Before House of the Dragon, Rhys Ifans Had a Breakthrough Comedy Role in a 1999 Romcom Hit
Otto Hightower is barely recognizable there, but you might want to give it a try.
Coming off the legacy of its predecessor Game of Thrones, HBO’s more recent darling and epic series House of the Dragon has been expanding the story that was given a glimpse in the original show.
Based on George Martin ’s prequel to A Song of Ice and Fire titled Fire & Blood, the series has introduced plenty of new faces that eventually rose to stardom on modern TV, though some of them might still seem pretty familiar.
With a focus on the numerous Targaryen family, House of the Dragon stars Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, a power-hungry Hand of the King whose fate remains unknown until the third season’s arrival.
However, it’s safe to say you also saw the actor in an old romcom cult classic (you might have not recognised him though).
Before Becoming Hand of the King in House of the Dragon, Rhys Ifans Was a Weirdo in Notting Hill
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Despite having reached new career heights after starring as Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon, to some the actor will forever remain Spike, a weird quirky friend of Hugh Grant’s William Thacker.
Released back in 1999, the movie primarily follows the latter, finding William at a pretty depressive period of his life when he tries to find some more joy in the routine work at his travel book store in London’s Notting Hill.
Going through a tough divorce, William decides to bring his expenses to minimum while sharing a flat with Spike, a Welshman that has no inner filter neither for words nor for actions.
However, soon William is given another chance when he accidentally encounters Anna Scott, a successful Hollywood actress who stops by William’s book store.
Rhys Ifans’ Spike Is the Extravagant Centre of Notting Hill’s Magnetism
While the movie initially follows a pretty unlikely love story between Hollywood’s biggest star and a humble book shop owner all the way across the ocean, it’s Ifans’ Spike that adds more compelling layers to seemingly plain sentimental narrative.
The character gives a different perspective on the entire story thanks to his sense of humour and lack of manners, allowing him to express his feelings just as they are without trying to cover them with accepted norms of modern society.
Despite not having much screen time, Spike nails the scenes he’s seen in, turning them into some of the most memorable moments of the entire movie.
