Brian Blessed says that playing Gotrek Gurnisson in Warhammer is ‘six and a half times more demanding’ than King Lear
Actor Brian Blessed has voiced Gotrek Gurnisson, the iconic dwarf slayer from the Warhammer universe, across multiple projects. The role appeared in the strategy game Total War: Warhammer as well as two audio productions titled Gotrek the Realmslayer and Realmslayer: Blood of the Old World, which follow the character’s adventures in the Age of Sigmar setting.
Blessed, known for his adventurous pursuits—including multiple Everest expeditions and being the oldest person to trek to the Magnetic North Pole on foot—has described the voice acting role as significantly more demanding than his theatrical work. The actor remarked that performing Gotrek Gurnisson proved to be “six and a half times more demanding” than his acclaimed Shakespearean role in King Lear, highlighting the intensity and vocal requirements of bringing the legendary dwarf character to life.