A BELFAST-born Game of Thrones star has said the hit TV series will continue to deliver "incalculable" benefits to the Northern Ireland economy long after the conclusion of the final episode.
Speaking at the launch of a new touring exhibition, Ian Beattie, who played Ser Meryn Trant for the first first five seasons of the fantasy series, hailed Game of Thrones as "the gift that keeps on giving".
"We now have film crews who had the best training in the world because they worked on the Game of Thrones series. We now have film crews that can stack up with anybody in the world," he told The Irish News.
"The benefit to the economy has been incalculable, the show actually filming here, the trickle down effect to the bars, the restaurants, the hotels, you name it.
"The boost to our tourism industry, again, is incalculable, and that will only continue. We have seen so many tourists comes into this province solely as a result of Game of Thrones.
"I think Game of Thrones has a timeless quality. I think 10 years from now people will be picking up the box sets and following the show the way we have. It's a part of television history and it will only continue to grow."
The Belfast actor was one of three cast members to appear at the exhibition launch in the Titanic Exhibition Centre yesterday.
Dublin-born Liam Cunningham, who plays Ser Davos Seaworth said he could never have dreamed of receiving such a wonderful opportunity so close to home.
"Westeros is an hour and a half drive from my front door. All my actor friends are incredibly jealous because it's the biggest show on the planet.
"And in fact, when we filmed at the Linen Mills in Banbridge, that's only 40 minutes away - I could commute to Westeros," he said, adding that the show had introduced him to hidden gems in Northern Ireland.
"Ballintoy, the harbour there, first time we filmed there, it's an absolutely beautiful place. I'd never seen the Dark Hedges, there were loads of places that were news to me. It was great for me to see this corner of the island."
Meanwhile English actor, Isaac Hempstead Wright, who plays Brandon Stark, described Northern Ireland as a "home from home".
"I think the locations has definitely been something that I will remember forever," he told the launch.
"I've got nothing, but fabulous things to say about it (Northern Ireland). The time spent in Belfast and this beautiful country and the friends I've genuinely made. The life and the experiences it's afforded me have been second to none."
The Game of Thrones Touring Exhibition officially launches today and will run at Titanic Exhibition Centre until September 1.
The eighth and final season of the hit show airs on April 14 on Sky Atlantic.
