Aidan Gillen on Littlefinger’s long-term plans and paternal role

Season four looks to be a big one for Petyr Baelish, aka Littlefinger, with episode seven “Mockingbird” named after his personal sigil, and according to actor Aidan Gillen in the Baltimore Sun, the manipulator’s long-terms plans becoming more apparent this year.

“He’s a long player, probably more so than anyone in the books,” the actor says. “He’s laid these pretty long-term plans, which even go across generations. It’s becoming more apparent in the current season we’re shooting now. He’s taking more interest in characters like Robin Arryn and Sansa Stark. A more paternal, maybe even sweet side of Littlefinger is going to emerge in Season 4.”

Gillen addresses in the interview his character’s connection to the Stark women, with Sansa being the daughter of Catelyn, the woman who spurned his love repeatedly. “There is an interest in her as the daughter of Catelyn Tully,” he acknowledges, “But there’s also other interests in a political way. We’re not playing it as a creepy relationship. It’s more avuncular or paternal. I think she’s playing him to a certain degree as well.”

Aidan Gillen also spoke with Access Hollywood recently, on the red carpet of the Game of Thrones premiere in New York City. Inspired by a tweet from Bryan Cogman, Gillen was given the question, did Littlefinger recognize Arya as the cupbearer in Harrenhal? His response, accompanied by a bit of a smile: “It’s an interesting question, you know. How could someone as bright as Littlefinger not recognize her?”

The actor chats about season four as well, saying Littlefinger will be “taking [his] surrogate parental responsibilities a little bit more seriously and looking out for the younger ones.”

Visit Access Hollywood and The Baltimore Sun for the full interviews.

Ours is the Fury: Not sure I’m really sold on Littlefinger’s parenting abilities quite yet…because well, he’s Littlefinger.

• Published on 04/02/2014 at 8:00 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 12:43 PM CDT