James Norton says he nearly fainted filming explosive 'House of the Dragon' scene

James Norton has revealed that one of his most intense scenes in House of the Dragon pushed him to the brink of collapse, with the actor admitting he nearly fainted after repeatedly smashing tables while filming.

Appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Norton reflected on portraying the volatile Lord Ormund Hightower in the HBO fantasy series, explaining that one emotionally charged outburst took a surprising physical toll.

"I actually nearly fainted a couple of times in that scene because I was smashing it so hard and the adrenaline was so high," Norton said, recalling the sequence in which his character unleashes his frustration by violently striking a table.

The actor explained that filming the moment required multiple takes, with each one demanding the same level of intensity. Combined with the heavy costume, physical exertion and rush of adrenaline, the repeated table-smashing left him feeling lightheaded.

Norton also shared a lighter behind-the-scenes story involving co-star Matt Smith, revealing that Smith once caught him falling asleep on set during a break in filming after the long production days.

Another unexpected detail from the interview involved Norton's father, who has quietly become a recurring supporting actor in several of his son's projects. Norton joked that his dad has developed a habit of turning up on the sets of his films and television shows, making cameo appearances whenever the opportunity arises.

Norton joined House of the Dragon in its third season as Lord Ormund Hightower, a powerful military commander whose fiery temperament has quickly made him one of the show's standout new characters. His performance has drawn praise for bringing both theatrical energy and unpredictability to the expanding conflict in Westeros.

While the actor laughed about the near-fainting incident in hindsight, he said it demonstrated just how physically demanding the production can be. For Norton, fully committing to Ormund's explosive personality meant giving everything to the performance—even if it occasionally left him feeling as though he might pass out.