Atomic's Alfie Allen recalls 'isolating' work on Game of Thrones ahead of gripping Sky thriller

Atomic star Alfie Allen has admitted to feeling “isolated” during one of his tougher seasons of Game of Thrones.

The British star is leaping back onto the screen this week in Sky’s new high-stakes thriller, which sees him paired up with former Star Trek: Discovery actor Shazad Latif.

However, he’s still best known to most TV audiences as Theon Greyjoy in HBO’s hit fantasy drama, a role he held for all eight seasons.

Seven years after wrapping up filming the controversial final season, Allen has been looking back at some of the most challenging moments of the series.

Speaking to Radio Times, he recalled the storyline in which Theon is imprisoned and tortured by Ramsay Bolton (played by Iwan Rheon) as particularly taxing.

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“By season three, I was in this dungeon with Iwan,” he remembered.

“It was isolating, and the content was pretty dark – especially when I was being tortured.

“Iwan and I would regularly go out and play pool the whole night, and not talk about what we’d done during the day.”

Allen also revealed filming Game of Thrones’ third season coincided with a tragic family loss, further adding to the stress.

“And I also had stuff going on in my life – my grandfather was passing away during season three. So there were definitely tough times,” he shared.

Thankfully, the experience hasn’t put Allen off his career in TV and he’s back on our screens tonight (Thursday, 28th August).

He portrays drug smuggler Max, who is whisked on an action-packed, high-stakes mission transporting weapons-grade uranium for a cartel in the five-part drama Atomic.

With mysterious drifter JJ (played by Latif) along for the ride and CIA agent Cassie Elliott (Samira Wiley) hot on their tail, this Sky thriller promises non-stop action and riveting twists and turns.

There also appears to have been a lot less torture and isolation for Allen to endure, as he spent much of the time driving through the Moroccan desert, which he says he “loved”.

“September is when it gets really hot, and we were out by August,” Allen recalled.

“It wasn’t like on SAS Rogue Heroes, where we were in the middle of the Sahara Desert. The hottest day on that shoot was 53 degrees, which was insane. It just made you delirious.”

Atomic premieres Thursday, 28th August on Sky Atlantic and NOW.