8 Surprising Side Gigs of ‘Game of Thrones’ Stars

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GoT side gigs
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for The LINQ Hotel & Casino; Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb
Kristian Nairn DJs at The POOL @ The LINQ
Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for The LINQ Hotel & Casino

Kristian Nairn (Hodor) Is a DJ

Fans know Nairn as Hodor, but he’s also “one of Ireland’s most prolific resident house DJs” and has a “Rave of Thrones” show, a Game of Thrones clubbing experience in the UK, USA, and Australia.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau visits the IMDb Show
Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister) Is a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau “focuses on raising awareness and support for the Global Goals, especially gender equality and climate action” in this role.

Jerome Flynn
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI

Jerome Flynn (Bronn) Reads Bedtime Stories for Adults

The actor practices meditation himself, and he has worked with the Calm app for its Sleep Stories. These “sleep-inducing tales … mix soothing words, music, sound-effects, and mindfulness techniques to help adult listeners wind down and drift off to sleep.”

Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm) attends a Season 8 screening of Game Of Thrones
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm) Is a Musician

The actor is a singer who performs under the name Raleigh Ritchie. His music is a mix of pop, hip-hop, and R&B, and he has released one studio album.

Aidan Gillen attends the 2019 A+E Networks Upfront
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for A+E Networks

Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger) Narrated an Audiobook

In 2015, Aidan Gillen narrated the audiobook for The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

Charles Dance attends the Opening Gala for Advertising Week Europe 2016
Anthony Harvey/Getty Images for Advertising Week Europe

Charles Dance (Tywin Lannister) Is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Charles Dance received this honor “for his services to drama in the 2006 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.”

'Game Of Thrones' Season 8 Premiere
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Kristofer Hivju (Tormund) Was the “Wyndham Rewards Wyzard”

As part of the Wyndham Hotel Group’s loyalty program in 2015, Kristofer Hivju played this “modern, colorful, and empowering character who exists to recognize loyal travelers with richer, more generous rewards because they’ve earned it,” executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Wyndham Hotel Group Josh Lesnick told Marketing Daily.

Hafthor Julius Bjornsson attends the 'Game Of Thrones' Season 8 Premiere
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (The Mountain) Is a Strongman 

The actor won Europe’s Strongest Man in 2014.

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You may be surprised what your favorite actors are up to when they’re not filming your favorite television show.

Despite the scope of the series, filming Game of Thrones does leave time for its stars to showcase their talents and do good work, such as working with the United Nations.

But would it surprise you who has a musical background? Would you recognize one of their voices on an app to help you unwind or while listening to an audio version of a classic book? Did you recognize one of the actors participating in a hotel loyalty campaign?

Check out TV Insider’s gallery above to see the HBO series’ stars side gigs.

Game of Thrones, Final Season, Sundays, 9/8c, HBO