Paul Bullion on The Witcher’s new character Lambert – and arm wrestling Henry Cavill

The Witcher returns this week to Netflix. Joining Henry Cavill’s gallant Geralt and Freya Allan’s Ciri is beefy Brit Paul Bullion who plays Lambert.

A fellow Witcher, he plays a major role in the show. The actor gives us a quick lowdown on Lambert and what to expect in the new series…

The Big Issue: Can you introduce us to Lambert?

Paul Bullion: Lambert is a fellow monster hunter from the Witcher School of the Wolf. Short-tempered and firey. Very insecure – that’s how I see him anyway.

What do you have in common with him?

I can be all of the above, if I’m honest. If the scenario occurs.

What attributes would you like to have in common with him? 

I’d like to have the ability of Witcher signs – basic magic used in combat.

What’s the job description for a Witcher?

Pest control on a larger scale.

Did you have to go through some training or were you already pretty handy with a sword?

I’ve got experience with a sword. A close friend of mine is fight director Jonathan Holby. When I booked the job, we met a few more times to have a play with different styles. 

What’s Lambert’s relationship like with Geralt?

He’s jealous of his popularity and very competitive. All of it is rooted in love and a bond through shared experience. 

How does that reflect the relationship you have with Henry Cavill behind the scenes?

After I beat him in an arm wrestle he left me alone. Not bothered me since (some events may be made up for entertainment value).

Were you a fan of the first series?

I loved season one. It was released a couple of weeks after I was cast as Lambert. Defo got me pumped! 

Why do you think it’s so popular around the world?

The Witcher world has a range of exciting characters grounded in real human struggles and emotions. There is a relatable character for anyone and everyone.

It’s the video game that got me through parts of lockdown. Are you a fan of that?

I dabbled in the game as part of lore research. I would waste hours playing Gwent!

The other lesson I’ve learned from The Witcher is how to appreciate a good bath. Your thoughts?

I love a bath on the rare occasion I have time. I’m more of a 6am cold shower man to be honest!

How would a Witcher fix some of the problems we have in our real world today?

Where to start?! I hope we can get to a place in this world where we wouldn’t need a Witcher to solve these problems. 

What is your ‘big issue’?

Male mental health is a huge topic to me. I think it’s very important to keep in mind the fact that so many men are killing themselves on the topic of discussion.

Season two of The Witcher premieres on Netflix on December 17