Emma D’Arcy: Playing Rhaenyra Targaryen “makes me want to dress more masculine”

After playing Rhaenrya Targaryen on the first season of HBO’s House of the Dragon, Emma D’Arcy became one of the breakout stars of 2022, and not just because they gave such a commanding performance as the heir apparent to the Iron Throne. People liked D’Arcy in general; remember when they went viral just for describing their favorite drink?

D’Arcy also stands out because of their distinctive look. As they explained to Highsnobiety Magazine, “I’m a trans-masc presenting person, and broadly, my instinct is to wear rigid shapes softly. I used to be more into texture, but now I’m gradually getting more into bright colours.”

"Clothes are armour for me. They’re essential to who I am, and I feel different in different outfits. Outfits are a very tangible way to control how people see you. It’s related to why I dyed my hair bright red a little while ago. I didn’t really recognise myself at first – I felt new, and it was bliss."

Emma D’Arcy on how their non-binary identity intersects with their aesthetic and their House of the Dragon role

Part of D’Arcy’s interest in personal aesthetics comes from their identity as a non-binary person. And their aesthetics are influenced by their role as Rhaenyra Targaryen. “Rhaenyra and the many skirts I have to wear to play that character, makes me want to dress more masculine,” D’Arcy explained.

As D’Arcy explained to E! News when they were attending the Golden Globes, for a long time they felt pressure to present female if they were going to make it in acting. “When I was starting out, I really felt that I had to present as a woman in order to find success in this industry,” they said. “It wasn’t sustainable, and I stopped pretending. And weirdly at that point, I got nominated for Best Actress for the Golden Globes, which is beautifully ironic.”

D’Arcy will return as Rhaenyra in the second season of House of the Dragon, which will (hopefully) premiere on HBO in 2024.

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h/t PinkNews