Thrones a gift for Mr Eko

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje's, right, role as Malko on Game of Thrones was a chance to use his native English accent. Photo / Helen Sloan, HBO

If you tuned into Game of Thrones last week, then you met a new character, and one who isn't in the books. Malko, played by Lost actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, is a slave trader who kidnaps Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage).

Last we saw the group, they were headed for Slaver's Bay and the just- reopened fighting pits of Meereen.

Akinnuoye-Agbaje is having quite the year. He has major roles in the upcoming film Trumbo, opposite Bryan Cranston, and Concussion, a football drama starring Will Smith, both being released this year. And after that - though he has to remain tight-lipped on this one - he'll be in the DC Comics adaptation Suicide Squad, playing the heavily made-up Killer Croc.

He discussed his big Game of Thrones debut, and being able to use his own English accent.

Last week, Malko probably had the best line of the night - "The dwarf lives until we find a c**k merchant". What can you tell us about where he's headed on the show?

He's headed to make a hefty profit. That's one thing I can tell you. He's hit the jackpot for two reasons, obviously the dwarf and the so-called ageing warrior. In both senses, he's about to get paid. So it's a very good day for Malko.

And can we expect more great one-liners?

He's a very interesting and hilarious character because he's a black slaver and he fancies himself a bit of a Shakespearean philosopher, which runs contrary to cutting off dwarfs' c**ks. As you'll see, you can expect him to come up with these delicious one-liners and little Shakespearean monologues that make absolutely no sense. But he has this sense of grandeur in odd circumstances. He sees himself as a cultured pirate slaver.

So the audience will latch on to his comedy, but will we see any of his humanity?

Let's face it, he could have killed Tyrion right there ... I think the fact he let him live and he has to feed him and all that, I think that shows a certain amount of humanity. Also, here's the thing: he doesn't think he's funny. He's one of those people you tend to laugh at, not necessarily with, unless you're afraid of him.

Anything else you can share about the character?

It's nice for me to get my English accent out because, in all the characters I play, you'd never know I'm British. So it was a bit of a head-turner, even for me to see I was speaking like that in that scene. I was thinking, oh, I was expecting a different accent from myself.

You've been on some very popular shows. Is there one role people tend to recognise you for?

I've been fortunate enough to be on some great shows and play some really dynamic characters, one of which is Adebisi [on HBO's Oz]. A certain demographic always recognises me as Adebisi. And then, no matter where I go in the world, people who can't even speak English can say "Mr Eko" [from Lost], and they can quote lines I've said as well, which is really endearing. In a foreign country where you don't speak the language, they already know you.

Who: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, now playing pirate slaver Malko on Game of Thrones
When and where: SoHo, 8.30pm

- Washington Post-Bloomberg