Emma D’Arcy was cast as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon after three months of intense auditions. The Wanderlust actor was not privy to the predecessor series, Game of Thrones, but they had read George R.R. Martin’s book, Fire and Blood. D’Arcy revealed that the auditions demanded comprehensive self-tapes where they had to film many of their scenes in the series, even including Milly Alcock’s part, who played a younger Rhaenyra.
D’Arcy also revealed that they were initially doubtful about accepting the role since they had concerns about the fame and loss of anonymity. But they took up the challenge and eventually landed the role, where their performance received immense praise.
Emma D’Arcy’s Audition For House Of The Dragon Was Pretty Intense
It’s hard to imagine Emma D’Arcy auditioning for three months, considering that their performance became an instant hit. D’Arcy appeared in a Roundtable organized by The Hollywood Reporter, featuring actresses Dominique Fishback, Melanie Lynskey, Jennifer Coolidge, Jennifer Garner, and Claire Danes. D’Arcy amused the others with their story about the House of the Dragon auditions.
They auditioned for the role via self-tape during the pandemic. During the three months of audition, they revealed that they had to tape almost every scene in the show. The Truth Seekers actor revealed that during their auditions, the season one showrunner Miguel Sapochnik asked them to wear a wig. They and their partner managed to find a wig and stick it on their head, adding an extra two hours to the self-taping process.
However, what surprised the others at the table was D’Arcy’s revelation of a four-hour, in-person audition. They shared that after the audition they didn’t hear back from the showrunners for hours. When they finally thought they could leave, they were again asked to stay back for one last audition. D’Arcy shared with others on THR Roundtable:
“At the end of [three month auditions], I did a four-hour in-person audition, and then I didn’t hear anything. I feel like, by the end of three months, I had taped every scene in the show. I just remember that it was good for a while and then it was awful. And then after a few hours, they said, ‘Great, you can go home and get drunk, we’ll be in touch.’ Then Miguel came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders and said, ‘Can we do one more?’”
The Misbehaviour actor also added that they had to tape scenes featuring the younger version of their character, originally played by Milly Alcock. They jokingly reasoned that the showrunners couldn’t fathom them ever being young. However, the intense auditions paid off handsomely for D’Arcy as they convincingly portrayed the powerful Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Emma D’Arcy Was Placed Under Much Scrutiny For The Role
Emma D’Arcy’s concerns about losing their anonymity came true when they came under immense scrutiny for the role. Before the series aired, showrunner Ryan Condal revealed that Rhaenyra was the show’s most important character. Furthermore, Sapochnik called D’Arcy the face of the show. Once the show came out, Milly Alcock initially impressed the viewers with her rendition of the character.
Despite the scrutiny, D’Arcy’s take on the character received critical acclaim, with critics and viewers hailing them as a force of nature in the character. Their performance was one of the best of the year in television, earning them a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. They were also recognized by GQ magazine as one of the breakout stars of the year.
Also Read: House of the Dragon Star Emma D’Arcy Stole the Role of Rhaenyra Targaryen From Olivia Cooke
Emma D’Arcy is set to return to their role in the second season of House of the Dragon, scheduled to air on HBO and its streaming platform Max in 2024.
