House of the Dragon: Olivia Cooke shares her ‘mad’ experience of playing Queen Alicent Hightower

From fire and thrones to blood and politics – Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon has been highly anticipated since its announcement. With a COVID-19 scare disrupting the shooting for a few days, its production is now back on track. Although in a typical GOT style all the cast members have been tight-lipped about their roles, in a chat with Collider, star Olivia Cooke gave us a glimpse of what is about to come.

She will be seen essaying Queen Alicent Hightower, the second wife of King Viserys, a morally complex character who wants the throne for her sons. Engaging in a familial struggle for power with her husband King Viserys and her stepdaughter Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Cooke believes it would take time for the audience to understand her and her motives. Calling it a grey character, Cooke revealed that people would see the worst in Queen Alicent. Staying true to GOT tradition where nobody is black and white, the audience will hate someone and then love them again in the next moment, as they don’t know what they will get with these characters.

When asked about the show’s connection with its sequel, Cooke explained how the story being set a hundred years prior to the events of Game of Thrones, makes it easier for them because in spite of existing in the same Westerosi world, they can put themselves in different headspaces, without having the necessity to follow on from GOT. She lauded the artists and craftspeople, working day and night to make the show the best it can possibly be. From gorgeous sets to breath-taking costumes, every tiny prop has so much thought put into it by the crew.

Calling it an utterly bizarre and mad experience, Cooke expressed her delight to work in the show: “It’s amazing to work on a film, a TV show, or anything where everyone is just so passionate about it.”

House of the Dragon would revolve around the Targaryen Civil War, the biggest civil war in the history of Westeros. Placing the Targaryen household in the highlight, the story would narrate the power struggles and events that lead to the war. Starring Olivia Cooke, Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint and Graham McTavish, House of the Dragon is scheduled to stream on HBO Max in 2022.