Charles Dance’s Darkest Secret: The Forgotten Villain That Tops Tywin Lannister

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Tywin Lannister, portrayed by Charles Dance, stands out as a remarkable villain in the series, making a significant impact early on. Known as the Lord of Lannister, Warden of the West, and former Hand of the King, Tywin was one of the most formidable antagonists in the show’s initial phase. His character was both shrewd and influential, leaving an unsettling impression in every scene. Although he didn’t appear until season 1, episode 7 titled “You Win or You Die”, Tywin’s influence echoed across Westeros well before his debut.

Although Tywin was a significant character in Dance’s repertoire, it wasn’t his sole major role in the realm of fantasy television. He is most famously recognized as Lord Lannister, but his versatility has kept him active in the entertainment industry, making him an ideal fit for prominent antagonistic parts. Regrettably, his outstanding performance in a dark fantasy film, often considered a hidden gem, tends to be overshadowed, despite Charles Dance’s enduring reputation.

Charles Dance Has Had an Extraordinary Career

The Actor Has Appeared in Numerous Renowned Roles

Born in 1946, the actor known as Dance has had a long and illustrious career that spans both big and small screens. Starting with roles on the stage in Shakespearean plays, he has since garnered significant recognition for his performances in films such as “Alien 3” (1992), “Last Action Hero” (1993), “Labyrinth” (2003), and more recently, “The Imitation Game” (2014), “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” (2016), and “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019). On television, Dance is best recognized for his role in “Game of Thrones,” but he has also appeared in shows like “The Crown” as Louis, “The Day of the Jackal” as Timothy Winthrop, and “And Then There Were None” as Justice Wargrave. This year, audiences can look forward to seeing him in Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.

Regrettably, he has never received much recognition or won any awards at prestigious events. Although he was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards and one Critics’ Choice Award, he has yet to take home a single win. His only major awards were the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble for Gosford Park (2001) and two Screen Actors Guild awards – one for Cast in a Motion Picture for Gosford Park and another for Ensemble in a Drama Series for The Crown. Despite his fame from his acting roles, critics have hesitated to bestow individual honors upon him.

Tywin Lannister Remains Dance’s Most Prominent Role

The Lannister Lord Was an Extraordinary Portrayal

Among all his notable performances, Charles Dance’s portrayal of Tywin Lannister stands out as the most memorable. His interactions with the other Lannister family members, particularly Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), Cersei (Lena Headey), Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and Kevan (Ian Gelder), were nothing short of extraordinary. Despite not resembling George R. R. Martin’s original vision for the character, Dance skillfully brought Tywin Lannister to life. Each calculated move and haughty remark added to his intimidating presence, even as his power started to falter. Portraying such a polished character like Tywin can be tricky, especially since it was crucial that he appeared to have gold within him, a quality that made other characters believe in his authority.

In another way of saying it: The success of the dance scenes can be attributed to exceptional scriptwriting, which portrayed Tywin as a shrewd yet hypocritical lord who thrived in weak kingship and tumultuous times. However, one must acknowledge that other actors might have struggled to convincingly play Tywin. Given his constant desire for control over every conversation, if not skillfully executed, he could have become annoying. But the dance performances managed to make these scenes gripping, encapsulating the underlying strife between Casterly Rock and Winterfell perfectly. The dance performances were so compelling that even Tywin’s death, which should have been Dinklage’s shining moment, was surprisingly impactful due to their skill.

The Golden Child Saw Dance in an Even Better Role

Sardo Numspa Was a Stunning Villain

Tywin is considered one of Dance’s standout roles, but it’s not his only remarkable performance. In the 1986 film “The Golden Child,” Dance took on a role similar to Tywin as the crafty antagonist Sardo Numspa, a demon. The plot centered around J.L. Reate’s Golden Child, a young Tibetan boy who unexpectedly discovered magical abilities. Sardo abducted the boy, but was foiled by Eddie Murphy’s character Chandler Jarrell. Notably, this movie was extremely successful, raking in approximately $150 million against an initial budget under $25 million, which equates to over $438 million and $73 million respectively in today’s value.

In the storyline, Dance’s captivating portrayal was instrumental in achieving that triumph. To put it simply, Numspa emerged as an exceptionally engaging antagonist. His stern persona and his readiness to employ both human and mystical powers for his objectives created a stark contrast with Murphy’s Chandler. Both were shrewd characters, making the confrontation between the vivacious Chandler and the reserved Numspa all the more intriguing. Dance skillfully added layers to his character, escalating the tension surrounding a villain that hinted at an over-the-top persona in contrast to a seemingly realistic character. If not for his outstanding performance, the demon unveiling could have seemed like an unnecessary plot twist, instead of a convincing surprise.

Dance Was a Rare Highlight in The Golden Child

The Golden Child Was a Critical Disaster

Regrettably, time hasn’t been particularly favorable towards “The Golden Child.” Despite its financial triumph, it has largely faded from memory due to its poor critical reception. It holds unflattering ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 22% Tomatometer score and a 47% Popcornmeter score. Critics criticized the transformation of a movie about a religious kidnapping into an overly comedic script. However, they often praised Murphy’s acting and recognized Dance’s talent, but lambasted the screenplay, direction, and humor.

The film, unfortunately, didn’t receive any recognition during the award season, as “Platoon” and “A Room with a View” stole the spotlight at the 59th Academy Awards. “The Golden Child” was overlooked entirely, relegating Dance’s performance to the annals of Hollywood history. Despite being highly underrated, it’s rare for modern viewers to come across Charles Dance and Eddie Murphy’s joint production. The movie suffered from inconsistent tones and weak dialogue, but Dance’s character helped prevent it from becoming even more of a laughing stock. Without his exceptional performance, which was comparable to his portrayal of Tywin Lannister, this overlooked gem might have been entirely forgotten.

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2025-04-26 01:14