Scottish actor Daniel Portman, known to audiences for his role as loyal Podrick Payne in the cult series Game of Thrones and for his work on Black Mirror, has arrived in Kazakhstan's southern capital. He became one of the main headliners of the pop culture festival AGGE Festival 2026, according to infohub.kz.

The actor admitted that he has been in Kazakhstan for several days and has already felt very comfortable during that time.

"I've been here for a couple of days and I've never felt so welcome anywhere in the world. Thank you for that," Portman said.

The actor has already sampled traditional treats and tried national delicacies — beshbarmak, ayran, kumis, kurt, and irimshik. According to him, he absolutely loved the food, and after such a hearty lunch he even felt truly strong.

Portman also said he dreams of playing Macbeth — the King of Scotland from William Shakespeare's play. According to him, he has now reached the age when he can bring that role to life.

The actor said that filming Game of Thrones gave him a unique experience that people outside the industry don't understand. Thanks to this, strong friendships formed between the actors. Portman maintains warm relationships with Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), and Jerome Flynn (Bronn).

"We all feel very lucky to have been part of a show that became a cultural phenomenon," he noted.

The actor also named the Game of Thrones character he would like to bring back to life. It was Khal Drogo, played by Jason Momoa. Portman believes that Drogo was a kind of "joker," and the events of the series could have unfolded completely differently if the character had survived.

Portman played Podrick Payne in Game of Thrones from 2012 to 2019. His character started as Tyrion Lannister's squire and over time became one of the show's recognizable secondary heroes.

Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that South Korean actor Park Sung-hoon, known for the series Squid Game and Queen of Tears, came to Almaty. He shared his first impressions of the city and the local food.