All the actors in House of The Dragon, and who they’re playing

Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen

Rhaenyra Targaryen is a definite fan-favorite among fans of Fire & Blood, and her casting was highly anticipated. I think HBO nailed it. Game of Thrones was successful in part because many of the main actors were fairly new to the scene and were able to grow into their characters. Casting Emma D’Arcy is very much in keeping with that tradition.

While this won’t be D’Arcy’s first performance on screen, you can nearly count her IMDb credits on one hand. But given that Rhaenyra is such an important role, we may become very familiar with  her name in the years to come. I’ve been staring at the set photos of D’Arcy in full Targaryen costume since their release and can’t wait for fans to see the story of one of the most complicated, nuanced, and fascinating characters to spring from George R.R. Martin’s mind.

The eldest child of King Viserys I Targaryen and the only one born of his first Aemma Arryn to live to see adulthood, Rhaenyra was promised the Iron Throne throughout her childhood. Known as “The Realms Delight” in her youth, Rhaenyra was named heir to the throne at the age of eight and grew up riding on the back of her great dragon Syrax. As she grew older, she was involved in a number of courtly scandals, including an affair with her uncle Daemon, her loveless marriage to Laenor Velaryon, a (possible) affair with Criston Cole, and her relationship with Harwin Strong (Breakbones). When her father dies, she sees the Iron Throne as her birthright, but her step-mother Alicent and half-brother Aegon feel very differently. And so the Dance begins.

Many dispute Rhaenyra’s claim based purely on her sex, others because they fear the kind of ruler she could become. Rhaenyra is ambitious, cunning, ruthless and smart. Like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon has a lot of different characters vying for top billing, but there’s a good argument that Rhaenyra is the focal point. Everything turns on her. She goes on a quite the journey throughout this story, and I’m fascinated to see what Emma D’Arcy will bring to her. I’m sure that D’Arcy will make a great name for herself with a compelling performance.

Milly Alcock as Young Rhaenyra Targaryen

Rhaenyra is the other character who will also be played by a younger actor, in this case Upright and The Gloaming star Milly Alcock. Her relationship with Alicent Hightower starts pretty early, so it makes sense that these two are the only ones who get this treatment…that we know of, anyway. It’s possible that HBO has cast younger versions of lots of characters and that these are the only two they’ve announced.

Anyway, apart from her time with Alicent, there’s a lot we could see from a younger Rhaenyra: learning leadership at her father’s feet, her early relationship with Daemon (ew), having lords swear her fealty according to their kings’ wishes…she had an eventful youth.