With the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, HBO is returning to Westeros, and the cast is virtually unrecognizable outside their wigs and costumes. See what the House of The Dragon casts actually look like off Camera.
Matt Smith, who plays Daemon Targaryen, was first startled by his character’s platinum wig despite having experience with unusual costumes over his career. “I was like, ‘How can I act through this blonde wig?’ because all you can see is the blonde wig when you first put it on,” told Smith to Hollywood Reporter in July 2022.
Matt Smith
The former Doctor Who star plays Daemon Targaryen, Viserys’s younger brother. Daemon was the presumed successor to the Iron Throne before Viserys selected Rhaenyra to succeed him as queen.
Paddy Considine
The Game of Thrones characters, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and King Viserys Targaryen (the Peaky Blinders alum) are distantly connected. He took over as king after his grandfather Jaehaerys. Considine’s castmate Eve Best was “so possessive” of the Iron Throne during filming that he actively sought to prevent other actors from sitting on it.
In July 2022, Toussaint told The Hollywood Reporter, “It was like it was his.” “At one point, I said to him—because my character has a throne too, but it’s nothing like as big as that—’ You can sit on mine if I can sit on…’ and he was like, “Nah.”
Emma D’Arcy
D’Arcy portrays Rhaenyra Targaryen, Viserys’s daughter. Chaos likely results when Viserys chooses Rhaenyra as his successor over her uncle Daemon. D’Arcy had to study the invented language of High Valyrian in addition to struggling with the wigs. “It’s like a fully functioning language — it’s fully operational, and so it’s really gratifying to unpick,” they told Slash Film in August 2022.
Milly Alcock
The Australian actress plays a younger Rhaenyra. Alcock told TVLine in August 2022 that Rhaenyra encounters quite similar obstacles to those faced by her distant relative Daenerys, including the perception among her peers that she is “not legitimate.”
Olivia Cooke
Lady Alicent Hightower, raised in the Red Keep and regarded as one of King’s Landing’s most attractive women, is portrayed by Ready Player One actress. Although Cooke and D’Arcy grew close quickly in real life, she is Rhaenyra’s main competitor.
Emily Carey
Carey portrays the younger Alicent alongside Alcock’s portrayal of Rhaenyra’s younger self.
Steve Toussaint
The most well-known seafarer in Westeros’s history, Corlys Velaryon, also known as the Sea Snake, is played by Toussaint.
Eve Best
The former Nurse Jackie performer plays Corlys’s wife, Rhaenys Velaryon. She is a granddaughter of Jaehaerys, and her cousin is King Viserys.
Fabien Frankel
The native of the United Kingdom plays Ser Criston Cole, a swordsman of common birth who later joins the Kingsguard.
Rhys Ifans
The actor from Notting Hill plays Ser Otto Hightower, who is Alicent’s father and Viserys’ Hand of the King.
Sonoya Mizuno
Mysaria, a dancer who becomes Daemon’s most reliable confidant, is portrayed by the Annihilation actress.