every bit as uncomfortable as one might anticipate.

Correct. Try not to worry, Kristian, I believe, but goodness gracious, it’s uncomfortable. The adhesive is applied in clumps that persistently tug at my pubic hair before it is smoothed into the surrounding region.

With my pubic hair braided and adhesive ready, it’s now time for attaching the prosthetic. It feels like this process is taking an eternity.

From the initial episode, Nairn portrayed the character Hodor, all the way until his heart-wrenching demise in Season 6. Merely mentioning that scene brings to mind a young Hodor forcefully uttering “Hold the door.” It’s fortunate for Nairn that audiences tend to recall this memorable moment rather than the challenging prosthetic used during filming.

Game of Thrones
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2024-09-18 22:02