Scottish actor Daniel Portman, beloved by audiences for his role as the loyal Podrick Payne in the hit series «Game of Thrones» and for his appearance in «Black Mirror,» arrived in Almaty. He was one of the headline guests at AGGE Festival 2026, a pop-culture event that took place in the city on Sept. 26-27.
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Portman said he had been in Kazakhstan for several days and already felt very much at home, adding that he had never felt so welcome anywhere else in the world.
He has sampled traditional treats and national delicacies, including beshbarmak, airan, kumyz, kurt and irimshik. He said he thoroughly enjoyed the food and that the hearty meal even made him feel stronger.
Portman also revealed his dream of playing Macbeth, the king of Scotland in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, saying he has now reached the right age to take on the role.
A bond forged on Game of Thrones
The actor spoke about how filming «Game of Thrones» provided a unique experience that is difficult for people outside the industry to fully understand. The shared experience helped foster strong friendships among the cast.
Portman remains on good terms with Alfie Allen, who played Theon Greyjoy; Gwendoline Christie, who played Brienne of Tarth; and Jerome Flynn, who played Bronn.
He also named the «Game of Thrones» character he would most like to bring back to life: Khal Drogo, played by Jason Momoa. Portman described Drogo as something of a wild card and said the series could have unfolded very differently had the character survived.
Portman played Podrick Payne in the series from 2012 to 2019. His character began as Tyrion Lannister’s squire and eventually became one of the series’ best-known supporting characters.
