The announcement that Bennett would play Prince Aerion Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms altered viewer perception entirely. Known in George R.R. Martin’s novellas as Aerion Brightflame, the prince is cruel, vain, and aristocratically aggressive. Translating that malice onto television pitted Bennett against former Connacht rugby union player Peter Claffey, who plays Ser Duncan the Tall.
Claffey stands a legitimate 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) without boots. The Peter Claffey height difference creates an immediate seven-to-eight-inch gulf before considering armor soles. In scenes recreating the legendary Trial of Seven, production reports and behind-the-scenes accounts revealed the visceral impact of this scale discrepancy. Filming reports highlighted Bennett being thoroughly dragged through the mud during intense shoot days for episode 5, where Aerion's royal vanity collides with Duncan's sheer physical mass.
| Actor & Project | Role | Listed Height | Visual Dynamic vs. Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jodie Foster (True Detective) | Chief Liz Danvers | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) | Bennett towers by +7 inches, creating an authoritative physical edge. |
| Kali Reis (True Detective) | Evangeline Navarro | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | Near-identical eye-line; slight edge to Bennett depending on footwear. |
| Finn Bennett (Baseline) | Self / Various | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | Standard reference point across verified European casting sheets. |
| Peter Claffey (Knight of the 7 Kingdoms) | Ser Duncan the Tall | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | Claffey holds a massive +7 to +8 inch advantage, making Bennett appear compact. |
| Dexter Sol Ansell (Knight of the 7 Kingdoms) | Egg (Prince Aegon) | Child Actor (~4 ft 5 in) | Adult-to-child ratio, framing Bennett as fully grown adult royalty. |
