The writing for a show can only be so good if it’s delivered properly. Obviously, the cast plays a big part in making a show truly great, and HBO’sHouse of the Dragonis no exception.
Each cast member is able to bring their own uniqueness to a production, allowing for every character to come to life from the page to the screen. While the actors can show versatility within a single project, viewers can really appreciate their talent when they separate them from any single role, and see them perform in different movies or TV shows. Some of the best actors from the HBO series have such a diverse catalog that fans may enjoy seeing them in outside of Westeros.
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Emma D’Arcy
D’Arcy plays Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen after the jump ahead in the series. At 31 years old, D’Arcy doesn’t have a large catalog, but they’ve been involved in great projects before appearing in George R.R. Martin’s live-action universe. They made their television debut in the 2018 seriesWanderlust, alongside great actors like Toni Collette and Steven Mackintosh. After that, they appeared in the horror comedy seriesTruth Seekers, and the filmsMisbehaviourandMothering Sunday. Since 2018, they’ve kept fairly busy, working on projects that have scored well among both fans and critics.
Olivia Cooke
The 29-year-old UK actress got her biggest TV breakthrough with the A&E classicBates Motelas Emma Decody, Norman Bates' only friend in the series, before portrayingthe older Alicent Hightower inHouse of the Dragon. Among the younger fans, she’s very recognizable because of her appearances in both horror and young adult novel adaptation films. Prominent examples include the 2014 filmOuija, and the movie adaptationsMe and Earl and the Dying Girl, andReady Player One.
Matt Smith
Smith amazingly plays the antagonist Targaryen uncle Prince Daemon. There was no doubt he’dput on a great performance inHouse of the Dragonseeing as though some of his best TV performances include being Prince Phillip inThe Crown, and having the privilege to portray one of the most iconic sci-fi leads as The Doctor inDoctor Who. Smith has also lent his voice to various animated series and films, oftentimes providing English dubbed versions for anime likeDragon Ball ZandMobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Rhys Ifans
Portraying Ser Otto Hightower, Ifans has been a part of many, many films and shows. Most notably, he starred inNotting Hill,The King’s ManandThe Replacements. He’s also made appearances in immensely popular franchises likeHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsas Xenophilius LovegoodandThe Amazing Spider-Manwhere he played Dr. Curtis Connors, aka The Lizard (he reprised the role inSpider-Man: No Way Home).
Paddy Considine
Considine playsKing Viserys I Targaryen inHouse of the Dragon, a crucial role in the series. The UK actor has found himself in various action movies likeBlitzandThe Bourne Ultimatum. In addition, Considine has worked with the great director Edgar Wright in the filmsHot FuzzandThe World’s End. Considine has been in the acting game for a long time having most of his acting credits in the early 2000s and 2010s.
Milly Alcock
Alcock iconically plays the younger version ofPrincess Rhaenyra Targaryenbefore the jump ahead. Being one of the youngest actresses on the show, Alcock arguably got her biggest break with the HBO series. However, she has starred in other projects like the seriesUpright, where she’s the lead alongside Tim Minchin. She’s also the lead in the filmThe Familiars, and stars in the seriesPine Gapand the 2018 horror filmThe School.
Emily Carey
Carey was Cooke’s predecessor inHouse of the Dragon,playing the younger Alicent Hightower. The HBO series isn’t the first time she was credited to play a younger version of a character in a project. Carey played the teenage Wendy in the Peter Pan adaptation,The Lost Girls, the young Lara Croft in the 2018Tomb Raider, as well as the young Diana in the firstWonder Womanstarring Gal Gadot. As a lead, however, she starred in the filmAnastasiaas the title role. Carey has also given her voice to animated features, most notably theMonster Familyfranchise where she plays Mila Starr.
Steve Toussaint
Teaming up with Prince Daemon, Toussaint portrays the role of Lord Corlys Velaryon, aka The Sea Snake. Toussaint actually worked with Alcock beforeHouse of the Dragon, playing one of the leads inPine Gap. Outside the Australian series, most of his work is from the early 2000s, with films likeFlight of Furywith Steven Seagal and the 2005 war dramaShooting Dogs. Going all the way back to 1995, though, Toussaint played a part in the Sylvester Stallone post-apocalyptic superhero filmJudge Dredd.
With a show that carries so much weight, being the spin-off of one of the most popular series of all time, theHouse of the Dragoncast has earned their way to starring in such an iconic universe, doing their part to bring each of every element to life on the small screen.
