Cover ‘House of the Dragon’ actors: where else can you see them? (Photos: IMDB; edited by Angela Nicole Guiral)
‘House of the Dragon’ actors: where else can you see them? (Photos: IMDB; edited by Angela Nicole Guiral)
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From Matt Smith and Olivia Cooke to Emma D’Arcy and James Norton, discover the standout performances the stars of ‘House of the Dragon’ delivered before (or after) arriving in Westeros
Three episodes into House of the Dragon season three, the battle for the Iron Throne has entered a new phase. Last week saw Rhaenyra Targaryen arrive in King’s Landing aboard Syrax, flanked by Daemon on Caraxes, Ulf on Silverwing and Hugh on Vermithor in one of the series’ most commanding displays of dragon power to date. Yet it was the fate of Otto Hightower that proved to be the episode’s defining moment, paving the way for Rhaenyra’s long-awaited rule and the political challenges that lie ahead.
While George RR Martin’s world continues to captivate with its sprawling history and spectacle, the franchise owes much of its staying power to the actors who bring these complicated figures to life. As audiences count down to each new weekly episode, there is plenty of time to revisit the films and television series that introduced many of the cast long before they stepped into Westeros. Whether they were already familiar faces or discoveries made through House of the Dragon, these are the performances worth adding to your watchlist.
More from Tatler: ‘House of the Dragon’ finally delivers the Battle of the Gullet—and questions why we wanted it
Matt Smith
Above Matt Smith in ‘The Crown’ (Video: YouTube/Scene City)
Long before becoming the rogue prince Daemon Targaryen, Matt Smith had already built one of Britain’s most recognisable television careers. He remains beloved as the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who, before taking on another royal role as Prince Philip in The Crown. On the big screen, he also starred in Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller Last Night in Soho and Darren Aronofsky’s black comedy crime thriller Caught Stealing.
Emma D’Arcy
Above Emma D’Arcy with Samson Kayo in ‘Truth Seekers’ (Video: YouTube/Amazon Prime Video UK & IE)
House of the Dragon marked Emma D’Arcy’s breakout on the global stage, though audiences may have previously spotted them in the BBC and Netflix drama Wanderlust. They also appeared in the Prime Video supernatural series Truth Seekers and British period romantic drama film Mothering Sunday, showcasing the understated screen presence that would later define Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Olivia Cooke
Above Olivia Cooke with Tye Sheridan in ‘Ready Player One’ (Video: YouTube/Warner Bros.)
Before stepping into Alicent Hightower’s green gowns, Olivia Cooke had already amassed an impressive résumé. She starred opposite Steven Spielberg’s ensemble in Ready Player One, led the acclaimed indie drama Thoroughbreds and appeared in the Oscar-winning Sound of Metal. She was also in the indie comedy-drama flick Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, way, way back.
Rhys Ifans
Above Rhys Ifans in ‘Notting Hill’ (Video: YouTube/RomComs)
A familiar face for more than two decades, Rhys Ifans is as versatile as they come. Many first knew him as the eccentric Spike in Notting Hill, while younger audiences may remember him as Xenophilius Lovegood in the Harry Potter films or Dr Curt Connors in The Amazing Spider-Man.
James Norton
Above James Norton in ‘Grantchester’ (Video: YouTube/ITV)
James Norton joins season three as Ormund Hightower, bringing with him a string of acclaimed performances. He broke through as the charismatic vicar Sidney Chambers in Grantchester, earned praise as the troubled Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley and appeared in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women.
Steve Toussaint
Above Steve Toussaint in ‘Pine Gap’ (Video: YouTube/Netflix)
As the Sea Snake, Steve Toussaint commands every scene. His career stretches across film and television, with memorable appearances in Pine Gap, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Judge Dredd and the BAFTA-winning drama It’s a Sin.
Fabien Frankel
Above Fabien Frankel and his thoughts on ‘Task’ (Video: YouTube/BAFTA)
House of the Dragon is Fabien Frankel’s breakout role, though eagle-eyed viewers may remember him from the festive romcom Last Christmas or Brad Ingelsby’s Task. His career has quickly gathered pace since arriving in the world of Westeros.
Sonoya Mizuno
Above Sonoya Mizuno as Caitlin (in yellow) in ‘La La Land’ (Video: YouTube/Movieclips)
Before playing Mysaria, Sonoya Mizuno became a favourite collaborator of filmmaker Alex Garland. She appeared in Ex Machina, took on a leading role in the sci-fi series Devs and featured in the Oscar-winning phenomenon La La Land.
Tom Glynn-Carney
Above Tom Glynn-Carney in ‘Tolkien’ (Video: YouTube/SearchlightPictures)
Tom Glynn-Carney first caught audiences’ attention in Christopher Nolan’s war epic Dunkirk. He later portrayed Christopher Wiseman in Dome Karukoski’s Tolkien and Sir Harry “Hotspur” Percy in David Michôd’s The King, before claiming the Iron Throne as the unpredictable Aegon II Targaryen.
See also: From Arthurian legends to Viking raids: 10 best medieval TV shows with knights
Ewan Mitchell
Ewan Mitchell has quietly built one of the strongest television portfolios among the younger cast. Before becoming the formidable Aemond Targaryen, he appeared in The Last Kingdom, Saltburn and the BBC World War II drama World on Fire. This year, we also saw him on the big screen as Joseph in Wuthering Heights.
Harry Collett
Harry Collett began acting as a child, appearing in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk before taking on the family adventure film Dolittle alongside Robert Downey Jr. Off the screens, however, you may spot him in his local neighbourhood spinning some tunes as a disc jockey.
Phia Saban
For many viewers, House of the Dragon served as an introduction to Phia Saban. Before portraying Helaena Targaryen, she appeared in the historical drama The Last Kingdom with castmate Ewan Mitchell, where she played the royal-born Ælfwynn.
Bethany Antonia
Above Bethany Antonia in ‘Get Even’ (Video: YouTube/BBC)
Bethany Antonia had already built a growing television career before wielding a dragon as Baela Targaryen. She starred in the fantasy series Get Even and later appeared in the supernatural drama Stay Close, steadily emerging as one of Britain’s rising young actors. This year, she is gearing up for her role of Erydice in the stage adaptation of Hadestown.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
