Staz Nair’s career reads like a script from rags to riches. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the ‘Rebel Moon’ star opened up about his challenging times before his big break in HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’
Nair, who gained recognition as a Dothraki warrior in the acclaimed series, was asked about his high-profile start in the industry. As a response, he reflected on his career before making a breakthrough:
“I did a role on [the FX series] ‘Tyrant’ that got scrapped, but I’d been working towards this for seven years. I started off working as a child actor back in the day. I was actually in a West End production of ‘An Inspector Calls,’ so I was naturally inclined towards the creative arts. I play the piano, I compose, and so this relationship with creativity has been in my life professionally and personally for many years. But, my first big break, I lucked out.”
The actor then revealed he was nearly homeless before landing the role in GoT:
“I was actually living on my friend’s floor when I booked ‘Game of Thrones.’ So that was a bizarre turn of events, and it was very surreal to go from sleeping on the floor to a job and a project as magnanimous as ‘Game of Thrones.'”
What was Nair Doing Before Game of Thrones?
Before entering Westeros, Nair tried his luck in the music industry. He participated in the ninth series of the British music competition ‘The X Factor’ in 2012 with his band Times Red. Despite not becoming a finalist and their single ‘Just No Good for Me’ failing to hit the charts, Nair did not let this setback define his career.
His acting portfolio, although initially small, quickly rose in scale and diversity. From portraying the lead in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again’ to playing Dax-Baron in ‘Krypton,’ Nair starred in various roles. He also portrayed a ‘hardened reporter’ William Dey in ‘Supergirl.’
Nair’s Thoughts on ‘Rebel Moon’
During his audition for Zack Snyder’s ‘Rebel Moon,’ Nair discussed his character Tarak’s connection with a mythical bird-like creature with the director:
“When I did the audition with Zack, I said, ‘Zack, I feel like Tarak is talking to himself as much as he’s talking to the bird.’ So I think the bird represents a life long gone. It’s another tether to his homeworld, and when he gets the opportunity to free the bird, he gets an opportunity to free himself, literally and metaphorically. So the symbiosis between himself and the bird is not just because they’re from the same planet; it’s because they’re in the same position.”
This role required rigorous physical training, a common expectation in Snyder’s filmography, which Nair successfully undertook.
In the interview, Nair also shared insights into ‘Rebel Moon — Part Two,’ confirming that the audience would see more of his character’s development in this upcoming installment:
“‘Part One’ is one side of the coin, and I’m certain you’re going to see those little snippets in ‘Part Two.’ As frustrating as it is and as easy as it is to look at it myopically, this was Netflix’s way of giving us two Snyder Cuts by splitting it all in half. Part One is [one-quarter] of the whole. So all of those things will be explained and understood within the second part, especially the extended versions of both. That’s hopefully going to give people a real insight into the rise and the fall of Tarak and where he started and where he’s ended up.”
An R-rated extended cut of ‘Rebel Moon — Part One’ is set for release in 2024, and ‘Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver’ is scheduled for release on April 19, 2024.
