How Emma D'Arcy advocates for non-binary and genderfluid people on the House of the Dragon set

Emma D'Arcy plays Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen on House of the Dragon. From the start, they've stood out in this ensemble cast. In the season 2 premiere, Rhaenyra only had one line, but D'Arcy made it count.

D'Arcy has also stood out on the press trail. They went viral alongside House of the Dragon costar Olivia Cooke back when the first season was airing; for some reason, the revelation that D'Arcy enjoys a negroni sbagliato with prosecco in it was absolutely fascinating to people. “The digital self, the public self, really does separate from the private self,” D'Arcy told GQ. “I think I always struggle to answer when people raise [the meme], because I rarely remember that it happened, because it feels like it happened to someone else.”

D'Arcy always comes across as thoughtful and earnest in interviews, not the kind of person you usually see out of the press trail. Apparently, going out to promote the first season had them nervous. “The idea that a version of you is gonna live in public space is so hard to get your head around,” they said. “I was really frightened. I did a lot of preparation, constantly. I think, in lieu of confidence, I did preparation.”

D'Arcy has acted on stage and onscreen for years, but being at the center of a huge show like House of the Dragon has meant a new kind of public scrutiny. “[I learned] that I haven’t been a closeted extrovert all this time. I am, in fact, still deeply introverted,” they laughed. At the same time, D'Arcy is "flattered" to be the face of such a major series, and craves the kind of collaboration you get from working on a play or a TV show. "I’m so amazed by those people who have that extraordinary, obsessive need to produce, and I think it’s truly extraordinary, and I don’t have it. I actually need to be with people. It’s weird. I’m sort of an introvert who needs company.”

Emma D'Arcy embraces being a non-binary representative, even though it can be "dull"

A big part of D'Arcy's public persona involves the fact that they're non-binary. They've become a kind of poster child for non-binary and gender-fluid people in the industry, a role they embrace, even if it means explaining themselves over and over in interviews. “On the one hand, obviously, it becomes quite dull,” D’Arcy said. “But simultaneously, I take the responsibility for trying to carve out a little bit more space for people to live in really seriously. I broadly have quite complex feelings about having a public profile, it’s not something I ever expected. But carving out a bit more space, a bit more wriggle room, for people to exist in, sounds like a job I’d like to do.”

For instance, D'Arcy is often asked about whether award shows like the Emmys or Oscars should have gender-neutral categories. Again, it's a repetivive question, but one D'Arcy is happy to discuss in her capacity as a non-binary person with a spotlight and a platform. “It’s quite funny to sort of state in some way that you forgo the categorization, and then be endlessly asked about how one might navigate categories. But I do take it as part of the job.”

D'Arcy sounds like they're more comfortable behind the scenes on House of the Dragon, where they push for greater LGBTQ+ acceptance by talking with the production team when necessary. "I’ve met a lot of genderfluid, non-binary and trans actors, and there are several in House of the Dragon. It’s nice, because while I’m at work, I take really seriously the attempt to expand and improve the working structures to support genderfluid people.”

"I’m fortunate I get to play a leading role, which means I can probably shout a little bit louder than one can in a less featured part. But I think that also comes with a responsibility. And I’m really up for it."

Emma D'Arcy "loves theorizing" about what's next on House of the Dragon

The whole GQ profile is worth reading. It's mostly about D'Arcy as a public figure, but of course House of the Dragon comes up. We're currently in the middle of the second season, and we're all wondering how it ends. It's not hard to find fans speculating wildly, including us.

D'Arcy isn't really a part of the fan chatter online. You won't find them on WinterIsComing.net or on the House of the Dragon subreddit. “I don’t think I would find it helpful. I don’t think it’s for me." They do, however, have their own thoughts and theories:

"I really enjoy theorizing about the show, and about the story, and about how certain events unfold, and the implications of those events. And it may be that in some places my sense of things is at odds with a theory offered by people in the community. And I have no interest in those things bashing up against one another."

Someone's theories will come true as new episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 continue to air on HBO and Max every Sunday night. But whose? Stay tuned.

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