Benjamin Evan Ainsworth said playing Link in the upcoming Legend of Zelda movie feels exciting and almost daunting. The 17-year-old actor described the role as an honour, even as it puts him into one of gaming’s most recognizable characters.
He said, “It’s really exciting,” and added, “It’s such an honour to play such an iconic character and be part of two amazing worlds, which I am in awe of, really.” That combination of admiration and nerves is the clearest sign of how big the part is for him.
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Link
Ainsworth said, “I can’t speak too much on the film, but I think it’s super exciting. I think it was a similar first reaction to House of the Dragon. It’s all very exciting, but it’s also almost daunting. Filming was a lovely experience, and everyone was just lovely.” His comments point to a role that is already shaping how he is being seen by audiences who know him from The Haunting of Bly Manor and Pinocchio in the recent live-action remake.
He is also bringing experience from House of the Dragon, where he played Daeron Targaryen in season three. In that project, he said he felt “surreal and exciting,” and “a little bit scary” when faced with “a huge show that I’ve admired for so long.”
House of the Dragon and James Norton
Ainsworth said he was “so fortunate” to go through the audition process and meet Ryan, Freddie Fox, and Fabian Frankel. He also said James Norton is “lovely” and “a tremendous actor to work with,” adding, “you can really just follow him through a scene.”
He described Norton as fun off camera, saying, “We’ll be doing quite serious scenes, but between takes, we’ll be having a laugh.” For readers following the film, the practical takeaway is simple: Ainsworth is already speaking like someone moving from smaller breakout parts into a franchise lead, and the next major detail fans still want is when the live-action Legend of Zelda movie will reach audiences.
