Astounding Behind-the-Scenes: Revealing the Harrowing Journey to Secure a Role in 'House of the Dragon Star'

Emma D'Arcy, the star of House of the Dragon, recently shared the intense and challenging audition process that led to their beloved role in the Game of Thrones prequel.

D'Arcy portrays the older version of Rhaenyra Targaryen, the main protagonist of House of the Dragon, while Milly Alcock takes on the younger version. They have received praise for bringing emotional vulnerability to the role, particularly in difficult and violent scenes featured in the first season of House of the Dragon. This exceptional performance has earned D'Arcy a nomination for Best Actress at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards and a strong following of fans on social media.

During a recent Hollywood Reporter roundtable discussion, fans discovered that D'Arcy's successful audition for House of the Dragon was due in part to their ability to handle the challenging scenes. D'Arcy shared the details of a months-long audition process that took place during the pandemic, where they had to mostly self-tape their auditions from home. As part of this process, D'Arcy had to undergo multiple hairstyle changes at the suggestion of producer Miguel Sapochnik, who wanted to see them wearing a wig. In order to achieve this, D'Arcy and their partner spent around two hours each time attaching a bag of hair in their color to their head.

Content: Prior to a four-hour-long in-person audition for House of the Dragon, D'Arcy faced various challenges. "After that, there was a four-hour in-person audition and then I was left hanging without any updates. It felt like I had filmed every scene of the show by the end of three months. They took a chance on me because I couldn't bring an audience," D'Arcy explained. "I remember it being good for a while, then terrible. Finally, after a few hours, they told me to go home and celebrate with a drink while they stayed in touch. As I was about to leave, Miguel approached me and asked, 'Can we do one more?'"

According to D'Arcy, deciding to go through with the audition involved carefully assessing the advantages and disadvantages. One major consideration was the inevitable loss of anonymity that comes with being part of such a high-profile show. Notable actors who had experienced this included Faye Marsay, known for her role as Arya Stark's adversary, The Waif, and Jack Gleeson, who gained infamy for his portrayal of the despised Prince Joffrey.

D'Arcy emerged victorious in the audition process, securing the role with what they refer to as "the most remarkable performance of my life." It is widely believed among fans that D'Arcy was the ideal choice for the role, with their accomplishments serving as proof.

Viewers can now access season 1 of House of the Dragon on Max.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter