When the first season of Game of Thrones aired in 2011, the fabled land of Westeros was all anyone could talk about. And before you knew it, the world had transfigured into Queen Daenerys Targaryen’s oyster, so to speak. But eight marvellous seasons and five years after the show ended, GoT is still just as cherished today as it used to be in its golden years, if not more.
The pioneering HBO tentpole – which turned Emilia Clarke into a luminary – in all its mythical glory, even spawned spinoffs, most of which are in incipient stages, save for House of the Dragon. Despite the show’s scintillating glory, however, the fantasy spinoff doesn’t seem to have waved its magic wand of stardom for Olivia Cooke the way its predecessor did for Clarke.
House of the Dragon is Yet to Impress Olivia Cooke
It’s no secret that Game of Thrones – which is based on George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire novels – is one of the most globally hailed television shows to ever have been made. And despite not being the first choice for The Dragon Queen’s role, the drama still gave Emilia Clarke her breakthrough in showbiz. For Olivia Cooke, however, it’s an entirely different story.
Cooke, who portrays Alicent Hightower – one of the central antagonists in House of the Dragon – recently reprised her role as the cunning Queen in the brand new second season of the series. But for all the hype and glamor associated with the fantasy prequel, the Bates Motel star believes that she’s yet to witness the acclaim she’s supposed to earn from starring in a GoT spinoff (via Harper Bazaar).
You’re told by agents and managers, ‘This is really good for you.’ But I’m yet to see it…When we’re on posters and the show is about to come out, there’s an uptick in how recognizable you are, but when it’s over, everything sort of goes back to normal.
When asked the extent to which her life had changed after becoming a household name, Cooke responded with an astonishing “not much.” Looks like the Dance of the Dragons isn’t that happening after all.
Olivia Cooke’s Egregious Age Gap in the GoT Spinoff Irked Her
House of the Dragon might be an HBO fan-favorite, but sometimes it ends up ruffling Cooke’s feathers more than you’d think.
In a recent interview with The Times, the English actress admitted that she had mixed feelings about the ludicrous age gap between Alicent and her children in the show. In fact, Cooke, 30, had been “hysterical” when she found out her relatively young character would be playing a grandmother on-screen.
If they can create dragons, they could have made me look younger – and then older. Or maybe they should have cast actors in their forties? It’s happened now and I’m grateful for the role, but I’ve just turned 30 and I’m playing a grandma. There is a real reticence to see women age on screen. A real reticence.
At the same time, however, the Ready Player One star didn’t particularly want to “slag off” the show that she’s starring in either. “It’s strange,” said Cooke. “I bristle a bit because the years between being a teenager and now a grandma on screen were so short for me.” Calling it strange would certainly be an understatement but oh well.
Game of Thrones & House of the Dragon can both be streamed on Max.
