The Witcher’s Jeremy Crawford details behind-the-scenes fears for iconic role

In 2019, Jeremy Crawford excitedly accepted the role of Yarpen Zigrin, a dwarven warrior and close friend of The Witcher’s main heroes, but over the past four years the actor still hasn’t been able to shake the immense pressure on his shoulders.

The Canadian stars, who stands at 4’10” tall, told Express.co.uk that he feels a “burden of representation” for little people actors, as he explained: “Because there’s not a lot of little people performers, you usually tend to only think of Warwick Davis or Peter Dinklage.”

Trying to live up to the legacies of these cinema legends has left the actor with an intense fear if he should ever make even the smallest mistake: “Inside my gut, I worry that ‘Oh, they’re going to not cast me again.

“They’re not going to bring my character back. They’re not going to give other little people the chance. They don’t think we can handle it like everyone else’.”

However, Jeremy optimistically adds: “I do feel that burden but it’s one I’m happy to carry because if that gets us seen a little bit and gets us more opportunities, then it’s worth it.”

It’s clear to see the one undeniable connection between Jeremy, Warwick and Peter is starring roles portraying fictitious characters, which begs the question; how much longer will it be until little people actors can be just as casually cast in a rom-com as they are in the fantasy genre.

Jeremy has some sincere hope that Hollywood is “getting close”, but not quite there just yet.

He continued: “We’re seeing little bits here and there and I think the more often you see that the more familiarity that audiences, producers and studios have, then (casting a little person) doesn’t feel like a risk.

“It just feels like; ‘Yeah we’re getting the best actor for the job’.

“I don’t want to be just a little person actor, I want to be an actor and I think that’s how we all feel.”

Speaking to press on the black carpet at The Witcher premiere in London, Jeremy revealed that, much like his co-star Henry Cavill, he was a fan of The Witcher books long before the series.

This made the role of Yarpen all that much more a “dream come true”, as he had been Jeremy’s favourite character in the novels.