Game of Thrones star Rory McCann says he was living in a tent and ‘stealing food’ before he landed The Hound role

Game of Thrones star Rory McCann has said he was living in a tent and “stealing food” before he landed the role of The Hound in the fantasy epic.

During an appearance on the Game of Thrones Reunion Special, McCann, who was one of the only actors in the show to make it through all eight seasons, talked about his experience of living in Iceland before his fortunes changed.

“I was in a tent – literally in a tent – stealing food occasionally,” he told host Conan O’Brien. “Eventually I got a job and sorted myself out, but then suddenly I’m getting driven around in a nice car in the biggest and best show in the world – just shows how your fortunes can change. Amazing.”

He added: “I managed to go back [to Iceland] and pay my library fines.”

Speaking about how he ended up in Iceland in the first place, the Scottish actor previously told the Daily Record: “I had made a Viking film with Gerard Butler and after filming I just went, ‘I’m staying,’ and was there for 11 months.

“There wasn’t any acting work at the time. I had said to my agent to phone if anything was happening but it wasn’t, so I just stayed.

“It was coming into winter and some locals told me I was the only man on the whole island living in a tent, so they helped me get into a house and I found work as a carpenter.”

The Game of Thrones Reunion Special will be available on the full series boxset which is released on DVD and Blu-ray on 2 December.