Ahead of the second season premiere of House of the Dragon, Olivia Cooke, the lead actress, openly discussed the emotionally-charged journey that her character will embark on.
The focus of House of the Dragon Season 2 will be the Targaryen civil war, with the battle between Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra Targaryen at its center. Initially portrayed by Emily Carey and Milly Alcock, the roles were later taken over by Cooke and Emma D’Arcy towards the end of Season 1.
Despite feeling limited in her ability to fully convey Alicent’s emotions due to her short time in the role, Cooke has now confirmed that Season 2 will delve deeper into Alicent’s intense emotional journey.
“During the previous season, Emma and I had only appeared in four episodes each,”Cooke informed the LA Times. “We would arrive on set full of energy while everyone else was exhausted. However, as the schedule became more intense, we both began to realize the weight of our roles. The emotional toll was also heavy, as we found ourselves either sobbing or screaming constantly. I can’t recall if I ever smiled during Season 2.”
The actress explained, “During this season, her character is feeling lost and powerless. As Rhaenyra’s power grows, it has a ripple effect on Alicent, causing her to lose her own influence and strength. There’s a symbolic connection between the two characters that carries on throughout the seasons.”
Cooke expressed her gratitude for being able to reveal even more of Alicent’s “numerous underlying levels of suppression, frustration, hopelessness, and fervor”in the upcoming Season 2.
In Season 1 of House of the Dragon, Alicent’s character had a more restrained presence, as both Carey and Cooke portrayed her primarily as a wife and mother rather than a queen engaged in warfare.
Towards the end of the story, viewers finally witnessed Alicent taking control over her and her family’s fate, despite the negative consequences of her choices.
Despite the looming prospect of one of the bloodiest wars in the Seven Kingdoms’ history, the Hightowers and Targaryen remain determined to engage in battle. For Alicent, the impending violence and death are sure to take a toll on her emotions, but at least Cooke is ready to rise to the challenge of acting.
The premiere for Season 2 of House of the Dragon is scheduled for June 16. Additionally, you can learn about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and whether or not House of the Dragon is adapted from a book.
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