Simon Armstrong is Halfhand

George R. R. Martin has provided another casting confirmation, and this time he has dispensed with the clues and given us the news straight away. Simon Armstrong will be playing Qhorin, called Halfhand, in season two of Game of Thrones.

Armstrong is another actor with experience in both stage and screen. On TV, he has had roles on Holby City, Doctors and Casualty. He has also had roles in films such as The Edge of Love and The Killer Elite. He has appeared in numerous stage productions including Oleanna, The Three Musketeers, Henry IV Parts One and Two, A Christmas Carol, Macbeth, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Changeling, The Canterbury Tales, and many more.

Qhorin is a ranger from the Shadow Tower, a Night’s Watch castle situated on the far west portion of the Wall. He is called Halfhand as he lost all but the thumb and forefinger on his right hand to a wildling axe. Because of this he has trained himself to wield a sword with his left hand and is said to be just as good with his left as he was with his right.

Winter Is Coming: Halfhand is such a badass. And Armstrong has the tough and grizzled look that I pictured Qhorin to have. Now he just needs Maisie to give him some lessons in left-handed sword fighting …

• Published on 10/13/2011 at 4:31 PM CDT
• Last updated on 10/20/2016 at 6:03 PM CDT