House of the Dragon Casting Director Reveals the Magical Thing Emma D’Arcy Did That Got Her the Legendary Role of Rhaenyra
- House of the Dragon casting director reveals Emma D'Arcy's unique audition.
- The actress talks about their character feeling like they could win this war.
- Emma D'Arcy touched upon the current situation between Rhaenyra and Daemon’s.
Prequel to Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal, is based on the parts of Martin’s 2018 novel Fire & Blood. The show stars Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith, Ewan Mitchell, and more. Events showcased in HotD follow the events that led to the decline of House Targaryen.
House of the Dragon is currently airing its second season, which has received positive responses from the audience and the critics. The character development, visual effects, writing, background score, and performances of the actors involved have been appreciated. The casting director recently walked the audience through their casting process while revealing how the lead actress landed the role that has made them a household name.
House of the Dragon casting director recalls Emma D’Arcy’s unique audition
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, House of the Dragon’s casting director, Kate Rhodes James, takes the audience behind the entire casting process. Rhodes James also shared one little detail about the actors, which helped them to be on the show. She said Game of Thrones was one of the most sensationally successful shows of all time, and according to her, a lot of its success depends on the genius casting.
Kate Rhodes James admits that she wanted to challenge everyone’s preconception about the characters in House of the Dragon. Talking about casting for Rhaenyra Targaryen, she revealed that she was looking for someone unusual, and fiercely intelligent. The casting director noted that she was not looking for someone with doe-eyes that the audience could see on-screen but someone who is going to be remembered for the next five years.
I found Emma through theater, and I was fascinated by them. I would call them in for many auditions, and they always did something unique. I’d spend a whole day hearing the scene being done, and then Emma would come in, and it was like they would find elements of a scene that no one had ever seen, let alone noticed.
Rhodes James added that with Emma D’Arcy it never felt like acting, so she was on a mission to find the right thing for them. She added that it was very exciting when she introduced them to Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik [showrunners for season 1]. The casting director mentioned that they had read along with many other actresses and she had sent the link to the makers in California, who came back and said Emma was the choice. She added,
I knew I was with the people creatively that I could go on this very long journey with.
The casting director also shared about casting Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra, stating that she had seen her on an Australian show titled Upright and she was spectacular. She revealed during the process of casting, she decided to put Milly Alcock‘s picture next to Emma D’Arcy, and saw the similarities between them; the shape of the face, the color of the eyes, and added that Alcock’s a little renegade, just like D’Arcy. The casting director added that both actresses have similar energies: wild intellect and fierceness, which worked well for their characters and the audience.
Emma D’Arcy talks about Rhaenyra Targaryen’s comeback in Episode 7
After an entire season of struggling, actress Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, shared with The Wrap that they believe that Rhaenyra finally has that confidence that they could win this war.
Her blood is up, and I think for the first time she thinks she can win. One of the few things she’s felt clear about is not entering into a war that she’s obviously going to lose, that it being a completely pointless exercise. And for the first time, she has what she feels to be an ultimate deterrent.
Episode 7 of season two saw Team Black gain two new dragon riders: Hugh the Hammer, who is the dragon rider to Vermithor, and Ulf the White, who is the dragon rider to Vermithor’s mate Silverwing. D’Arcy added,
She has so exceeded the Greens’ weaponry that maybe she’s expecting a surrender, certainly at the end of the episode. We see Aemond turn tail and fly away. We’ll see what happens in Episode 8, but for a moment, it feels like her political designs have paid off in a complex way.
The actress also adds, when asked about their take on Rhaenyra and Daemon’s [played by actor Matt Smith] relationship, that they only work when they are both in positions of power. They added that the couple struggles when they are grieving, mourning, or when their campaign fails. The actress says that Rhaenyra knows that she has to deal with whatever is happening at Harrenhal, but right now she is focused on winning.
House of the Dragon is streaming on HBO Max.
