Daniel Wiffen was in the background for Game of Thrones' infamous Red Wedding.
Now, after Mona McSharry's historic breakthrough for the swimmers, he also wants to take centre stage in the Tokyo pool.
Sligo's McSharry, 20, has become the first Irish competitor to reach a final in 25 years.
Wiffen will have to improve his own PB in the 800m freestyle by "four to five" seconds to make the final.
But the part-time actor doesn't lack confidence.
For example, he happily recounts the time he rubbed shoulders with some of the Game of Thrones' main acting roster.
The hit TV series was partly filmed in Belfast and, for Wiffen and his twin brother Nathan, it was the chance to see up close how the magic works.
They played roles as extras in one of the series' most memorable episodes - in it, the King of the North, Robb Stark, his wife Talisa and his mother Catelyn were betrayed and murdered.
"For the assassination scene, I'd say there were a couple of takes," said Daniel. "I remember sitting there for a while.
"But I was loving every minute of it.
"Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) was there, all the main actors and they were all so nice as well, they were really nice."
It fuelled the siblings' love of acting and they also played the role of Henry Bowyer in one episode of The Frankenstein Chronicles from six years back.
"It's on Netflix, and I was also on a couple of British Children's TV shows as well because I was a twin.
"Acting's big for twins when they're younger."
But swimming is his biggest passion. At around lunchtime today (Irish time), Witten gets his chance to shine as Ireland's star turn in the men's 800m freestyle.
Although his family won't be there, they will be on his mind just moments before he enters the water.
"It's disappointing, but I know they'll be cheering for me back home on the TV," the 19-year-old said.
"I'll be thinking of Nathan when I'm standing on the blocks.
"My family have been to every big championship so far. When I was in the European Juniors they went to Russia, when I was in the World Juniors, they went to Hungary.
"I'm not sure if all of them would have gone to this one. I'm sure Nathan would have gone but I'm not sure my parents would have gone.
"I feel the Olympics is so big I probably wouldn't be able to pick them out in the crowd but it won't bother me too much, I'll be there to do my own performances and I'll be thinking of them before racing."
Born in Leeds but having grown up in Lisburn, Wiffen and his twin are in Loughborough together, where he says he thrived in such a competitive environment.
And that started as a young swimmer against his sibling.
"I'd say my twin is definitely the most competitive person that I've met anyway," he said.
"So definitely it helps in going up against other people as well.
"My main training partner is from Austria, Felix Auböck - he's ranked top three in the world in multiple freestyle events.
"I'd say he's definitely a medal contender in the Olympics."
As for his own ambitions, Paris 2024 was always the target but, with the postponement of the Games to this year, he had a window of opportunity and seized it.
Apart from the 800m, he will also compete in the 1500m.
The computer science student added: "To be honest, the experience is big enough but my main goal would hopefully be the final in my event.
"I'll probably need to drop about four to five seconds in the 800 to have a good shot of making the final.
"I know I can knock off a lot of time. From the start of the season I've knocked off 21 seconds already.
"Also I've changed stuff in training as well in terms of technique and stuff, so five seconds is doable.
"Definitely it fuels my desire to go faster.
"I'd say it's doable. Nothing's impossible, so we'll see."
