House of the Dragon star Harry Collett on why Jace is "my favorite role I’ve played in my career"

Harry Collett is part of the vast ensemble cast on HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon. He plays Jacaerys Velaryon, the son of hopeful Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), which means he's only a few bodies from taking the Iron Throne. Collett only featured in a couple of episodes of the first season, but we got to see a lot more of his well-intentioned, noble-hearted character in season 2.

Collett talked to Hero about how he got the role in the first place. It ends up that HBO was trying to keep things hush hush at first, even from the stars. "I did a self-tape and it didn’t say much, it just said ‘Untitled HBO Series,’" Collett remembered. "I was like, 'OK, that’s great, I know a lot now.' [laughs] My character was called Jack, so it could’ve literally been anything and this was the last thing I thought it would be because when it’s something like a Game of Thrones spin-off, they’re very old-fashioned names. When I saw Jack in the script, I was like, 'It can’t be that.'

"[T]hen I did another tape in front of people on Zoom, which was quite difficult because it’s hard to [translate] that energy online compared to in-person. But apparently it worked. About a week later I got called to go in for the last audition and because it happened so quickly I had short hair and didn’t go to the gym – I didn’t look like a prince when I walked in. [laughs] I was so nervous, I’d learned all my lines but I’d overlearned my lines. I went blank and I must have fluffed up all of my scenes. I slowly got into it, and the nerves started to calm down but you’re just thinking, “I really want this role.” Just before the audition, I was told what it was for, so that made my nerves go through the roof. Then I got the call a few weeks later and I was literally frozen. It’s only just sunk in through season two press that this is happening. The love and support I’ve got from this character has been incredible. I couldn’t ask for anything better, it’s my favourite role I’ve played in my career so far."

Collett had been acting onstage since the age of 6, so he was actually more experienced than some of his older castmates when he came on. That doesn't mean he can't experience nerves, though. And I'm not surprised to hear that he had short hair when he auditioned for the role; although Collett is rocking his natural long hair in House of the Dragon season 2, in season 1 he was wearing a pretty noticeable wig:

"I have my own hair in this series now, so I’m taken a bit more seriously than that wig in season one," Collett laughed. "It’s been really nice developing Jacaerys and adding new characteristics in, in season two you get to see a lot more of him."

Jace is an eager young heir apparent who wants to make his mark in the war his mother is waging against her half-brother Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), who has taken the Iron Throne she believes is hers by rights. The Targaryen family on the show is extremely dysfunctional, but apparently things are rosier behind the scenes. "As much as we are a dysfunctional family on screen, we are like one big family off-screen," Collett said. "I have a lot of scenes with Emma [D’Arcy] and they are amazing. As much as Daemon [Matt Smith’s character] isn’t, Matt Smith and Emma D’Arcy are both like parents to me because they’ve had so much experience. They’ve given me so much advice and made this experience a lot more calm, especially as I’m the youngest cast member in the main ensemble."

Overall, Collett is loving being part of this fantasy universe. "Previously I’ve played roles that are very close to myself, which is nice but when you’re in a completely different world, it’s crazy," he said. "I was speaking to my nan yesterday, and she was saying to me, 'It’s like we’re not even watching you on screen,' which I completely agree with. It’s probably why I don’t find it difficult to watch because it’s like I’m not watching myself."

Collett will return as Jace when House of the Dragon comes back for its third season, probably sometime in 2026. In the meantime, HBO will take us back to Westeros with a new Game of Thrones prequel show called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. That one will premiere next year.

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