Video: One on One with Olivia Cooke and Emma D'Arcy
On screen, Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke play warring matriarchs; former friends turned bitter rivals, separated by power struggles, vengeance and bloodshed. Off screen, the two actors could not be closer, even if the filming schedule of season two of House of the Dragon meant, in Cooke's words, "I barely saw you". Always eager to lend a helping hand, Bazaar sat the pair down for an overdue catch up. The actors discussed everything from dragons and role-switching to what life is like on set and off.
Initially billed as Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon has swiftly taken on an identity all of its own, with rave reviews and a dedicated following almost matching the original series. Its canny blend of Machiavellian power struggles with impactful battle scenes and, yes, more dragons than you can shake an Iron Throne at, have made it compulsive viewing. Its more intimate focus – on one, twisted, scheming family – has made it as dramatically satisfying as the very best of its predecessor.
Cooke plays Alicent Hightower, wife to the late King Viserys, whose machinations on behalf of her family have become increasingly dangerous, with devastating consequences. D’Arcy plays her former friend, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the eldest child of the King, named the rightful heir to his throne, whose claim is taken into question by Alicent. “Ultimately [my team] shouldn’t win,” admits Cooke, of her own side in the Westeros Civil War. She explains, a little sheepishly. “Alicent misheard. It was a miscommunication. She’s very sorry for it.”
The cliffhanger ending of season one was a devastating spectacle that teased the real beginnings of the Targaryen war viewers knew was brewing. Cooke pithily refers to the ensuing carnage as a “Dragon-swinging contest” and both actresses have their views on how the epic battle should play out in the new season. As Cooke stresses: “Is it really worth it, just to sit on a chair?” D’Arcy, however, has rather definite opinions on who should win. “It’s my inheritance!” they exclaim, with a grin. “Daddy said so!”
If season one was a showcase for the starry cast, including Matt Smith, Paddy Considine and Eve Best, the second season feels defiantly Rhaenyra and Alicent’s story. “I think she starts the series with quite paralysing grief,” says D’Arcy, of her character’s arc. “It’s also her travelling back to her community. She starts on an island and has to make her way back to the mainland.”
“It’s a journey of loss, in more ways than one,” says Cooke, of Alicent’s story. “There are power struggles… there’s a coming of age.” D’Arcy laughs and responds: “I can’t wait to watch it!”
Should they be re-cast in the show, both have strong opinions on who they would most like to play. “Daemon,” says Cooke, decisively selecting the character played by Matt Smith. “I think I would, as Olivia, would really benefit from that sort of purging of all that rage. I think I would really get a kick out of that.”
“For similar reasons I would quite like to play Aegon,” says D’Arcy. “He gets to continually shirk responsibility as opposed to taking it deeply seriously. He gets the fun bits.”
While the victor of the “dragon swinging contest” has yet to be decided, D’Arcy and Cooke have their own ideas of what they would do should they ever get the opportunity to become Queen for the day. “Rewild all the royal land,” suggests D’Arcy. “I could get a skeleton key cut,” Cooke adds. “For all the shopping centres…”
So how much has life changed since they became household names? “You know, not much,” Cooke says, with a sardonic laugh. “You’re told by agents and managers: ‘This is really good for you.’ But I’m yet to see it…” She adds: “When we’re on posters and the show is about to come out, there’s an up-tick in how recognisable you are, but when it’s over, everything sort of goes back to normal.”
For now, the two actors are in the midst of the cult show’s spotlight once again, as its compelling saga unfolds weekly. But hopefully, with their swords and dragons sheathed, this means they will have more time to see each other. “It’s been very nice to finally speak to you,” D’Arcy notes. “Thank God,” Cooke replies.
“What is the key to our off-screen friendship?” Cooke asks. “I’m dominant and you’re submissive?” suggests D’Arcy, to which Cooke dutifully responds: “Perfect, that is true.”
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