Game of Thrones had taken the world by storm and introduced us to stars in the making, such as Maisie Willaims, Sophie Turner, and Kit Harington. The series hadn’t shied away from showing off more established actors like Sean Bean either, and it appears that House of the Dragon is ready to continue the tradition of showcasing amazing talents on the small screen.

Here we will go over some of the actors that had made a significant impact on the show. We’ll detail some of the most notable projects from their resumes and give a brief description of what they bring to the show with their talents and acting abilities.

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6 Matt Smith

     BBC

Matt Smith brings plenty of charisma and a snide veneer to the role of Daemon Targaryen. Matt Smith has the unique advantage of portraying his character throughout every time jump of the show, showing Daemon when he is more young and bold and when he is older and more subtle with his political maneuvering. Matt Smith is a familiar face to fans, having recently appeared as Loxias Crown in Morbius (2022), using his cocky demeanor well as he gained vampiric abilities and reveled in the power. He also displayed a more kind-hearted soul when he got to portray the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC television series Doctor Who.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

5 Paddy Considine

     HBO

Paddy Considine carries a heavy responsibility as King Viserys in House of the Dragon. Ruling the land of Westeros while trying to keep the raging fires brewing between members of his own family would prove to be a daunting task. It would wear down on Viserys over time, and Paddy Considine would carry it all throughout his run on the show, even working with the special effects department to alter Viserys’ appearance over time, helping to show the wear and tear his body had suffered.

Paddy would have a strong resume going into the show, having made appearances on multiple English shows such as Peaky Blinders. He also has a history of working with HBO, as he has performed the role of Claude Bolton in The Outsider as well as playing Mr. Martin in The Third Day. This strong working relationship would help make his casting as King Viserys an easy decision, as the network was already confident in his abilities.

4 Emily Carey

Emily Carey plays the younger version of Alicent Hightower. An innocent young lady who had been brought into intense political plots, Alicent would become betrothed to King Viserys and would have to bear the burden of seeing her father banished from the kingdom. Emily Carey played the role well, with much chemistry on display with her costar Milly Alcock. Emily Carey has a penchant for playing the younger version of strong women, with her most prominent roles seeing her playing the younger version of Diana Prince in Wonder Woman (2017), and she would also portray young adventurer Lara Croft in Tomb Raider (2018).

3 Milly Alcock

Milly Alcock has taken the world by storm with her portrayal of young Rhaenayra Targaryen. Showing off her poise and strong demeanor as well as her glee when she is astride her dragon, many were afraid to see Milly step away from the show. There are some who are clamoring for a second season of House of the Dragon to feature flashback sequences so that Milly Alcock and Emily Carey can return to the franchise and recall their friendship.

Milly Alcock’s previous work has flown under the radar, proving this series to be her proper breakout performance. Still, she has had a long presence on the show Upright, where she plays Meg and goes on a cross-country journey in Australia with a new friend and an upright piano. There are many who are calling for Milly Alcock to make her debut in the MCU as well.

2 Olivia Cooke

     NBCUniversal Television Distribution

Taking on the role of Queen Alicent Hightower, Olivia Cooke has proven to be a strong, evocative performer. With her showcasing Alicent at her most emotionally poignant moments, Olivia Cooke has had the chance to show off her range quite impeccably. Seeing her take charge of the army at her command is also quite effective. Audiences may have been caught off guard by how familiar Olivia Cooke appeared. The actress may be most recognizable from her appearance as Samantha/Art3mis in Ready Player One (2018). She also played Emma Decody in Bates Motel, showcasing that she has experience in both dramatic and action-packed fields.

1 Emma D’Arcy

Emma D’Arcy would get to play the older version of Rhaenyra Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne. While Rhaenyra would be a strong and capable woman, Emma D’Arcy would prove to be excellent at bringing a gentle touch to the role as she would become a mother and remain a loving wife to a husband that held no sexual attraction to her. Emma’s experience, similar to Milly’s, had flown under the radar, but her most prominent appearance would be as Astrid in the thrilling series Truth Seekers. Growing close as a romantic interest to Elton, Astrid gave Emma D’Arcy the chance to play a character that could be vulnerable but also show off her bravery when the situation called for it.