“I’m not going to lie; I didn’t read the whole book” — When Milly Alcock opened up about playing young Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon

Milly Alcock's depiction of the young Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO's House of the Dragon presented viewers with a crucial figure in the Targaryen lineage. Rhaenyra's journey as the successor to the Iron Throne is pivotal to the series, highlighting her battles with authority, fidelity, and her changing connections within a divided kingdom.

Alcock's role is important in illustrating Rhaenyra's formative years, during which her aspirations and struggles are formed. Her portrayal conveyed the intricacies of a character fated to maneuver through a turbulent political environment while confronting personal difficulties.

To get ready for the role, Alcock took a focused approach. In her interview with SuperHeroHype, published on September 15, 2022, she stated:

"I'm not going to lie; I didn’t read the whole book [Fire & Blood]. I mean, it's a very big book. But I did read the Heir For A Day section, which is most pivotal to me when I play Rhaenyra."

To further understand the intricate world of Westeros, Alcock revisited the original Game of Thrones series during pre-production.

"I watched the original show when we were doing pre-production because I was about eight or nine when it first aired, so it wasn’t really appropriate," she explained.

This helped her contextualize Rhaenyra's relationships, particularly with her father, King Viserys, and gain insight into the character's duties and emotional depth. She mentioned that this preparation enabled her to understand Rhaenyra's duties and emotional complexity.

The move to this extensive level of production represented a major change for Alcock, who had mainly been involved in Australian television. In an interview with Nylon, published on September 15, 2022, Milly Alcock said:

"It was incredibly new and exciting and daunting, because I've only ever done Australian TV, so the budgets are immensely different; they're not in the same league."

She attributed the supportive atmosphere on set to her co-stars, such as Rhys Ifans, Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, and Eve Best.

"They kind of all saw that we were young and that this was a completely new environment. They quickly made sure that we felt comfortable and kind of educated us on when to speak up and how to treat crew," she explained.

Milly Alcock's depiction of Rhaenyra garnered critical acclaim, securing nominations for a Critics' Choice Television Award and a Saturn Award.

---

Everything to know about House of the Dragon

(L-R) Milly Alcock, Rhys Ifans, and Fabian Frankel attend the HBO Original Drama Series House Of The Dragon World Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on July 27, 2022, in Los Angeles, California(Image via Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images)

Season 2 of House of the Dragon incorporates important parts from George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood. It highlights the Targaryen civil conflict, which is referred to as the Dance of the Dragons. This time is marked by fierce power contests and changing partnerships as different groups compete for dominance over the Iron Throne.

At the heart of this dispute are Rhaenyra Targaryen, the designated successor to the throne, and Alicent Hightower, who supports her son Aegon II's assertion. The season delves into their competition and its repercussions across Westeros.

Figures such as Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra's spouse, are crucial in influencing the war's result. His ambitions and strategies are key to the plot, whereas Helaena Targaryen's prophetic insights contribute an element of fascination.

These instances have sparked considerable speculation regarding its future consequences. The conclusion of season 2 left audiences with unanswered issues and highlighted important alliances, paving the way for season 3. The forthcoming season is anticipated to bring in new characters and delve into more areas of Westeros, expanding the storyline.

Details about production and an official release date for season 3 are still pending. The series is set to explore more profoundly the power dynamics and complex connections that characterize this period of Targaryen history.

---

What's next for Milly Alcock

Milly Alcock with FIJI Water at the 28th Annual Critics' Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on January 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Image via John Sciulli/Getty Images for FIJI Water)

After her performance in House of the Dragon, Milly Alcock has taken on various projects. In January 2023, Alcock was featured in Noel Gallagher's music video High Flying Birds from the album Council Skies. Later in the same year, she debuted on the West End stage in June, where she portrayed Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible at the Gielgud Theatre.

In January 2024, it was revealed that Milly Alcock would portray Kara Zor-El / Supergirl in the DC Universe movie Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, scheduled to come out in 2026. She is also scheduled to appear in the Netflix limited series Sirens with Julianne Moore and Meghann Fahy.

---

House of the Dragon is available to stream on Max.