House of the Dragon has continued to follow the legacy of the acclaimed HBO series Game of Thrones, which garnered global acclaim. Created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal, the show is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, delving into the turbulent history of House Targaryen.
Thanks to the show’s immense success, the stellar cast has also garnered wider prominence, but this fame came at a cost. Actress Eve Best reflected on her experience after taking on the role of Rhaenys Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon Actress Eve Best Reflected on Her Role’s Hardships
The House of the Dragon series has amassed global stardom, standing proudly with the name that its predecessor series, Game of Thrones made in the industry.
While we see the characters charming us with their grandeur status on-screen, the behind-the-scenes reality is far from easier than what is portrayed on screen. Eve Best, the actress who portrayed the role of Rhaenys Targaryen, recounted her experience which left her physically battered.
In an interview with The Guardian, she addressed her experience of riding dragons. The physical demands of dragon-riding quickly left her in pain, which was different from the thrilling adventure we often think of.
She stated,
Someone described it as like a bucking bronco meets a wild rollercoaster. I can’t bear fairground rides, so it was slightly filling me with dread. But it was amazing.
She further delved into the technological aspects behind the making of that particular scene, which left her bruised.
You climb up a huge ladder on to this extraordinary machine, then get strapped in. It moves and makes alarming noises, while a wind machine blasts you. I was bruised to hell the next day.
The entire process had an immense physical strain on her as she needed to maintain her balance and composure, leaving her in pain. Although difficult, this experience is a testament to the dedication and effort that she imbibed in her role to curate an authentic experience for the audience.
Eve Best Talks About Landing the House of the Dragon Role
Best’s character, Rhaenys Targaryen is an interesting character who showcases immense strength and wisdom. Despite being the rightful person for the Iron Throne, she character of immense strength, intelligence, and grace.
Despite her rightful claim to the Iron Throne, she was overlooked in favor of her cousin, Viserys I, because of Westeros’ patriarchal customs. This event contributed to her character development, making her a wise figure within the Targaryen lineage.
While the character in itself is great, Best brought her unique charm into it, adding depth to the role. Talking about how she ended up portraying this character, she told the outlet that it all began with an audition process which was pretty much secretive.
Describing the experience, she added,
Everything was very secretive. To audition, we were initially sent a scene from the original Game of Thrones with the names changed. We weren’t even told the title of the new show.
The secret factor only piqued her interest which was solidified when she received the script.
When eventually I was sent a real script, I loved the writing. Ryan [Condal] and Miguel [Sapochnik, co-showrunners] hooked me in immediately with the driving theme of the series.
She also explained how one particular line left her hooked on the character.
There is a line my character says early on: ‘Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman ascend to the Iron Throne.’ Lose the word “Iron” from that sentence and it feels all too relevant. To top it all off, they told me my character was a dragon rider. I was in!
While she was almost convinced to take on the role, it was the ‘dragon rider’ characteristic that left her with zero doubt about moving forward with the character. Her portrayal has garnered widespread acclaim, which only elevated her versatile portfolio.
House of the Dragon is available on Max.
