Olivia Cooke Discusses the Unique Experience of Playing a Mother in ‘House of the Dragon’

Olivia Cooke has shared her thoughts on one of the more peculiar aspects of portraying Alicent Hightower in ‘House of the Dragon’. The HBO fantasy series spans various generations, and Cooke revealed that it felt unusual to play the mother of actors who are nearly the same age as she is in real life.

During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Cooke, who plays a pivotal role in the ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel, discussed the surprising age difference. She expressed her astonishment upon learning that Tom Glynn-Carney, who portrays her son King Aegon II Targaryen, is only slightly younger than her.

Initially, Cooke thought the production might be planning another recasting and time jump when she discovered who was auditioning for the role.

“When I found out that Tom Glynn-Carney was auditioning for my son, I was like, ‘What? Are they gonna recast Alicent again? And do another time jump?’” she remarked during the interview.

In ‘House of the Dragon’, Alicent is depicted as the mother of several adult children, including Aegon II, Aemond Targaryen, and Helaena Targaryen. However, the actors portraying these roles are not significantly younger than Cooke. Tom Glynn-Carney is 31, Ewan Mitchell is 29, and Phia Saban is 27, while Cooke is 32.

This scenario underscores one of the challenges of adapting a narrative that features substantial time jumps. The series frequently employs younger actors for different life stages of the characters, while later seasons focus on their older versions.

Cooke reflected on how this casting choice made her contemplate the representation of women in Hollywood, particularly regarding aging. She noted that the industry often shies away from depicting female characters as they age, contrasting with how male characters are allowed to age more naturally.

“I think spiritually Tom and I are related. It’s odd, isn’t it? I feel many things about it. I feel like, ‘God, is this just the industry? Is this just Hollywood? They don’t want to see women age, you know?’” Cooke expressed.

She also acknowledged that audiences might need to embrace this unconventional setup due to the storytelling approach.

“I think it’s a big leap for the audience to make. Or maybe I’m just a fantastic actor,” she joked.

Despite the unconventional casting situation, Cooke’s portrayal of Alicent Hightower has garnered significant acclaim. The character has evolved from being a close friend of Rhaenyra Targaryen to a formidable political figure at the heart of the Targaryen civil war.

‘House of the Dragon’ continues to captivate fans, with viewers actively discussing theories and potential storylines online. Based on George R.R. Martin’s ‘Fire & Blood’, the series delves into the events leading to the catastrophic conflict known as the Dance of the Dragons.

Season 3 of ‘House of the Dragon’ premiered on June 21, with new episodes being released weekly. As the narrative unfolds, Alicent’s intricate relationships with her children and rivals remain central to the show’s drama.

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