Nell Tiger Free is swapping swords for sad songs

Between starring in The First Omen and cradling guitars like they’re “human beings that will load the dishwasher,” Nell Tiger Free is having a moment. The former Game of Thrones actor is making the pivot from playing Myrcella Baratheon to playing packed venues, though she’d tell you she’s been writing songs since before she could swing a sword. “I wrote my first song long before I did my first acting job,” she laughs. “Okay yes, I was 6 and the song was about a frog, but it was a song nonetheless.”

Her debut single “Do I Just Keep Making Things Worse?” sets the tone for what’s to come — ethereal alt-pop that’s both brutally honest and brilliantly funny. “Sometimes you have to ask yourself if you’re the problem,” she muses about the track, “but I’ve thought about it and I’m not… It’s definitely him.” With her first EP on the horizon and live shows booked for 2025 (sadly, her manager vetoed the rollerblades), we caught up with the artist who’s trading character scripts for confessional songwriting.

“Do I Just Keep Making Things Worse?” is quite a vulnerable title for a debut. What made you want to lead with that particular sentiment?

Well, the song’s title is a question I ask myself a lot… “Do I just keep making things worse?” The song’s about desperately trying to hold onto something and, in turn, pushing it away. Or trying to paper over bigger problems so things look better, but they don’t feel better — like putting a band-aid on a broken leg. Sometimes you have to ask yourself if you’re the problem, but I’ve thought about it and I’m not… It’s definitely him.

Your sound’s being described as this mix of ethereal alternative and electro indie pop. How did you find your way to that sonic space? Who are your key influences?

Is that what my mum said? [laughs] I honestly have never been able to describe my “sound” because I’m truly not sure what it is. Ethereal alternative certainly sounds cool, so I’m up for calling it that. Me and my producer Tim have always been excited by the same music — like, I’ll go into the studio with the intention of recording a ballad, and by the end of the session, we’ve got something that sounds like it could be in a Mighty Boosh episode. I don’t like my music to sound like it’s taking itself too seriously. Oddly enough, I think the single is kind of the odd one out on the EP. For now, anyway. I keep changing it — I’m a Libra. As for influences, that changes all the time, too. Whatever song I’m obsessed with at the time, I try and make something that makes me feel the way that song did. Right now I’m obsessed with Yard Act, so don’t be surprised if I try and force Tim into letting me do a spoken word poem in a cockney accent over a tasty beat.

Growing up on film sets must give you a unique perspective on performance. How does that background influence your approach to music?

I’ve been acting since I was 11. The beautiful thing about that is that I’ve always been pretending to be someone else. Playing a character comes naturally to me — it’s second nature. What acting doesn’t prepare you for is being yourself. That’s the thing that has always terrified me about putting my music out there. If you don’t like a character I play, that’s okay. I can separate myself from that… But if you don’t like my music, it’s like you don’t like my soul. That’s lame, I know. Thankfully, I’ve experienced so much rejection from so young that my skin feels thick enough to put my songs out there and be okay with whatever.

February 2025 marks your live music debut. What are you most excited or nervous about?

Fuck me, that’s terrifying — whose bloody idea was that? I’ve never played these songs live before. Any live performance I’ve ever done was when I used to be in a band, and my bandmates were so good looking that they could distract the audience if I ever got anything wrong. In all seriousness, performing live is the part I’m most excited about. If I can resonate with just one person – if just one person hears me play something and thinks “yeah I could cry to that” or “yeah I could dance to that” – then it’s picante margaritas all around.

What can we expect from your live performances?

To be honest, I’m not totally sure yet! I’m still figuring that part out. I think I’ve got a lot of way too ambitious ideas. My manager, Jason, said no to doing the whole thing on rollerblades — I personally thought it was inspired. What I do want is for my shows to feel like a good night out. I want them to be interactive and personal, and for people to walk away feeling like they were up there with me.

First it’s your debut, then it’s the live shows. What’s after that?

I guess I’ll see what happens! I love the visual aspect of the music industry, so I’d love to keep making videos. It feels like a really nice way to combine acting and music — I find it really satisfying. And I would love to tour and play as many live shows as I can, and hopefully find an odd little bunch who want to come see me… And then adopt them all? Mostly I just want to keep writing. I think that’s when I’m truly at my happiest. I’d like to have the album ready by early next year, so I’ll be in the studio as much as I can be.

You’ve got to get the vibe going on set. What song are you putting on?

“The Whole of the Moon” by The Waterboys. That’s my walk-out song for sure.

You’re already established in acting, from Game of Thrones to The First Omen. Was music always running parallel, or did it evolve more recently?

I’ve been writing songs for as long as I can remember. I wrote my first song long before I did my first acting job. Okay yes, I was 6 and the song was about a frog, but it was a song nonetheless. Music was always the thing I did at the end of the working day to take the edge off. I guess it’s in this last year when I decided to stop being a pussy and finally show these songs to somebody.

There’s often scepticism when actors move into music. Did that cross your mind, or were you just focused on making the art you make?

And rightfully so! Absolutely no shade to anyone, but sometimes one should truly stick to what they are good at. To be honest, I don’t think it’s too surprising when an actor jumps to music, or a musician jumps to acting. I think creative people often swing from one thing to another and that’s cool. I think you open yourself up to a harsher judgement. If someone’s mega famous for singing and then they star in a major movie and they’re terrible, but they keep getting hired because they have a very public profile, it’s going to irritate people. And vice versa. But I’m not too worried about that because I’m not mega famous for anything. I think there’s less pressure on me in that respect.

Do you find yourself drawing from similar emotional wells for both acting and songwriting, or are they completely different headspaces?

For me, they are truly completely different headspaces. All my songs are about my relationships past and present, or my friends and my family. They’re completely personal. With acting, I must detach from myself and become someone else. But I can’t write a song unless it’s about something I have experienced or am experiencing at that moment. I think I write my best music when I’m sad and I give my best acting performances when I’m happy. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because when I’m making a movie, I have to have the energy to be at my best all day, every day. When I’m writing, I can drink a bottle of Baileys and cradle my guitar like it’s a human being that will load the dishwasher… And not like other girls’ bikini pictures on Instagram.