‘House of the Dragon’ Cast in Real Life Compared to Their Characters

The “House of the Dragon” aesthetics showcase the beauty of medieval dresses and hairstyles — but some fans want to know how the actors who play their beloved characters look in real life.

The “House of the Dragon” is a fantasy prequel series set almost two centuries before “Game of Thrones.” It focuses on the internal struggle for power in the Targaryen family.

In its first season, with only five episodes released at the time of publication, viewers have already been treated to plenty of changes. Even though the creators have replaced some cast members because of time jumps, the looks they created for the cast have fascinated some fans.

Milly Alcock as Rhaenyra Targaryen

Milly Alcock played the young Rhaenyra Targaryen. She is the first-born daughter of her parents, King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Aemma Arryn, and was named the heir to the Iron Throne.

Alcock is a young Australian actress born on April 11, 2000. She has starred in “Janet King,” “A Place to Call Home,” “Les Norton,” “Fighting Season,” “Pine Gap,” “The Gloaming,” “Reckoning,” and “Upright.”

In the series, the actress gives off an icy princess vibe with her Valyrian looks and long platinum blonde hair, which she usually styles in different braided styles.

However, in real life, Alcock does not have platinum blonde hair as she is a brunette but currently wears a much darker shade of blonde styled in a slightly messy bob.

Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen

Emma D’Arcy is replacing Alcock as a grown Rhaenyra because of a massive time jump in the series. They will portray the married life of the princess from the sixth episode.

The British actress, who has previously performed on stage, has also starred in shows and movies like “Truth Seekers,” “Misbehaviour,” “Wanderlust,” “Mothering Sunday,” “Baptiste,” and “Hanna.”

In the series, just like the younger princess, they wear the long platinum blonde wig also styled in different variations of braided looks.

However, in real life, D’Arcy’s hairstyle has undergone various transformations. They currently prefer to wear shorter, buzzed hair which was recently dyed platinum blonde.

Emily Carey as Alicent Hightower

Emily Carey played the younger Alicent Hightower and is the daughter of Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King. She was Rhaenyra’s confidant until she became the princess’s stepmother.

The British actress, born on April 30, 2003, made her big screen debut in 2017 when she starred as young Diana in “Wonder Woman.” As a baby, she starred in “Holby City,” a movie by her aunt and great uncle.

At nine, Carey had made her professional theatre debut, and as a child actress, she starred in “Houdini & Doyle,” “Casualty” and various theatre shows.

In the series, the highborn lady has long, reddish-brown hair, while in reality, her natural hair is a slightly darker brown version than Alicent’s.

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower

Olivia Cook replaces Carey as the older version of Alicent. The books had described her character as slender and graceful even after four children for the king.

She is a British actress born into a family of non-actors on December 27, 1993, in Oldham, England. She grew up in her birth town, and it is a former textile manufacturing town. As a young child, she practiced gymnastics and ballet and started acting at eight.

Cooke went on to study drama in college and got her first significant role at 17 in her school’s production of “West Side Story” before starring in “Bates Motel” and “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.”

In “House of the Dragon,” she wears her hair in more elaborate designs than her younger self. She has a darker shade of brown hair and rocks bangs in real life.

Paddy Considine as King Viserys

Paddy Considine played the role of King Viserys Targaryen and the fifth ruler of the Targaryen dynasty. He was an amiable king who hated conflict and had a peaceful reign.

The British actor was born on September 5, 1973, in England. As a teenager, he studied a drama course and had his first role in a feature film as Morell in “A Room for Romeo Brass” in 1999.

As an actor, Considine has starred in other movies like “Last Resort,” “24 Hour Party People,” “Dead Man’s Shoes,” “My Summer of Love,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Hot Fuzz,” and more. He has also written and directed several other projects.

As a king, he sports a bearded look that matches his platinum blonde hair color. However, in reality, the actor’s hair is short salt-and-pepper dark combination, but he has facial hair like his character.

Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen

Matt Smith played the role of Daemon Targaryen, a fierce and unpredictable warrior who is the younger brother of King Viserys I Targaryen.

The British actor was born on October 28, 1982, in England and rose to fame in 2008 when he starred in “Doctor Who” as the eleventh doctor.

The actor studied drama and creative writing and made his television debut when he starred as Jim in “The Ruby in the Smoke.” He has also starred in “The Shadow in the North” and “Secret Diary of a Call Girl.”

Matt Smith wore various blonde wigs in “House of the Dragon,” but the skilled warrior has short, dark brown hair in real life and is clean-shaven.

Eve Best as Rhaenys Targaryen

Eve Best’s Rhaenys Targaryen was secretly called “the Queen Who Never Was” because the lords of Westeros overlooked her claim to the throne as the granddaughter of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, and they chose Viserys in her stead.

The Tony Award-nominated Best Actress in a Drama and 2003 winner of the London Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress was born in London on July 31, 1971.

In theatre, she has starred in “Macbeth,” “As You Like It,” “Three Sisters,” “The Coast of Utopia,” “The Heiress,” and more. Best has also starred in movies and series like “The Kings Speech,” “Shackleton,” and “Prime Suspect VII,” among others.

As King Viserys cousin, she prefers tall braided styles on her long blonde hair. In reality, she has shorter blonde hair, which is less silver-colored than her character wears.

Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon

Steve Toussaint’s Lord Corlys Velaryon is married to Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and leads a formidable family with ancient roots. He is the wealthiest man in Westeros, and when he was young, people called him “the Sea Snake.”

The actor with Barbadian and British citizenship was born in the UK on March 22, 1965. In addition to being an actor, he is also a writer known for the short drama “A Viable Candidate.”

He has starred in “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” “Judge Dredd,” “Shooting Dogs,” “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes,” “MI-5,” “Doctor Who,” “Before We Die,” and more.

Toussaint’s character wears a white loc wig that falls below his shoulders with a salt-and-pepper beard. In real life, he is bald and has way less facial hair.

Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower

Ser Otto Hightower was a Hand of the King to Viserys I Targaryen, a knight of House Hightower and Alicent’s father. His cunning actions to make his grandson named heir caused his removal from the Small Council.

The Welsh actor was born on July 22, 1967, and raised in Wales. He attended a youth acting school before training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Ifans had his breakthrough role in 1997 when he starred in “Twin Towns.” He has also starred in “Notting Hill,” “Dancing at Lughnasa,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” and more.

In his role, his looks were practical, with his hair combed backward as he sports a beard. In reality, he has a less thick beard with his hair color lighter than on screen.

Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole

Fabien Frankel’s Ser Criston Cole is a knight who started as the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven. Due to his fighting prowess, Princess Rhaenyra selected him to be a part of the Kingsguard.

The actor was born in London on April 6, 1994, and he graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2014 and with a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Acting course in 2017.

He has starred in “Venice at Dawn,” “An Uncandid Portrait,” “Last Christmas,” and in the role of Dominique Renelleau in several episodes of “The Serpent.”

As a knight in “House of the Dragon,” he had curly brown hair on his head and light facial hair, similar to his real-life look. The difference was the length of his hair which is slightly shorter in the series.

Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling

As Ser Harrold Westerling, Graham McTavish served in the Kingsguard, was once the sworn protector of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, and later became the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

The Scottish actor was born on January 4, 1961. He is best known for his role as Dougal Mackenzie, but he is also a director, writer, and producer.

McTavish has also starred in “The Hobbit” trilogy, “Preacher,” “Rambo,” “Creed,” “Red Dwarf,” “24,” “Rome,” “The Finest Hours,” and “Colombiana.”

The actor is one of the few in the series whose looks in real life reflected the same as their character. He sports a nearly bald look with full grey beards.

Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria

Sonoya Mizuno, who played Mysaria, had a brief appearance in the series. She was described as a very pale Lysene dancer and was the mistress of the king’s brother.

Her role came into being when the king cut off his brother from the line of succession, and his brother decided to find solace in her arms. After Daemon went into exile, she left Westeros with him.

The actress later revealed that her character was very different from what the author portrayed in the books. She said:

“My character veers quite far away from the character in the book. That is both liberating and a challenge for me and the director.”

Mizuno, born on July 1, 1986, is a Japanese-British actress who graduated from the Royal Ballet School and has worked as a model, ballet dancer, and actress.

She has starred in “Ex Machina,” “Annihilation,” “Devs,” “La La Land,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” and “Maniac,” among many other projects, including an off-Broadway production.

As Mysaria, her hair was long, dark, and almost always cloaked. However, in real life, she looks very similar to her character, but currently with reddish-toned hair.

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